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Jorge Dominguez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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French Mediterranean islands as a refuge of relic earthworm species: Cataladrilus porquerollensis sp. nov. and Scherotheca portcrosana sp. nov. (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae)
European Journal of Taxonomy, 2020Co-Authors: Daniel Fernández Marchán, Mickaël Hedde, Thibaud Decaëns, Darío J. Díaz Cosín, Emmanuel Lapied, Jorge DominguezAbstract:The area comprising the Pyrenees, Northeast Spain, Southern France and Corsica-Sardinia supports a large part of the diversity of Lumbricidae earthworms, including most species of the endemic genera Prosellodrilus, Cataladrilus and Scherotheca. In this region, the probability of encountering new species for science is significant, especially in scarcely sampled localities. In this study, we describe two unidentified species recently collected in the Hyeres Archipelago (France), which we assigned to the genera Cataladrilus and Scherotheca based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Other species of Scherotheca from Montpellier (including the type species of the genus, Sc. gigas gigas) were included in the analysis to clarify their conflicting systematics. A reduced molecular marker set (COI, 16S, 28S and ND1) proved as successful as larger marker sets for identifying phylogenetic relationships within the Lumbricidae. Remarkable disjunctions between both Cataladrilus porquerollensis Marchan & Decaens sp. nov., Scherotheca portcrosana Marchan & Decaens sp. nov. and their most closely related relatives, suggesting a strong influence of paleogeographic events on the earthworm fauna of the area and a possible role of near-shore islands as refugia for relict taxa. Genetic distances and branch lengths supported the elevation of some subspecies of Scherotheca to specific status as well as the retention of other subspecies, highlighting the importance of testing for such delimitation with molecular methods.
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Multigene phylogeny reveals a new Iranian earthworm genus (Lumbricidae: Philomontanus) with three new species.
PloS one, 2019Co-Authors: Farnaz Bozorgi, Manuel Aira, Marcos Pérez-losada, Marjan Seiedy, Masoumeh Malek, Jorge DominguezAbstract:Lumbricidae taxonomy is vastly restricted by the morphological simplicity of earthworms and their lack of complex appendices. This has led to confusing results in the Lumbricidae classifications, which in turn, has hindered our ability to identify and assign new and cryptic species to the family. Here we propose the addition of a new Lumbricidae genus from the Zagros and Elburz Mountains of Iran, i.e. Philomontanus gen. nov, including three new species. Our taxonomic inferences were based on the phylogenetic analysis of two nuclear gene regions (28S rDNA and 18S rDNA) and 11 mitochondrial gene regions (16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, NADH dehydrogenase I, cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II and tRNAs Asn, Asp, Val, Leu, Ala and Ser). Philomontanus gen. nov comprises the earthworm species Philomontanus sarii sp. nov., Philomontanus mahmoudi sp. nov. and Philomontanus baloutchi sp. nov. These three species are morphologically similar to each other with only a few characters separating them (e.g. size, pigmentation and position of clitellum). Our findings support the adoption of an integrative approach including molecular information (e.g., DNA sequences) to aid earthworm classification and develop a robust taxonomy.
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Underground evolution: New roots for the old tree of lumbricid earthworms
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2014Co-Authors: Jorge Dominguez, Manuel Aira, Jesse W Breinholt, Mirjana Stojanovic, Samuel W. James, Marcos Pérez-losadaAbstract:Earthworms belonging to the family Lumbricidae are extremely abundant in terrestrial temperate regions. They affect soil properties and nutrient cycling, thus shaping plant community composition and aboveground food webs. Some lumbricids are also model organisms in ecology and toxicology. Despite the intense research efforts dedicated to lumbricids over the last 130years, the evolutionary relationships and taxonomic classification of these organisms are still subject to great debate. Resolution of their systematics is hampered by the structural simplicity of the earthworm body plan and the existence of cryptic species. We sampled 160 earthworm specimens belonging to 84 lumbricid species (28 genera) and 22 Lumbricoidea outgroups, sequenced two nuclear genes, four mitochondrial genes and seven mitochondrial tRNAs and examined 22 morphological characters. We then applied a combination of phylogenetic methods to generate the first robust genus-level phylogeny of the Lumbricidae. Our results show that the current Lumbricidae classification and the underlying hypotheses of character evolution must be revised. Our chronogram suggests that lumbricids emerged in the Lower Cretaceous in the holarctic region and that their diversification has been driven by tectonic processes (e.g. Laurasia split) and geographical isolation. Our chronogram and character reconstruction analysis reveal that spermathecae number does not follow a gradual pattern of reduction and that parthenogenesis arose from sexual relatives multiple times in the group; the same analysis also indicates that both epigeic and anecic earthworms evolved from endogeic ancestors. These findings emphasize the strong and multiple changes to which morphological and ecological characters are subjected, challenging the hypothesis of character stasis in Lumbricidae.
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taxonomic assessment of Lumbricidae oligochaeta earthworm genera using dna barcodes
European Journal of Soil Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Marcos Perezlosada, Rebecca Bloch, Jesse W Breinholt, Markus Pfenninger, Jorge DominguezAbstract:The family Lumbricidae accounts for the most abundant earthworms in grasslands and agricultural ecosystems in the Paleartic region. Therefore, they are commonly used as model organisms in studies of soil ecology, biodiversity, biogeography, evolution, conservation, soil contamination and ecotoxicology. Despite their biological and economic importance, the taxonomic status and evolutionary relationships of several Lumbricidae genera are still under discussion. Previous studies have shown that cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcode phylogenies are informative at the intrageneric level. Here we generated 19 new COI barcodes for selected Aporrectodea specimens in Perez-Losada et al. [1] including nine species and 17 populations, and combined them with all the COI sequences available in Genbank and Briones et al. [2] for Lumbricidae (435 sequences) and seven other Lumbricina families (480 sequences). Our maximum likelihood and Bayesian trees indicate that the genera Aporrectodea, Allolobophora, Eisenia and Dendrobaena (Lumbricidae) and Diplocardia, Metaphire and Amynthas (Megascolecidae) are polyphyletic and so invalid as currently defined. Our results also confirm that COI barcodes are a good proxy for estimating intrageneric phylogenetic diversity and relationships in earthworms.
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Size-assortative mating in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae)
Journal of Ethology, 2004Co-Authors: Fernando Monroy, Alberto Velando, Manuel Aira, Jorge DominguezAbstract:In many species of simultaneous hermaphrodites, body size correlates with fecundity, and larger partners are preferred to small ones. Since sperm exchange is usually reciprocal, small individuals may be rejected by larger partners resulting in size-assortative mating. We studied the mating patterns in a natural population of the simultaneous hermaphroditic earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae). We found that size-assortative mating processes existed, with variance in body weight within pairs lower than between pairs in mating earthworms. This non-random mating pattern probably reveals the existence of mate selection in this species, which lives at elevated densities with high availability of potential mates.
Thibaud Decaëns - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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French Mediterranean islands as a refuge of relic earthworm species: Cataladrilus porquerollensis sp. nov. and Scherotheca portcrosana sp. nov. (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae)
European Journal of Taxonomy, 2020Co-Authors: Daniel Fernández Marchán, Mickaël Hedde, Thibaud Decaëns, Darío J. Díaz Cosín, Emmanuel Lapied, Jorge DominguezAbstract:The area comprising the Pyrenees, Northeast Spain, Southern France and Corsica-Sardinia supports a large part of the diversity of Lumbricidae earthworms, including most species of the endemic genera Prosellodrilus, Cataladrilus and Scherotheca. In this region, the probability of encountering new species for science is significant, especially in scarcely sampled localities. In this study, we describe two unidentified species recently collected in the Hyeres Archipelago (France), which we assigned to the genera Cataladrilus and Scherotheca based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Other species of Scherotheca from Montpellier (including the type species of the genus, Sc. gigas gigas) were included in the analysis to clarify their conflicting systematics. A reduced molecular marker set (COI, 16S, 28S and ND1) proved as successful as larger marker sets for identifying phylogenetic relationships within the Lumbricidae. Remarkable disjunctions between both Cataladrilus porquerollensis Marchan & Decaens sp. nov., Scherotheca portcrosana Marchan & Decaens sp. nov. and their most closely related relatives, suggesting a strong influence of paleogeographic events on the earthworm fauna of the area and a possible role of near-shore islands as refugia for relict taxa. Genetic distances and branch lengths supported the elevation of some subspecies of Scherotheca to specific status as well as the retention of other subspecies, highlighting the importance of testing for such delimitation with molecular methods.
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Beech leaf degradation in laboratory experiments: Effects of eight detritivorous invertebrate species
Applied Soil Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: Mickaël Hedde, Marthe Akpa-vinceslas, Fabrice Bureau, Michaël Aubert, Thibaud DecaënsAbstract:This work addresses the impact of eight detritivorous species of soil macro-invertebrates (three millipedes, two woodlice and three earthworms) on short-term carbon mineralization and mechanical breakdown of beech leaves. The production rate, size class distribution and OM content of invertebrate faeces were also measured. Hierarchical clustering (HC) and multivariate analysis were performed to find relevant functional groups among the species studied. Our results identified three groups of macro-invertebrates on the basis of their impacts on beach leaf degradation (hierarchical clustering): (1) invertebrates that produce fresh faeces with high N contents compared with other species (i.e. polydesmidae and a single species of Lumbricidae); (2) other Lumbricidae that fragment litter into fine particles in their faeces and actively stimulate CO2 release; (3) other arthropods that fragment litter into coarse particles and have weak impacts on OM mineralization. These groups over-ride taxonomy, and are proposed as a tentative functional classification of litter dwelling invertebrates. On the other hand, an idiosyncratic impact of species was observed in each group, highlighting how much empirical data are still needed to propose a robust functional classification of litter invertebrates. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Beech leaf degradation in laboratory experiments: Effects of eight detritivorous invertebrate species
Applied Soil Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: Mickaël Hedde, Marthe Akpa-vinceslas, Fabrice Bureau, Michaël Aubert, Thibaud DecaënsAbstract:This work addresses the impact of eight detritivorous species of soil macro-invertebrates (three millipedes, two woodlice and three earthworms) on short-term carbon mineralization and mechanical breakdown of beech leaves. The production rate, size class distribution and OM content of invertebrate faeces were also measured. Hierarchical clustering (HC) and multivariate analysis were performed to find relevant functional groups among the species studied. Our results identified three groups of macro-invertebrates on the basis of their impacts on beach leaf degradation (hierarchical clustering): (1) invertebrates that produce fresh faeces with high N contents compared with other species (i.e. polydesmidae and a single species of Lumbricidae); (2) other Lumbricidae that fragment litter into fine particles in their faeces and actively stimulate CO2 release; (3) other arthropods that fragment litter into coarse particles and have weak impacts on OM mineralization. These groups over-ride taxonomy, and are proposed as a tentative functional classification of litter dwelling invertebrates. On the other hand, an idiosyncratic impact of species was observed in each group, highlighting how much empirical data are still needed to propose a robust functional classification of litter invertebrates.
Mickaël Hedde - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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French Mediterranean islands as a refuge of relic earthworm species: Cataladrilus porquerollensis sp. nov. and Scherotheca portcrosana sp. nov. (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae)
European Journal of Taxonomy, 2020Co-Authors: Daniel Fernández Marchán, Mickaël Hedde, Thibaud Decaëns, Darío J. Díaz Cosín, Emmanuel Lapied, Jorge DominguezAbstract:The area comprising the Pyrenees, Northeast Spain, Southern France and Corsica-Sardinia supports a large part of the diversity of Lumbricidae earthworms, including most species of the endemic genera Prosellodrilus, Cataladrilus and Scherotheca. In this region, the probability of encountering new species for science is significant, especially in scarcely sampled localities. In this study, we describe two unidentified species recently collected in the Hyeres Archipelago (France), which we assigned to the genera Cataladrilus and Scherotheca based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Other species of Scherotheca from Montpellier (including the type species of the genus, Sc. gigas gigas) were included in the analysis to clarify their conflicting systematics. A reduced molecular marker set (COI, 16S, 28S and ND1) proved as successful as larger marker sets for identifying phylogenetic relationships within the Lumbricidae. Remarkable disjunctions between both Cataladrilus porquerollensis Marchan & Decaens sp. nov., Scherotheca portcrosana Marchan & Decaens sp. nov. and their most closely related relatives, suggesting a strong influence of paleogeographic events on the earthworm fauna of the area and a possible role of near-shore islands as refugia for relict taxa. Genetic distances and branch lengths supported the elevation of some subspecies of Scherotheca to specific status as well as the retention of other subspecies, highlighting the importance of testing for such delimitation with molecular methods.
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Beech leaf degradation in laboratory experiments: Effects of eight detritivorous invertebrate species
Applied Soil Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: Mickaël Hedde, Marthe Akpa-vinceslas, Fabrice Bureau, Michaël Aubert, Thibaud DecaënsAbstract:This work addresses the impact of eight detritivorous species of soil macro-invertebrates (three millipedes, two woodlice and three earthworms) on short-term carbon mineralization and mechanical breakdown of beech leaves. The production rate, size class distribution and OM content of invertebrate faeces were also measured. Hierarchical clustering (HC) and multivariate analysis were performed to find relevant functional groups among the species studied. Our results identified three groups of macro-invertebrates on the basis of their impacts on beach leaf degradation (hierarchical clustering): (1) invertebrates that produce fresh faeces with high N contents compared with other species (i.e. polydesmidae and a single species of Lumbricidae); (2) other Lumbricidae that fragment litter into fine particles in their faeces and actively stimulate CO2 release; (3) other arthropods that fragment litter into coarse particles and have weak impacts on OM mineralization. These groups over-ride taxonomy, and are proposed as a tentative functional classification of litter dwelling invertebrates. On the other hand, an idiosyncratic impact of species was observed in each group, highlighting how much empirical data are still needed to propose a robust functional classification of litter invertebrates. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Beech leaf degradation in laboratory experiments: Effects of eight detritivorous invertebrate species
Applied Soil Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: Mickaël Hedde, Marthe Akpa-vinceslas, Fabrice Bureau, Michaël Aubert, Thibaud DecaënsAbstract:This work addresses the impact of eight detritivorous species of soil macro-invertebrates (three millipedes, two woodlice and three earthworms) on short-term carbon mineralization and mechanical breakdown of beech leaves. The production rate, size class distribution and OM content of invertebrate faeces were also measured. Hierarchical clustering (HC) and multivariate analysis were performed to find relevant functional groups among the species studied. Our results identified three groups of macro-invertebrates on the basis of their impacts on beach leaf degradation (hierarchical clustering): (1) invertebrates that produce fresh faeces with high N contents compared with other species (i.e. polydesmidae and a single species of Lumbricidae); (2) other Lumbricidae that fragment litter into fine particles in their faeces and actively stimulate CO2 release; (3) other arthropods that fragment litter into coarse particles and have weak impacts on OM mineralization. These groups over-ride taxonomy, and are proposed as a tentative functional classification of litter dwelling invertebrates. On the other hand, an idiosyncratic impact of species was observed in each group, highlighting how much empirical data are still needed to propose a robust functional classification of litter invertebrates.
Marcos Pérez-losada - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Multigene phylogeny reveals a new Iranian earthworm genus (Lumbricidae: Philomontanus) with three new species.
PloS one, 2019Co-Authors: Farnaz Bozorgi, Manuel Aira, Marcos Pérez-losada, Marjan Seiedy, Masoumeh Malek, Jorge DominguezAbstract:Lumbricidae taxonomy is vastly restricted by the morphological simplicity of earthworms and their lack of complex appendices. This has led to confusing results in the Lumbricidae classifications, which in turn, has hindered our ability to identify and assign new and cryptic species to the family. Here we propose the addition of a new Lumbricidae genus from the Zagros and Elburz Mountains of Iran, i.e. Philomontanus gen. nov, including three new species. Our taxonomic inferences were based on the phylogenetic analysis of two nuclear gene regions (28S rDNA and 18S rDNA) and 11 mitochondrial gene regions (16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, NADH dehydrogenase I, cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II and tRNAs Asn, Asp, Val, Leu, Ala and Ser). Philomontanus gen. nov comprises the earthworm species Philomontanus sarii sp. nov., Philomontanus mahmoudi sp. nov. and Philomontanus baloutchi sp. nov. These three species are morphologically similar to each other with only a few characters separating them (e.g. size, pigmentation and position of clitellum). Our findings support the adoption of an integrative approach including molecular information (e.g., DNA sequences) to aid earthworm classification and develop a robust taxonomy.
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Underground evolution: New roots for the old tree of lumbricid earthworms
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2014Co-Authors: Jorge Dominguez, Manuel Aira, Jesse W Breinholt, Mirjana Stojanovic, Samuel W. James, Marcos Pérez-losadaAbstract:Earthworms belonging to the family Lumbricidae are extremely abundant in terrestrial temperate regions. They affect soil properties and nutrient cycling, thus shaping plant community composition and aboveground food webs. Some lumbricids are also model organisms in ecology and toxicology. Despite the intense research efforts dedicated to lumbricids over the last 130years, the evolutionary relationships and taxonomic classification of these organisms are still subject to great debate. Resolution of their systematics is hampered by the structural simplicity of the earthworm body plan and the existence of cryptic species. We sampled 160 earthworm specimens belonging to 84 lumbricid species (28 genera) and 22 Lumbricoidea outgroups, sequenced two nuclear genes, four mitochondrial genes and seven mitochondrial tRNAs and examined 22 morphological characters. We then applied a combination of phylogenetic methods to generate the first robust genus-level phylogeny of the Lumbricidae. Our results show that the current Lumbricidae classification and the underlying hypotheses of character evolution must be revised. Our chronogram suggests that lumbricids emerged in the Lower Cretaceous in the holarctic region and that their diversification has been driven by tectonic processes (e.g. Laurasia split) and geographical isolation. Our chronogram and character reconstruction analysis reveal that spermathecae number does not follow a gradual pattern of reduction and that parthenogenesis arose from sexual relatives multiple times in the group; the same analysis also indicates that both epigeic and anecic earthworms evolved from endogeic ancestors. These findings emphasize the strong and multiple changes to which morphological and ecological characters are subjected, challenging the hypothesis of character stasis in Lumbricidae.
Manuel Aira - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Multigene phylogeny reveals a new Iranian earthworm genus (Lumbricidae: Philomontanus) with three new species.
PloS one, 2019Co-Authors: Farnaz Bozorgi, Manuel Aira, Marcos Pérez-losada, Marjan Seiedy, Masoumeh Malek, Jorge DominguezAbstract:Lumbricidae taxonomy is vastly restricted by the morphological simplicity of earthworms and their lack of complex appendices. This has led to confusing results in the Lumbricidae classifications, which in turn, has hindered our ability to identify and assign new and cryptic species to the family. Here we propose the addition of a new Lumbricidae genus from the Zagros and Elburz Mountains of Iran, i.e. Philomontanus gen. nov, including three new species. Our taxonomic inferences were based on the phylogenetic analysis of two nuclear gene regions (28S rDNA and 18S rDNA) and 11 mitochondrial gene regions (16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, NADH dehydrogenase I, cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II and tRNAs Asn, Asp, Val, Leu, Ala and Ser). Philomontanus gen. nov comprises the earthworm species Philomontanus sarii sp. nov., Philomontanus mahmoudi sp. nov. and Philomontanus baloutchi sp. nov. These three species are morphologically similar to each other with only a few characters separating them (e.g. size, pigmentation and position of clitellum). Our findings support the adoption of an integrative approach including molecular information (e.g., DNA sequences) to aid earthworm classification and develop a robust taxonomy.
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Underground evolution: New roots for the old tree of lumbricid earthworms
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2014Co-Authors: Jorge Dominguez, Manuel Aira, Jesse W Breinholt, Mirjana Stojanovic, Samuel W. James, Marcos Pérez-losadaAbstract:Earthworms belonging to the family Lumbricidae are extremely abundant in terrestrial temperate regions. They affect soil properties and nutrient cycling, thus shaping plant community composition and aboveground food webs. Some lumbricids are also model organisms in ecology and toxicology. Despite the intense research efforts dedicated to lumbricids over the last 130years, the evolutionary relationships and taxonomic classification of these organisms are still subject to great debate. Resolution of their systematics is hampered by the structural simplicity of the earthworm body plan and the existence of cryptic species. We sampled 160 earthworm specimens belonging to 84 lumbricid species (28 genera) and 22 Lumbricoidea outgroups, sequenced two nuclear genes, four mitochondrial genes and seven mitochondrial tRNAs and examined 22 morphological characters. We then applied a combination of phylogenetic methods to generate the first robust genus-level phylogeny of the Lumbricidae. Our results show that the current Lumbricidae classification and the underlying hypotheses of character evolution must be revised. Our chronogram suggests that lumbricids emerged in the Lower Cretaceous in the holarctic region and that their diversification has been driven by tectonic processes (e.g. Laurasia split) and geographical isolation. Our chronogram and character reconstruction analysis reveal that spermathecae number does not follow a gradual pattern of reduction and that parthenogenesis arose from sexual relatives multiple times in the group; the same analysis also indicates that both epigeic and anecic earthworms evolved from endogeic ancestors. These findings emphasize the strong and multiple changes to which morphological and ecological characters are subjected, challenging the hypothesis of character stasis in Lumbricidae.
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Size-assortative mating in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae)
Journal of Ethology, 2004Co-Authors: Fernando Monroy, Alberto Velando, Manuel Aira, Jorge DominguezAbstract:In many species of simultaneous hermaphrodites, body size correlates with fecundity, and larger partners are preferred to small ones. Since sperm exchange is usually reciprocal, small individuals may be rejected by larger partners resulting in size-assortative mating. We studied the mating patterns in a natural population of the simultaneous hermaphroditic earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae). We found that size-assortative mating processes existed, with variance in body weight within pairs lower than between pairs in mating earthworms. This non-random mating pattern probably reveals the existence of mate selection in this species, which lives at elevated densities with high availability of potential mates.
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Have spermatophores in Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) any reproductive role?: The 7th international symposium on earthworm ecology · Cardiff · Wales · 2002
Pedobiologia, 2003Co-Authors: Fernando Monroy, Alberto Velando, Manuel Aira, Jorge DominguezAbstract:Summary The presence of spermatophores is widespread in earthworms from the family Lumbricidae but their function remains unclear. We tested three functional hypotheses (sperm transfer, nuptial gift and copulatory plugs) to explain the presence of these structures in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae). None of the hypotheses tested were supported from our results and we found that spermatophores had no effect on the reproductive success of this earthworm species. Spermatophores appeared in all the matings that produced cocoons and hence may be used as reliable indicators of a recent copulation.
