Distribution of earthworm species in highly pollution prone surrounding areas of paradeep phosphate limited, paradeep

It has been a long time concern raised by ecologist and environmentalist over various threats from industrialization and urbanization which influence consistently terrestrial ecosystem and its biota from last two decades. Present investigation conducted to assess the species diversity of earthworms with their inhabiting soil physicochemical analysis to ascertain the range of impact under the hammer of Paradeep Phosphate Limited PPL pollution. Investigation revealed five earthworm species, Octochaetona surensis, Octochaetona barkudensis, Lampito mauriti, Perionyx excavates and Pontoscolex corethrurs belongs to three families, Octichaetidae, Megascolecidae and Glossoscolecidae. Perionyx excavates was the new arrival for this particular region of Odisha because it was not reported previously in this particular part of the district. Physicochemical assessment of soil ascertain that soil was highly contaminated with heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Zn and As, which directly influence the earthworm population and its inhabiting number. Concentration of heavy metals was Cr>Cd>Pb>Hg>Zn>As>Cu>Ni. Particularly the around areas of PPL shows high contamination with heavy metals and very low pH (3.4) with high electrical conductivity (0.5) which is the consequence of high metallic deposit on soil. But the soil contamination levels gradually decreases with increasing distance from the plant.