RATIFICATION PAGE

The complete report of Animal Ecology experiment unit 6 with experiment

title “Measurement of Abundance and Distribution of Worm Population” created by:

Name : Nuni Rismayanti Nurkalbi

Reg. no : 071 404 193

Class : Bilingual Biology

Group : III (Third)

Have been investigation by assistant and assistant coordinator and this report

is accepted.

Makassar, May 2010

Assistant Coordinator

Risna Irawati

Assistant

Misnawaty, S. Si

Known by,

Lecturer of responsible

Prof. Dr.Musyafar, M.Pd. NIP: 1955 06 06 1983 031 003

CHAPTER IINTRODUCTION

A. Background

Ecology is a new name for a very old subject. It simply means scientific

natural history. To a great many zoologists the word "natural history" brings up a

rather clear vision of parties of naturalists going forth on excursion, prepared to

swoop down on any rarity, which will serve to swell the local list of species. It is

a fact that natural history has fallen into disrepute among zoologists, at any rate in

England, and since it is a very serious matter that scientists should neglect a third

of the whole subject of zoology, we may ask for reasons. The discoveries of

Charles Darwin in the middle of the nineteenth century gave a tremendous

impetus to the Study of species and the classification of animals. Although

Linnaeus had laid the foundation of this work many years before, it was find that

previous descriptions of species were far too rough and ready, and that a revision

and reorganization of the whole subject was necessary. It was further realize that

many of the brilliant observations of the older naturalists were render practically

useless through the insufficient identification of the animals upon which they had

worked.

It is undeniable that today's circumstances, was no longer in its natural

condition. It can be seen from the emergence of various polluting agents. In fact,

any human being has a share in this. As a result, some specific populations in an

environment become increasingly reduced. Not even rare to extinct. This also

affected the lack of germ plasm in our country.

One example that we can see is invertebrates, especially earthworms.

Sometimes in a given place or area, so a lot of earthworm populations (population

boom), or vice versa where earthworm populations become very small. This

phenomenon is actually very interesting to learn. Besides, because earthworms

are not too difficult to be found so that we do allow this practice, as an

appreciation of the science of animal ecology in general. Or in other words, lab

work on measuring the abundance and distribution of earthworm populations are

expected to represent the application of the science of population estimates in the

field of animal ecology.

Basically, the diversity of living things is an expression that reflects the

variation of different species, appearance, characteristics, or the number of

individuals contained in a living communion on the level of individual organisms

or species and genetic traits. Various exposures above has led us to conduct such

experiments, as well as various literature studies we have done, either in college

or in the form has been the literature. And also to know well the phenomena that

occur in populations of insects in one place.

B. Purpose

The purpose of this experiment is to study the abundance and distribution

of earthworm populations in different habitats.

C. Benefit

Through this practice is expect to apprentice can learn and know about the

abundance and distribution of earthworm populations in different habitats.

CHAPTER IIPREVIEW OF LITERATURE

Ecology (from Greek: οἶκος, "house" or "living relations"; -λογία, "study of")

is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the distributions, abundance and relations of

organisms and their interactions with the environment. Ecology is also the study of

ecosystems. Ecosystems describe the web or network of relations among organisms at

different scales of organization. Since ecology refers to any form of biodiversity,

ecologists research everything from tiny bacteria's role in nutrient recycling to the

effects of tropical rain forest on the Earth's atmosphere. The discipline of ecology

emerged from the natural sciences in the late 19th century. Ecology is not synonymous

with environment, environmentalism, or environmental science. Ecology is closely

related to the disciplines of physiology, evolution, genetics and behavior (Anonyma,

2010).

According begon et al (1990) in order to understand agihan and abundance of

a species is important to know many things, such as the history of the species,

resource needs, birth and death rates and migration of individuals within the species,

intra-specific interaction and inter-specific, and the influence of environmental

conditions. A condition given a definition as an ang abiotic environmental factor

varies in space and time. Beings respond differently to these conditions. Examples

include temperature, relative humidity, pH, salinity, water current velocity of the

river, and the levels of pollutants. A condition can be modified by the presence of

other creatures, such as soil pH can be changed by the presence of vegetation, air

temperature and moisture may change under a canopy of trees in the forest. Unlike

the resource, then follow the conditions can be used or consumed by the creatures or

created such that no more or less can be used by other creatures. Kendeigh (1980)

states that all living beings react to the habitat of animals with their own ways, and

when the creature in the count a lot then the reaction will produce real effects.

Changes in physical and chemical changes in the aquatic environment as a result

because of creatures that live in the environment are given the term akutik water

conditioning. Compared with water that does not have conditioning, so that changes

can be tangible beneficial effects may be intangible or a bad influence for beings that

are left alive in the aquatic environment after original creature is removed from the

environment. Air conditioned homotipik called whenever a change is produced earlier

by the same individual species by species under review and the water was as

conditioned heterotipik if the changes produced by different species (Soetjipta, 1994:

104).

Medium has several functions for animals, namely as a place to live, for

example: fish live in water, sources of materials required for the metabolism of the

body, eg land animals obtain oxygen from the air, throwing the rest of metabolism,

for example remove carbon dioxide, and feces, where reproduce, such as frogs go to

water to mate and lay eggs, spread the seed, for example: the freshwater crab larvae

(megalopa) spread in the river waters after migrating epidermis and the sea to the

river upstream. Mediums have several differences, namely the composition, the heat

propagation speed, the nature of the changes as a result of changes in temperature,

surface tension viscosity, density and pressure. Differences in the nature of its effect

on the properties of ecological habitats. Substrate is the surface where organisms live

or move, or solid objects where the organisms carry out all or part of his life. Every

organism requires a medium, but not all have the substrate. Water animals that are

pelagic (swimming or floating) did not have the substrate. Another difference is the

medium did not change as a result and the activity of the organism, but the substrates

are modified by the activity of the organism, eg the soil is fertile meadows became

customary if used for herding cattle continuously. Important function of the substrate

is a beachhead, the place to build houses, and places to eat. Some kinds of animals

using the substrate as a shelter, because the same color as the color of the body, such

as chameleons and locust wood (Susanto, 2000: 15).

Light is also important for the development and behavior of many plants and

animals ang sensitive to photoperiod, ie the relative lengths of day and night.

Photoperiod is a more reliable indicator ang compared with the temperature, in giving

clues to seasonal events, such as the inflorescence or transfer (migration). Winds

strengthen the influence of environmental temperature on organisms by increasing

heat loss through evaporation (evaporation) and convection (wind-chill factor or

cooling by the wind). The wind also causes the loss of water in organisms by

increasing the evaporation rate in animals and the rate of transpiration in plants. In

addition, wind can cause a fundamental influence on plant growth form, ie by

inhibiting the growth of tree limbs that are on the side of the wind direction, the tree

limbs that are in the opposite direction with the wind direction will grow normally,

which produce an appearance of "wave the flag." Physical structure, pH, and mineral

composition of rocks and soil will limit the spread of plants and animals that eat

them, thereby becoming one of the causes of patterns clustered in certain areas at

random (patchiness) in terrestrial ecosystems that we often see. In the river flow,

substrate composition can affect the chemical factors in water, which in turn will

affect plant and animal inhabitants of aquatic ecosystems. Substrate structure on the

marine environment in the tidal zone (intertidal zone) and determine the type of

seabed organisms that can be attached or meliang in such habitats (Campbell, 2004:

334).

Measurement of population abundance of a species can be done in a way that

diversity. The method is felt to a hewn ocok: for example, it may not ocok for specie:

another animal. Important determinant of choosing a way that is deemed suitable is

the goal and purposes of measurement, body size and mobility of the general

behavior of animals was investigated, as well as time and labor availability and skills

of measurement execution. One method, usual method for estimating the abundance

of various kinds of invertebrate animals is the method, sampling) squared. Procedures

performed by all individuals from sejumIah menca large numbers obtained

mengekstrapolarisasikan squares for the entire area to be investigated. Confidence

level of this method depends on the method depends on three things: (I) squared must

be known with precision. (II) Square sampled Squares represent the whole area

occupied by the population, (III) of the square of the number of individuals with

appropriate tercacah. Earthworm populations in a habitat are largely determined by

the condition of these habitats. The physical properties of soil determine the type of

chemical that can live in this place (Lahay, 2010: 32-33).

Location conditions for earthworms are: Soil as a medium of live worms must

contain a large amount of organic material. Soil organic materials can be derived

from litter (fallen leaves), animal manure or dead plants and animals. Earthworms

like material that is easy to rot because they are more easily digested by the body. For

good growth, earthworms need the soil to neutral or slightly acidic pH of about 6 to

7.2. With this condition, the bacteria in the earthworm body can work optimally for

the conduct of decomposition or fermentation. Optimum moisture for the growth and

proliferation of earthworms is 15-30%. Temperature required for growth of

earthworms and cocoon hatching was about 15-25 ºC or lukewarm. Higher

temperatures from 25 ºC, both the origin there is adequate shade and moisture

optimum. Location rearing earthworms cultivated for easy handling and oversight and

not exposed to direct sunlight, for example, under the shade tree, the house edge or

special subjects (permanent), whose roof is made from materials which do not carry

the light and does not store heat (Anonymb, 2010).

Environment for animals is all biotic and abiotic factors that da around

animals and can influence it. Each animal can only pass live, grow and reproduce in

an environment that provides suitable conditions for him and the resources needed,

and avoid Bari abiotic factors and biotic environment that endanger the survival of

her life. Abiotic environmental factors include animal or subtratum medium (soil,

water), live, and the factors of weather and climate (temperature, moisture, air, light

intensity). Biotic environment includes other animals among animal species, different

species, plants and microbes. The relationship between the animal and its

environment are reciprocal. As already stated above, the success of animal life is

largely determined by the conditions and resources contained in these settings can

also be changed by the presence and impact of the activities of living animals. For

example, the presence of deer in a meadow or forest somber days pointed to the

availability of adequate food and environmental conditions suitable for deer life. And

vice versa, the presence of deer in habitats such as grassland herbivore doing

(grazing), as the organisms are exchanging penafasan gases (O2 and CO2), as animals

that remove organic manure into the soil, will determine the style and condition of the

prairie environment or forest (Dharmawan, 2004: 15).

CHAPTER IIIEXPERIMENT METHOD

A. Time and Place

Day / date : Wednesday/ May 5th 2010

Time : at 03.00 until 06.00 pm

Place : at Green House and east side at the second floor of FMIPA

Biology Department, Makassar

B. Tool and Material

1. Tool

a. 2 squares (plot) size 30 x 30 cm

b. Soil tester

c. Terrmometer

d. Ohauss balance

e. hoe

2. Materials

a. Worm

b. Serasah

c. Soil

d. Plastic bags and big sized

C. Work procedures

Prepared tools and materials. Put square size of 30 x 30 cm at different

places. Took a leaf litter on the site. Excavated the soil to a depth of ± 30 cm and

took the land on the plot and put into a plastic bag. Retrieved and counted the

earthworms in each plot by hand sorting method. Measured the physical-

chemical conditions are: pH, soil, relative humidity by using soil tester.

Measured soil temperature used thermometers. Considered litter and soil from

each sample in the laboratory, and identified any earthworms found.

CHAPTER IVOBSERVATION RESULT AND DISCUSSION

A. Observation result1. In Close area

a. Measuring physical chemical of soil

No.Number of worm

Measuring physical chemical of soilWight of soil

(gr)

pHHumidity

(%)Temperature

(°C)

Content of litter(gr)

Wet Dry

1st - 6 40 26 58,5 255 165

2nd - 5,6 50 26 43,0 188 95

3rd - 5,8 40 26 55,0 210 89

4th 1 5,8 40 26 86,0 250 175

5th - 5,6 50 26 75,0 266 105

6th 4 5,8 30 26 60,0 210 89

7th - 5,6 50 26 80,0 214 71

8th 4 5,8 40 26 58,0 242 143

9th 1 5,8 50 26 69,0 290 180

10th 1 5,9 30 26 74,0 216 80

Sum 11 57,7 520 260 658,5 2341 1192

Average of pH = 57,710

=5 , 77

Average of humidity = 52010

=52,0

Average of temperature = 26010

=26

Average of content of litter = 658,5

10=65,85

Average of wet soil = 2341

10=234,1

Average of dry soil = 119210

=119,2

b. Number of worm

No.

Number of worm

Species

A

(3 cm)

Species

B

(6 cm)

Species

C

(8 cm)

Species

D

(9 cm)

Species

E

(10 cm)

Species

F

(12 cm)

Species

G

(14 cm)

1st - - - - - - -

2nd - - - - - - -

3rd - - - - - - -

4th - - - 1 - - -

5th - - - - - - -

6th - 1 1 1 - - 1

7th - - - - - - -

8th 1 - - 1 1 1 -

9th - - - 1 - - -

10th - - - - 1 - -

Sum 1 1 1 4 2 1 1

2. In open area

a. Measuring physical chemical of soil

No.Number

of worm

Measuring physical chemical of soil Wight of soil (gr)

pHHumidity

(%)

Temperature

(°C)

Content of

serasah

(gr)

Wet Dry

1st1 5,3 50 25 40,5 230,5 136,8

2nd2 5,4 45 25 42 231 133,1

3rd2 5,2 50 25 43,8 234,5 136,7

4th1 5,8 48 25 45,2 220,5 134,6

5th1 6 48 25 46,1 230,7 134,5

6th3 6 48 25 35,8 220,8 135,3

7th1 6,1 49 25 37 223,2 133,8

8th2 6,1 50 25 30,5 220,5 133,4

9th1 5,8 50 25 33,2 215,8 135,5

10th2 5,3 50 25 30 232 134,3

Sum 16 57 488 250 384,1 2259,5 1348

Average of pH = 5710

=5,7

Average of humidity = 48810

=48,8

Average of temperature = 25010

=25

Average of content of litter = 384,1

10=38,41

Average of wet soil = 2259,5

10=225,95

Average of dry soil = 1348

10=134,8

b. Number of worm

No.Number of worm

Species A(3 cm)

Species B(6 cm)

Species C(8 cm)

Species D(9 cm)

Species E(10 cm)

1st - - 1 - -

2nd 1 - 1 - -

3rd 1 1 - - -

4th - - 1 - -

5th 1 - - - -

6th 1 1 - - 1

7th - - 1 - -

8th 2 - - - -

9th - - - 1 -

10th - - 1 1 -

Sum6 2 5 2 1

B. Discussion

This experiments in which the experiment is to investigate the abundance

and distribution of earthworm populations in different habitats so he found an

worm populations ranging from samples 1-10 for a place of open area and 4, 6,

and 8-10 for the close area.

1. Open area

At the open area, samples 1-10 find an worm, the temperature is

25˚C, pH from 5,3; 5,4; 5,2; 5,8; 6,0; 6,0; 6,1; 6,1; 5,8; and 5,3 , content of

litter each 40,5 gr, 42,0 gr, 43,8 gr, 45,2 gr, 46,1 gr, 35,8 gr, 37,0 gr, 30,5 gr,

33,2 gr, and 30,0 gr. For the wet soil and dry soil is vary with average for wet

soil is 225, 95 gr and average dry soil is 134, 8. These from the data it is

known that the abundance and distribution of earthworm populations enough.

This is actually contrary to the theory, in the light should because have the

abundance and distribution of earthworm populations reduced. This is caused

by characteristic life of their own from the experiments in which the

experiment is to investigate the abundance and distribution of earthworm

populations in different habitats so he found an earthworm populations

ranging from samples 1-10 for a place of open area. Worms maintain body

moisture to facilitate the circulation of O2. Number of earthworm populations

found in bright locations because of the light is found in lots of litter, so that

even if the place of light, but land is under the litter remains moist because it

is protected by litter.

2. Close area

In the close area, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 not found in worms, the temperature

is 26˚ C, pH 6; 5,6; 5,8; 5,6; and 5,6. 40-50 in humidity, each litter containing

58, 5 gr 43,0 gr 55,0 gr 75,0 gr and 80,0. In samples 4, 6, and 8-10 with the

number of earthworms found in each sample were a tail, the temperature is

25˚ C, pH 5, 8 and 5, 9, 30-50 humidity, litter samples were each content of

86,0 gr, 60,0 gr 58,0 gr 69,0 gr, and 74,0 gr. These from the data it is known

that the abundance and distribution of earthworm populations is lacking. This

is actually contrary to the theory, because in the close should be found for the

earthworm. Earthworms are in the shade to retain moisture body surface. At

least the population of earthworms found in the shade due to the plot of the

selected environmental conditions less favorable for earthworms. This

condition is seen from the ground very hard and dry place, although not

directly affected by Sunlight.

The presence of worms is highly dependent on local circumstances or

to Depend on abiotic and biotic environmental factors. Abiotic environmental

factors as the basics can be divided by a factor of physical and chemical

factors. Poor physical factors of temperature, water content, porosity, and soil

texture. Chemical factors poor salinity, pH, and organic content, soil, and soil

mineral elements. Abiotic environmental factors determine the will of

community structure of these animals contained in a habitat. Biotic

environment factors for soil animals are another organism that is also found in

habitats poor microflora, plants, and other animal groups. That community in

the types of organisms interacting with one another. The interaction could

some of predation, parasitism, competition, and disease. According to

Anonym (2010), the requirements for the location of earthworm, namely:

a. Soil as a medium of live worms must contain a large amount of organic

material.

b. Several cans of organic soil materials derived from litter (fallen leaves),

animal manure or dead plants and animals. Earthworms like material that is

easy to rot because they want are more easily digested by the body.

c. For good growth, earthworms need the soil to neutral or slightly acidic pH

of about 6 to 7.2. with this condition, the bacteria in the earthworm body

cans work optimally for the conduct of decomposition or Fermentation.

d. Optimum moisture for the growth and proliferation of earthworms is 15-

30%.

e. Temperature required for growth of earthworms and cocoons hatching was

around 15-25 °C or lukewarm. Higher temperatures from 25 °C, both the

origin there is adequate shade and moisture optimum.

f. Location worm’s maintenance of land cultivated for easy handling and

oversight and not exposed to direct Sunlight, for example, under the shade

tree, the house edge or special subjects (permanent), whose roof is made

from which materials do not carry the light and does not store heat.

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

The conclusion of this observation that is earthworm population

abundance in regions with environmental conditions with temperatures around

25˚C, humidity 48,8 %, pH 5,7, and with a high content of litter and the

environmental conditions are shaded and not exposed to sunlight.

B. Suggestion

1. Ought to the practicing more accurate in done experiment so the result which

we get match with the purpose.

2. Ought to the laborer prepare equipment and materials so activity can work

well.

3. Ought to assistant could give more explanation to their practicing about this

experiment.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anonyma. 2010.Ecology. http://www.wikipedia.com. Makassar: accessed at May 8nd

2010.

Anonymb. 2010. Cacing Tanah. http//:warintek.ristekgo.id/peternakan/budidaya/ cacingtanah. Makassar: accessed at May 8nd 2010.

Campbell, Reece, Mitchell. 2004. Biologi Jilid III Edisi Kelima. Jakarta: Erlangga.

Dharmawan, Agus. 2004. Ekologi Hewan. Malang: Jurusan Biologi FMIPA Universitas Negeri Malang.

S, Lahay, Jutje. 2010. Penuntun Praktikum Ekologi Hewan. Makassar: Jurusan Biologi FMIPA UNM.

Soetjipta. 1994. Dasar-Dasar Ekologi Hewan. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press.

Susanto, Pudyo. 2000. Pengantar Ekologi Hewan. Malang: Proyek Pengembangan Guru Sekolah Menengah.