Long-term dynamics of the abundance of earthworms and enchytraeids (Annelida, Clitellata: Lumbricidae, Enchytraeidae) in forests of the Central Urals, Russia

The dataset includes information from a long-term monitoring program for two taxa of Annelids, Lumbricidae and Enchytraeidae, which dwell in the topsoil of spruce-fir, birch, pine, and floodplain forests in the Central Urals. The dataset includes information on the earthworm community structure (list of species, species abundance, number of egg cocoons, cocoon exuvia, juveniles, and adults) and inter-annual dynamics of earthworm and enchytraeid abundance. The dataset consists of 553 sampling events (= samples, corresponding to upper and lower layers of the soil monoliths) and 12 739 occurrences (earthworms, mainly identified to species, and earthworm cocoons and enchytraeids, identified to family) collected during 1990–2020. In total, 3 305 individuals of earthworms were collected, representing ten (out of twelve) species and all eight genera described for the fauna of the Central Urals. In addition, 7 292 earthworm egg cocoons and cocoon exuvia and 6 926 individuals of enchytraeids were accumulated. The presence-absence data on each of the ten earthworm species, egg cocoons, cocoon exuvia, and enchytraeids is provided for each sampling event. All data were collected in undisturbed non-polluted areas and are used as a local reference for ecotoxicological monitoring. The dataset provides valuable information for estimating the composition and abundance of earthworm communities in different habitats over a long time and contributes to the study of soil fauna biodiversity in the Urals.