Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories

An ecological classification based on a set of morphological characters may be used to describe earthworm functions in soil. However these relationships have been seldom verified. Gizzards of the earthworm Martiodrilus carimaguensis (Glossoscolecidae) were studied to find out if its anecic morpholog...

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Main Authors: Mariani, L, Bernier, N, Jiménez Jaén, J.J., Decaëns, Thibaud
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Center for Tropical Agriculture 2001
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55175
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author Mariani, L
Bernier, N
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Decaëns, Thibaud
author_browse Bernier, N
Decaëns, Thibaud
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Mariani, L
author_facet Mariani, L
Bernier, N
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Decaëns, Thibaud
author_sort Mariani, L
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description An ecological classification based on a set of morphological characters may be used to describe earthworm functions in soil. However these relationships have been seldom verified. Gizzards of the earthworm Martiodrilus carimaguensis (Glossoscolecidae) were studied to find out if its anecic morphology was in agreement with its diet (shallow litter remains and deep organo-mineral material). By direct observation of 13 adults` gizzard. contents with a dissecting and a phase contrast microscope, the volumetric percentage of plant fragments, roots, amorphous organic matter, and mineral particles reached, respectively, 5.5%, 6.3%, 5%, and 35% V/V. Eighty percent of plant fragments were microscopic, and mostly incorporated into the organo-mineral earthworm casts well preserved in the gizzard. Coprophagy and necro-rhizophagy were the dominant feature of M. carimaguensis diet. Yet, the casts produced revealed a high variability in its diet, what could be related to transitional adoption of a typical anecic diet during some periods.
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spelling CGSpace551752024-01-09T09:49:52Z Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories Mariani, L Bernier, N Jiménez Jaén, J.J. Decaëns, Thibaud lumbricidae coprophagia diet savannas tropical soils coprofagia dieta sabanas suelo tropical An ecological classification based on a set of morphological characters may be used to describe earthworm functions in soil. However these relationships have been seldom verified. Gizzards of the earthworm Martiodrilus carimaguensis (Glossoscolecidae) were studied to find out if its anecic morphology was in agreement with its diet (shallow litter remains and deep organo-mineral material). By direct observation of 13 adults` gizzard. contents with a dissecting and a phase contrast microscope, the volumetric percentage of plant fragments, roots, amorphous organic matter, and mineral particles reached, respectively, 5.5%, 6.3%, 5%, and 35% V/V. Eighty percent of plant fragments were microscopic, and mostly incorporated into the organo-mineral earthworm casts well preserved in the gizzard. Coprophagy and necro-rhizophagy were the dominant feature of M. carimaguensis diet. Yet, the casts produced revealed a high variability in its diet, what could be related to transitional adoption of a typical anecic diet during some periods. 2001 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55175 en Open Access International Center for Tropical Agriculture Mariani, Lucero; Bernier, Nicolas; Jiménez Jaén, Juan José; Decaëns, Thibaud. 2001. Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: A question about ecological categories. In: Jiménez Jaén, Juan José; Thomas, Richard J. (eds.). Nature`s plow: Soil macroinvertebrate communities in the neotropical savannas of Colombia. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, CO. p. 137-148. (CIAT publication no. 324)
spellingShingle lumbricidae
coprophagia
diet
savannas
tropical soils
coprofagia
dieta
sabanas
suelo tropical
Mariani, L
Bernier, N
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Decaëns, Thibaud
Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories
title Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories
title_full Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories
title_fullStr Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories
title_full_unstemmed Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories
title_short Diet of an anecic earthworms from the Colombian savannas: a question about ecological categories
title_sort diet of an anecic earthworms from the colombian savannas a question about ecological categories
topic lumbricidae
coprophagia
diet
savannas
tropical soils
coprofagia
dieta
sabanas
suelo tropical
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55175
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