EARTHWORM AGGREGATION IN THE SAVANNAS OF LAMTO (COTE-DIVOIRE)

The spatial distribution of seven earthworm species from the Lamto sav annas (Cote d'Ivoire) was investigated by Taylor's Power Law. The meth od yielded aggregation indices highly correlated with species demograp hic and morphological parameters. A Principal Component Analysis showe d that the smaller an earthworm species was and the higher its annual fecundity, the more its spatial distribution was aggregated. Mapping o f some species density showed the diversity of spatial patterns in the field. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.