RECORD AND ABUNDANCE OF EARTHWORMS AT BETHUADAHARI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY , NADIA , WEST BENGAL

For the conservation of biological diversity, the idea of egtablishment of 'Conservation Areas', such as, Biosphere Reserve, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, etc. has been conceptualized. Owing to the paucity of information on the fauna of Conservation Areas, Zoological Survey of India has taken up the faunal explorations of different Conservation Areas of our country. With a view to study the earthworm fauna of Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, Nadia, and also to study the effects of the devastating flood during September, 2000, three study tours were conducted during 2000-2002.


INTRODUCTION
For the conservation of biological diversity, the idea of egtablishment of 'Conservation Areas', such as, Biosphere Reserve, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, etc. has been conceptualized.Owing to the paucity of information on the fauna of Conservation Areas, Zoological Survey of India has taken up the faunal explorations of different Conservation Areas of our country.With a view to study the earthworm fauna of Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, Nadia, and also to study the effects of the devastating flood during September, 2000, three study tours were conducted during 2000-2002.
A devastating flood started on 18th September, 2000 and lasted for 7 days, i.e., up to 24th September, 2000 with a maximum height of 8 to 9 feet of water.Most of the places of the sanctuary remained under water during this period.It was reported from the sanctuary people that several varieties of earthworms are usually seen in the area during rainy season.It was further reported that during last flood period the area remained under 8 to 9 feet of water for a period of about one week.During that time numerous earthworms were found crawling and ultimately died.
From the relevant literature (Halder, 1998;Julka, 1988;Stephenson, 1923) it appears that there is no published infonnation on the earthworms fauna of Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, Nadia.Hence, the present authors made a sincere attempt to study and record the availability of the earthworms of Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, and also recorded the revival of the natural earthwonn fauna of the sanctuary.

ABOUT THE SANCTUARY
The sanctuary, with a land area of 67.86 hectare, is only 140 km from Kolkata and only 25 km north of Krishnanagar, is situated by the side of N.H. 34, and is well connected by road and rail.
The Bethuadahari town and the Railway Stn. are barely half a kilometer away.Lalgola bound train can be availed from the Sealdah stn.Nearest Airport is Dumdum, Kolkata.Altogether 12 stations were selected for the present study purpose (Fig. 1).
In 1969, a pair of chital and a fawn were brought in from the Zoological Garden, Alipur.Thereafter 13 Chitals, 3 barking deers and 4 Sambars were introduced in 1970, from the Nandankanan Zoological Garden, Orissa.The current population of chital is around 290 to 300, whereas, other two species could not survive there.
Remarks: This is a common species, however, recorded mostly during post monsoon periods.Diagnosis : Clitellum annular on XIV -XVI; setae perichaetine; spermathecal pores 4 pairs, minute, in 5/6-8/9; male pores in XVIII, minute, each in a small disc on median wall near roof of a copulatory pouch; female pore single, mid-ventral, on XIV; genital markings paired, circular in setal circle slightly median to male pore line; pigment brown; gizzard between septa 7/8 and 819.
Remarks : Like Lampito mauritii, this is also a commonly occurring species within the sanctuary.Diagnosis: Clitellum annular, XIII-XVII.Spermathecal pores 2 pairs, near mid-ventral line, in 7/8, 8/9; male pores in small transverse protuberances within a single male field, each protuberance with a slightly irregular transverse groove containing apertures of 4-9 peri setal follicles, on XVIII; female pore single, mid-ventral, on XIV; genital markings absent; nephridiopores inconspicuous, in one rather irregular longitudinal rank on each side near mL.

Genus
Remarks: This is recorded for the first time from Nadia district.The species is also very common within the sanctuary, however, restricted to the moist humus mixed soil near kitchen drainage.Remarks: This species is recorded for the first time from Nadia district, and recorded during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods.

DISCUSSION
The present attempt was made to study the earthworm fauna of Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, Nadia district, West Bengal, with the idea of getting a baseline information on the group.Moreover, it was also aimed to know the rate of revival of the earthworm fauna after the devastating flood in September, 2000.