ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCES OF SOME EARTHWORM SPECIES IN SOUTHWEST SPAIN

A total of 80 samples were taken from three SW provinces of Spain (Cac eres, Badajoz and Huelva), from which 28 earthworm species were collec ted and 22 soil factors analyzed. The zone studied has a continental c limate with scarce rainfall, high temperatures during the summer month s and Mediterranean vegetation. Attempting to characterize the ecologi cal preferences of those species present in more than 5% of the sample s, we used the technique of ecological profiles, to point out species' preferences for such factors. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.