Microbial dynamics in food, intestine and fecal pellets of two endemic pill-millipedes (Arthrosphaera: Sphaerotheriida) of the Western Ghats
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Abstract
Assessment of microbial communities in food, gut and feces as a consequence of ingestion and egestion of organic matter by saprophagous fauna assumes importance in elemental recycling and improvement of soil fertility. This study addresses the dynamics of six microbial communities in food (native leaf litter), intestine (gut contents) and fecal pellets (manure) of two endemic giant pill-millipedes of the Western Ghats (Arthrosphaera fumosa and A. magna). Load of four bacterial communities (heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and rhizobia) showed siginficantly increasing trend from leaf litter to gut content to feces, while it was opposite for filamentous fungi as well as yeast. The overall microbial dynamics was similar between pill-millipedes in spite of their occurrence in different habitats of the Western Ghats. Microbial dynamics in pill-millipedes has been compared with other millipedes and earthworms. A combination of pill-millipedes and earthworms has been proposed for the production of quality organic manure.
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