Ref ID : 1990
Matti T. Leppanen and Jussi V.K. Kukkonen; Factors affecting feeding rate, reproduction and growth of an oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus (Muller). Hydrobiologia 377:183-194, 1998
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Worm density of a deposit feeding oligochaete (Lumbriculus variegatus) did not affect egestion whereas both temperature and sediment type had a significant influence. The worms egested less actively at the lowest temperature (6 degrees C). The egestion rate, expressed as mg dry feces produced, was highest in the sandy sediment and lowest in the sediment derived almost exclusively from decaying plant material. The amount of dry material and the volume of wet sediment passing through the worms varied between the test sediments; the results are probably dependent on the chosen unit of measure. Reproduction was significantly decreased in sandy sediment with low organic carbon content. Reproduction was also dependent on the worm size, larger worms reproducing more frequently. Most worms lost weight during the test, but the loss was lowest in the sediment with the highest organic carbon content.