Ecology of Allolobophora cernosvitoviana (Zicsi, 1967): A species new to the Polish earthworm (Lumbricidae) fauna

Ecological studies on earthworms were conducted in four variants of beech wood (Fagetum carpaticum) in the Bieszczady mountains, near Ustrzyki Górne (south-eastern Poland). These were: site I, dry and poor F. carpaticum festucetosum drymejae; site II, wet F. carpaticum typicum; site III, moist F. carpaticum lunarietosum; site IV, F. carpaticum variant with Alium ursinum. During the investigations, Allolobophora cernosvitoviana, a species new to the Polish fauna, was found. A. cernosvitoviana was recorded with an average density of 16.9 individuals m−2 and an average biomass of 4.46 g m−2. There was a single peak in abundance in the spring and a decline in the winter, with similar biomass changes. A. cernosvitoviana was most abundant (200 individuals) at site II in F. carpaticum typicum, where the soil was deepest, with very high calcium content, and the moisture content was most stable. At site I (F. carpaticum festucetosum), where the pH was very low (3.3), only two individuals were found. A. cernosvitoviana was found at all sites investigated, with an average domination of 16.6% and a frequency of 39.2%.