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Eanhworms are the most imponant members of soil detritivores in temperate forests. Soil productivity and plant growth are significanthy affectad by biological activities of earthworms.' Density and biomass of eanhworms represent the biological activity and quality of given soils.
Considering the note above, investigation on the earthworm's population and its relationship with
vegetation and soil is a necessity for determining the ecological potential of forest stands.
Density and biomass of earthworms were studied in Oak-Hornbeam, Hornbeam and Beech forests of Neka from Nov. 1996 to Dec. 1997. In each forest, 20 circular soil samples of 81 em2 to the depth of 30 em were taken every month. Each sample was divided into 3 subsamples includig 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm layers.
Larger earthworms were collected by handsoning and tbe smaller ones extracted by using Berlese funnel, then oven-dried at 60° Cand weighed with 0.0001 gr precision. Texture, bulk density, C:N and pH of soil were measured.
This study showed that tbe density and biomass of earthworms of tbe Hornbeam forest are larger than those of the Oak-Hornbeam and Beech forests, but these conditions are approximately equal in the
Oak-Hornbeam and Beech forests. The maximum number and biomass of earthworms are found in 0-10 cm soil depth. The number and biomass of earthworms increased in autumn and spring and decreased in winter
and summer.