Fungal Feeding by Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) in a Tropical Woodland in Orissa, India

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Abstract
The food preference of 3 spp. of Enchytraeidae [Enchytraeus berhampurosus, Hemienchytraeus khallikotosus and Fridericia kalinga] were examined by 3 techniques: squash preparations; culturing of gut contents; and selective feeding on pure fungal cultures. Enchytraeids ingested large amounts of organic material and fungi. Fungal material formed 30% of the gut contents. Anteclitellar part of the body contained significantly higher percent of plant and fungal material than the postclitellar part. Analysis of gut contents showed that Rhizopus nigricans, Syncephalastrum racemosum and Trichoderma viride are generally digested by enchytraeids while Penicillium steckii and Aspergillus niger are not digested. Isolations made from post-clitellar gut content did not generally give rise to fungal colonies except for A. niger and P. steckii.
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