Ref ID : 6021
Carlos Fragoso and N. Lozano; Resource allocation strategies imposed by caudal amputation and soil moisture in the tropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus. Soil Biol.Biochem. 24(12):1237-1240, 1992
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Juveniles and adults of the tropical earthworm species Pontoscolex corethrurus were sectioned in the posterior region of the body and cultured under different treatments of soil moisture (20-70%). Juveniles entered diapause and regenerated regardless of the soil moisture; no significant differences were found on the rates of regeneration. Rates of weight increase were correlated with soil moisture, the correlation being higher in controls than amputees. For adult amputated worms, diapause, mortality and regeneration were higher at low soil moisture contents; fecundity, on the other hand, increased with soil moisture. A negative relation was found between reproduction and regeneration, being the cost of each millimetre of regenerated tissue the lost of one cocoon. It is discussed that the repair strategies of this species varied as a function of their reproductive stage, environmental conditions and the size of the damage.