晋西黄土丘陵区不同人工林枯落物持水特性研究

为了定量评价森林枯落物的水文功能,通过野外观测和浸水法实验,调查了晋西黄土丘陵区不同人工林枯落物的蓄积量,分析了枯落物的持水能力与过程,并对枯落物持水量、吸水速率与浸泡时间的相互关系进行了研究。结果表明,枯落物蓄积量为6.81~56.64t/hm²,由大到小表现为:落叶松×白桦>落叶松>侧柏>油松×刺槐>油松>白桦>柠条>刺槐不同森林类型的枯落物最大持水量为10.08~100.78t/hm²,最大持水率变化范围为146.54%~203.74%,最大拦蓄量为9.41~88.65t/hm²,有效拦蓄量为7.90~73.53t/hm²枯落物浸水实验结果表明,枯落物持水量与浸水时间存在对数曲线关系,而枯落物吸水速率与浸泡时间呈反函数关系,在浸泡最初的0.5h持水量迅速增加,随后增幅减小,在12h以后枯落物吸水基本达到了最大值,持水量趋于动态平衡。表明落叶松×白桦混交林林下枯落物是8种林地中持水性最优的,刺槐纯林枯落物持水特性最差。     

大辽河流域水源涵养林枯落物持水特性研究

为探求大辽河流域水源涵养林枯落物的持水特性,以大辽河流域红松、落叶松、蒙古栎、杨桦、山杨、杂木林、胡桃楸灌木林和荒草地为研究对象,通过野外观测和浸水法,建立了枯落物持水量、吸水速率和浸泡时间的相互关系。结果表明:(1)不同林分枯落物总厚度和现存量为蒙古栎最大,分别为4.83cm和30.70t/hm²;灌木林最小,分别为0.65cm和3.32t/hm²。(2)最大持水量为3.97~36.02t/hm²,最大拦蓄量为3.34~34.06t/hm²,有效拦蓄量为0.85~20.39t/hm²,均表现为蒙古栎林最大,而灌木林和草地最小。(3)浸水实验结果表明,枯落物持水量与浸泡时间之间存在对数关系,枯落物吸水速率与浸泡时间之间存在幂函数关系,不同森林类型枯落物持水量和吸水速率随时间的动态变化规律基本相似。     

晋西黄土区典型林分枯落物层水文生态特性研究

选择山杨栎类次生林（以下简称次生林）、刺槐林、侧柏林、油松林为研究对象，通过样地调查，结合室内浸泡方法，对比分析枯落物（未分解层、半分解层）的水文特征指标，研究典型林分枯落物层水文生态特性。结果表明：（1）枯落物厚度为3.93~4.95 cm，刺槐林最大，油松林最小；蓄积量为次生林最大（19.28 t/hm²），侧柏林（18.03 t/hm²）和刺槐林（17.57 t/hm²）次之，油松林最小（14.73 t/hm²），未分解层蓄积量小于半分解层。（2）枯落物最大持水量（率）为30.92~61.31 t/hm²（197%~320%），次生林最大，依次为刺槐林、侧柏林，最小为油松林。（3）枯落物有效拦蓄存在显著差异（P>0.05），表现为次生林（31.29 t/hm²） > 刺槐（22.20 t/hm²） > 侧柏（18.19 t/hm²） > 油松（13.94 t/hm²），有效拦蓄率为107%~173%。（4）在浸水2 h内，枯落物持水量和吸水速率变化以次生林与刺槐林最为迅速，半分解层较未分解层变化迅速；持水过程中，两者与时间分别呈对数函数（R²>0.89）和幂函数关系（R²>0.99）。在4种林地中，次生林林下枯落物水文生态潜力最优，油松纯林最差，表现为次生林 > 刺槐 > 侧柏 > 油松。刺槐是除次生林外的3种人工林中最优林种。建议研究区内合理优化恢复树种配置，以提高水文生态功能。     

多因素干扰下森林公园枯落物水文效应

为探究森林公园植被的水源涵养能力,为森林公园植被配置和经营管理提供依据,研究选取天龙山森林公园6种林分(油松、山杨、刺槐、油松—侧柏混交林、侧柏—油松—杏树混交和灌木林)为研究对象,通过测定林下枯落物厚度、蓄积量、持水性能和干扰度等指标,研究不同林分类型枯落物水文效应。结果表明:(1)所有林分枯落物干扰度范围为无到中度,厚度范围为0.57~2.63 cm,山杨最厚,侧柏—油松—杏混交林最薄;蓄积量范围为7.20~16.30 t/hm²,油松—侧柏混交林最大,侧柏—油松—杏混交林最小。(2)6种林分除山杨林以外,半分解层最大持水量均大于未分解层持水量,其中油松—侧柏最大,山杨最小;未分解层最大持水率均大于半分解层,刺槐最大,灌木林最小。枯落物的总最大持水量为20.02~27.90 t/hm²,总最大持水率为187.40%~277.89%,针阔混交林的持水率较高。(3)山杨有效拦蓄量最大,为15.05 t/hm²,而油松最小,为12.33 t/hm²;侧柏—油松—杏混交林的拦蓄率最大;(4)枯落物持水量、持水率与时间分别为对数和幂函数关系,均在泡水2 h达到极值。综合对比6种林分,轻度干扰的山杨水文效益最优,中度干扰的油松纯林、油松—侧柏混交林最差;阔叶树种水文效应较优于针叶树种,针阔混交优于纯林。研究结果可为森林公园植被管理和水土保持效益评价提供参考依据。     

青海高寒区人工林枯落物及土壤水文效应

以青海省大通县宝库林场5种典型人工林的枯落物层和土壤层为研究对象,对其水文效应进行了初步研究。结果表明：(1)枯落物储量为34.69~67.84t/hm²,大小为落叶松林 > 云杉落叶松混交林云杉林 > 白桦林 > 云杉白桦混交林。枯落物最大持水量为80.30~150.73t/hm²,持水量最大为云杉落叶松混交林,其次是落叶松林,白桦林和云衫白桦混交林,最小为云杉林。云杉落叶松混交林有效拦蓄能力最强,为94.32t/hm²;云杉林有效拦蓄能力最弱,为45.40t/hm²。(2)未分解层枯落物浸水在8h左右基本达到饱和状态,而半分解层在6h已经接近饱和;在0.5h内,枯落物吸水速率达到最大,6h左右下降速度明显放缓。(3)土壤层持水能力最强的是云杉落叶松混交林,最小的是云杉白桦混交林。     

不同龄组兴安落叶松林枯落物的水文效应

[目的]分析大兴安岭地区不同龄组兴安岭落叶松林枯落物蓄积量持水特性,为该地区森林水文效应研究提供理论基础和重要依据。[方法]选择不同龄组兴安落叶松天然林为研究对象,通过设置标准样地测定枯落物蓄积量,并采用浸水法测定枯落物持水特性,分析不同龄组兴安落叶松天然林枯落物水文效应。[结果]4个龄组兴安落叶松林枯落物蓄积量变化介于28.03~34.32t/hm2之间,最大持水量介于87.09~109.52t/hm2,最大持水量表现为随着林龄增加而增加的变化趋势,且半分解层的蓄积量都大于未分解层;经统计分析,试验4个龄组兴安落叶松林枯落物未分解层、半分解层的持水量与浸泡时间之间均符合对数关系,且吸水速率与浸泡时间之间也符合指数关系;枯落物对降水的拦蓄能力总体来看,半分解层对降雨的拦蓄能力较未分解层强。[结论]大兴安岭地区不同龄组兴安落叶松林枯落物蓄积量差异显著(除成熟林和近熟林之间),成熟林、近熟林和中林龄对于降水的拦蓄能力较幼龄林强。     

冀西北山地华北落叶松和白桦林下枯落物水文特征

[目的]探讨冀西北山区不同人工林枯落物持水特性的差异,为该地区森林水文循环和森林开发管理提供基础依据。[方法]以冀西北张家口市崇礼山区的华北落叶松、白桦人工林为研究对象,在林下设置标准样地,测定枯落物层厚度和蓄积量,通过室内浸泡法测定持水特征。[结果]华北落叶松和白桦林下枯落物层厚度分别为4.2,3.4cm,枯落物蓄积量为10.90,4.92t/hm2;浸泡24h后华北落叶松枯落物(未分解层和半分解层)总持水量为4 228.5g/kg,白桦枯落物(未分解层和半分解层)总持水量为5 208.6g/kg,二者的有效拦蓄量分别为14.06,8.85t/hm2。在整个持水过程中,华北落叶松、白桦林下枯落物持水量、吸水速率与浸水时间的变化规律基本一致,均在前4h内持水作用较强,4~8h后逐渐变缓,10h后其持水量基本达到饱和;枯落物持水量与浸水时间存在对数曲线关系,而吸水速率与浸泡时间存在幂函数关系。[结论]森林枯落物层发挥水文功能由持水能力和蓄积量共同决定,在森林经营管理过程中应充分考虑包括树种组成和搭配、林分密度等因子的影响。     

小兴安岭不同森林类型枯落物储量及其持水特性比较

[目的]对小兴安岭主要森林类型林下枯落物蓄积量进行调查分析和持水特性研究,为该区森林生态服务功能评价提供重要依据和理论基础。[方法]选择6种典型森林类型设置样地测定枯落物现储量,并采用浸水法对枯落物持水特性进行测定,计算其最大拦蓄量和有效拦蓄量。[结果]主要森林类型枯落物蓄积量介于13.53~29.48t/hm2,大多是半分解层蓄积量高于未分解层。不同森林类型最大持水率与最大持水量表现不一致,其中最大持水率为243.19%~524.0%,最大持水量为56.81~106.90t/hm2。不同森林类型的最大拦蓄量与有效拦蓄量的表现也略有差异,最大拦蓄量为33.43~64.42t/hm2,有效拦蓄量为24.91~48.38t/hm2。枯落物层的持水率与浸泡时间呈显著对数关系,而吸水速率与浸泡时间呈显著幂函数关系。[结论]受树种特性、枯落物储量、分解速率及林龄的影响,该区不同森林类型林下枯落物储量及其持水特性差异显著。     

文献三峡库区森林植被林地枯落物现存量及其持水能力

 基于三峡库区森林资源2类清查数据,结合森林植被林地枯落物现存量样地调查及浸泡实验,建立关于浸泡时间的持水量和吸水速率系列预测模型,对库区主要森林植被类型林地枯落物现存量及持水特性进行研究。结果表明:1)三峡库区不同植被类型林地枯落物现存量在一些类型间存在显著差异——杉木林林地枯落物现存量最高,达到11.610 t/hm²;柏木林枯落物现存量最低,仅为3.948t/hm²。2)不同森林植被类型林地枯落物的含水率竹林最高,达到182.9%,柏木林枯落物含水率最低,仅为32.2%。3)所有森林植被类型林地枯落物持水量均随浸泡时间的延长而增大,24h后增加速度急剧下降,48h后基本达到饱和;竹林枯落物的饱和持水量最高,达到自身质量的3.367倍,灌木林最低,为2.089倍。4)不同森林植被类型林地枯落物在前2h内吸水速度最大,类型间差别也较大,之后急剧下降,20 h后类型间吸水速度趋向一致,48h后基本不再吸收水分。5)三峡库区不同森林植被林地枯落物现存量干质量总量为2 048万5 668 t,枯落物对单场次降水的潜在持水总量为4 695万3 451t,现实饱和持水总量为3 291万7 480t。单位面积林地枯落物潜在持水量和现实饱和持水量的空间分布体现"东高西低,南高北低"的特征。研究结果可为科学评价森林植被水源涵养功能奠定基础,也可为三峡库区林业生态工程规划与建设提供理论依据。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区典型灌木林地枯落物的蓄积特征及持水性能

[目的]对黄土丘陵区不同植被枯落物层持水效能进行研究,为该区植被恢复和水土流失防治提供理论基础。[方法]以柠条、沙棘、狼牙刺、杠柳4种典型灌木林地枯落物层为研究对象,采用室内浸泡法对其水文效应特征进行分析。[结果]①沙棘林地地表枯落物蓄积量最大(1.048 kg/m~2);沙棘林地土壤中枯落物量最大(0.674 kg/m~2);土壤中枯落物占枯落物总蓄积量的20.15%～68.75%,其中柠条和狼牙刺土壤中枯落物高于地表枯落物。②地表枯落物和混入土壤枯落物的持水量均随浸泡时间呈极显著对数函数关系(R~2≥0.745,p0.01),地表枯落物5 min持水量可以达到最大持水量的40%,且与最大持水量存在显著的幂函数关系(R~2=0.38,p0.01),可以通过5 min持水量来拟合最大持水量,而混入土壤枯落物并没有呈现这一规律。混入土壤枯落物的持水量显著大于地表,其中地表枯落物有效持水量杠柳最大(2.13 g/g),土壤中枯落物有效持水量柠条最大(1.90 g/g)。③地表枯落物有效拦蓄量沙棘林地最大,为21.16 t/hm~2;土壤中枯落物有效拦蓄量柠条林地最大,为10.01 t/hm~2;土壤中枯落物拦蓄量的校正系数变化范围在0.18～0.42之间。[结论]土壤中枯落物不容忽视,其混入量占枯落物总蓄积量的1/5甚至2/3以上;柠条总有效持水量最大,而受枯落物类型和积累量的影响,沙棘总拦蓄能力最大,具有较强的水源涵养和水土保持功能。     

Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

On the Taxonomy of the Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’

The difficulty and problems encountered in the study of cultivated plants, in general and sugarcane, in particular has been indicated. In order to understand these problems, a brief review on the taxonomy of Saccharum and closely related taxa, namely, Erianthus, Sclerostachya, Narenga and Miscanthus (generally known as ‘Saccharum complex’) has been given. A short account on the important morphological features that are specific to sugarcane has also been stated as classification is commonly based on such morphological characters. A note has been added on the chromosome number, origin, and distribution of the species of ‘Saccharum complex’ members. Taxonomic keys have been devised for identification of the genera of Saccharinae and for the species of Saccharum and Erianthus occurring in India. A new combination, Sclerostachya fallax (Balansa) Amalraj et Balasundaram, has also been proposed.     

Polymorphism of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in three species of Aegilops

A collection of 136 accessions of Aegilops umbellulata (39), Ae. comosa (75) and Ae. markgrafii (22) was analysed for high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits composition. The homogeneity of the accessions was studied and 55.1% of the collection was homogeneous for HMW glutenin subunits (29 Ae. umbellulata, 33 Ae. comosa and 14 Ae. markgrafii). The HMW glutenin subunits of Ae. umbellulata are encoded by the Glu-U1 locus; in Ae. comosa results showed that this proteins are encoded at the 1M chromosome, and the locus was named Glu-M1. In Ae. markgrafii it was assumed that HMW glutenin subunits were encoded by an homoeologous locus and it was named Glu-C1. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and Ae. markgrafii expressed both, x-type and y-type subunits. Among the Ae. comosa accessions, only one expressed an x-type subunit alone. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and some of Ae. comosa had x-type glutenins of higher molecular weights than those commonly present in bread wheat. A total of 8 alleles were detected at the Glu-U1 locus, 11 at the Glu-M1 and 4 at the Glu-C1. The new HMW glutenin variation found in this work suggests their possible utilisation in breeding for wheat quality.     

Effect of agroforestry woody species on earthworm activity and physicochemical properties of worm casts

The effects of five agroforestry woody species (Dactyladenia barteri, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Senna siamea andTreculia africana) on the surface aasting activity ofHyperiodrilus africanus were studied in an Alfisol (Oxic Paleustalf) in southwestern Nigeria. Casting activity under the woody species decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp. (26.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Gliricidia sp. (24.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Treculia sp. (22.9 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Leucaena sp. (18.6 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Senna sp. (18.3 Mg ha^-1 year^-1). These differences in casting activity were partly explained by microclimatic effects. Irrespective of the woody species, the worm casts were higher in clay and silt contents, bulk density, water-stable aggregates, pH, organic C, exchangeable cations, effective cation exchange capacity, and extractable P levels than the corresponding surface soils. The woody species did affect the physicochemical properties and P sorption of the worm casts. The content of water-stable aggregates of worm casts decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp.>Treculia sp.>Senna sp.>Leucaena sp.>Gliricidia sp. Large differences in extractable P levels were observed.Senna sp. was associated with the highest extractable P level (11.5 mg kg^-1) andTreculia sp. the lowest (4.9 mg kg^-1). P sorption was highest on worm casts underDactyladenia sp. and lowest on those underTreculia sp. Without fertilizer application, there were no significant differences in the dry weight of maize grown in the different worm casts. With NPK applications, the dry weight of maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was significantly lower than that of maize grown in the other worm casts, mainly due to the low extractable P level. Despite a high organic C and exchangeable K status, maize grown in the worm casts still responded significantly to N and K applications. The N uptake by maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was lower than that in the other treatments.     

Diversity of native rice (Oryza Poaceae:) species of Costa Rica

We found several populations of wild Oryza species in the lowlands of Costa Rica. The plants showed extensive morphological variation, suggesting the presence of several species. In the morphologic study, 33 traits were scored for plants of all the species. A principal component analysis revealed the significant morphological separation of the different species. The analyses indicated that there are three species, O. grandi­glumis, O. latifolia and O. glumaepatula. Two putative hybrid types were found, both significantly differing in their morphology from the known species and intermediate at several traits. O. grandi­glumis is a new record for Costa Rican flora. Its main population is located in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Los Chiles, Alajuela. O. latifolia is distributed throughout the lowlands of the country and the plants of the Atlantic slope are significantly bigger in general habit than those of the Guanacaste area. During this study a population of O. glumaepatula of hundreds of thousands of plants was discovered in the Medio Queso River wetland, Los Chiles, Alajuela. This population is the most important source of genes for cultivar's improvement from the primary gene pool of rice in Costa Rica. The small ligule and the wide flag leaf characteristic of the two CCDD species separated them from the AA diploid O. glumaepatula. Seed size, ligule size, number of branches in the panicle, plant height and sterile lemma length are all bigger in O. grandi­glumis, and influenced the second factor that separated the CCDD species in two discrete clusters. The species found offer great possibilities for the improvement of rice cultivars and they should be thoroughly studied and appropriately protected.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Actinidia and related genera based on micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes

The phylogenetic relationships within the genus Actinidia and among 3 allied genera Clematoclethra, Saurauia, and Sladenia have been very controversial. In order to understand the systematic implication of foliar trichomes in those genera, the micromorphological characteristics of foliar trichomes from 34 taxa were examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed micromorphological characteristics were classified into eight main types. A phylogenetic analysis of Actinidia and related genera based on 15 micromorphological characters of foliar trichomes was conducted using Wagner parsimony method and Sladenia celastrifolia, Rhododendron hybridum and R. simsii as a complex outgroup. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, Actinidia is shown to be a monophyletic group, and Clematoclethra and Saurauia form another monophyletic group. This study also presents the phylogenetic relationships among 4 sections within the genus Actinidia: the monophyly of sect. Leiocarpae and of sect. Strigosae, and polyphyly of sect. Maculatae and of sect. Stellatae.     

Genetic diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in different regions of Flanders (Belgium)

We investigated the diversity of rhizobia isolated from different indigenous legumes in Flanders (Belgium). A total of 3810 bacterial strains were analysed originating from 43 plant species. Based on rep-PCR clustering, 16S rRNA gene and recA gene sequence analysis, these isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer (Sinorhizobium), Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium. Of the genera encountered, Rhizobium was the most abundant (62%) and especially the species Rhizobiumleguminosarum, followed by Ensifer (19%), Bradyrhizobium (14%) and finally Mesorhizobium (5%). For two rep-clusters only low similarity values with other genera were found for both the 16S rRNA and recA genes, suggesting that these may represent a new genus with close relationship to Rhodopseudomonas and Bradyrhizobium. Primers for the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH were optimized and a phylogenetic sequence analysis revealed the presence of different symbiovars including genistearum, glycinearum, loti, meliloti, officinalis, trifolii and viciae. Moreover, three new nodC types were assigned to strains originating from Ononis, Robinia and Wisteria, respectively. Discriminant and MANOVA analysis confirmed the correlation of symbiosis genes with certain bacterial genera and less with the host plant. Multiple symbiovars can be present within the same host plant, suggesting the promiscuity of these plants. Moreover, the ecoregion did not contribute to the separation of the bacterial endosymbionts. Our results reveal a large diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in Flanders. Most of the legumes harboured more than one rhizobial endosymbiont in their root nodules indicating the importance of including sufficient isolates per plant in diversity studies.     

Effect of passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) on the number of selected Gram-negative and total bacteria

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the fate of bacteria during and after passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) were fed with cattle dung inoculated 7 days previously with one of five different Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial concentrations were determined 2 days later in dung and soil, and in gut material from different parts of the earthworm intestinal tract. A high percentage (28–82%) of the total bacteria (epifluorescence direct counts) in the earthworm gut content was culturable. The concentration of total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria did not vary significantly among the five different bacterial additions and the non-inoculated control. In earthworm casts the number of total heterotrophs per gram dry matter (2.1×10⁹) was higher than in soil (1.7×10⁸), but lower than in the dung (1.5×10¹⁰). The test-bacteria, however, showed different survival patterns along the earthworm intestinal tract. The concentrations of Escherichia coli BJ 18 and Pseudomonas putida MM 1 and MM 11 in earthworm casts were lower than in the ingested dung, while concentrations of Enterobacter cloacae A 107 and Aeromonas hydrophila DMU 115 in dung and casts were similar. Ent. cloacae, and to aminor extent E. coli, were reduced in numbers by several orders of magnitude in the pharynx and/or crop. In the hind gut, however, the concentration of Ent. cloacae had increased to the same level as in the ingested dung, while the concentration of E. coli remained low. Our observations indicate that the bacterial flora of ingested food materials changes qualitatively and quantitatively during gut transit.