Eisenia fetida explained

Eisenia fetida, known under various common names such as manure worm,[1] redworm, brandling worm, panfish worm, trout worm, tiger worm, red wiggler worm, etc., is a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material. These worms thrive in rotting vegetation, compost, and manure. They are epigean, rarely found in soil. In this trait, they resemble Lumbricus rubellus.

The red wiggler is reddish-brown in color, has small rings around its body, and has a yellowish tail.[2] Groups of bristles (called setae) on each segment of the worm move in and out to grip nearby surfaces as it stretches and contracts its muscles to push itself forward or backward.

E. fetida worms are native to Europe, but have been introduced (both intentionally and unintentionally) to every other continent except Antarctica.

E. fetida also possesses a unique natural defense system in its coelomic fluid; cells called coelomocytes secrete a protein called lysenin, which is a pore-forming toxin, which is able to permeabilize and lyse invading cells. It is best at targeting foreign cells whose membranes contain significant amounts of sphingomyelin. (Lysenin is also toxic to organisms lacking sphingomyelin in their cell walls, including Bacillus megaterium, though the pathway is not understood).[3]

Uses

E. fetida is used for vermicomposting of both domestic and industrial organic waste.[4] [5] [6] Vermicomposting septic systems have been used for decades and allow for decentralized on-site processing of blackwater using Eisenia fetida.[7] [8] Tiger worms are also being tested for use in a flushless toilet, currently being trialled in India, Uganda and Myanmar.[9]

Moreover, red worm is widely used in fishing, being one of the most ideal baits for tench, bream, and roach. [10] [11]

Odor

When roughly handled, a redworm exudes a pungent liquid, thus the specific name fetida meaning "foul-smelling". This is presumably an antipredator adaptation.[12]

Related species

E. fetida is closely related to E. andrei, also referred to as E. f. andrei. The only simple way of distinguishing the two species is that E. fetida is sometimes lighter in colour. Molecular analyses have confirmed their identity as separate species, and breeding experiments have shown that they do produce hybrids.[13]

The mitochondrial genetic characteristics of the Irish population of E. fetida could be the result of reproductive isolation, so suggests that this sample may constitute an unrecognized species or subspecies of E. fetida.[14]

Reproduction

As with other earthworm species, E. fetida is hermaphroditic, and uniparental reproduction is possible, even if usually the reproduction is between copulating individuals.[15] The two worms join clitella, the large, lighter-colored bands which contain the worms' reproductive organs, and which are only prominent during the reproduction process. The two worms exchange sperm. Both worms then secrete cocoons, which contain several eggs each. These cocoons are lemon-shaped and are pale yellow at first, becoming more brownish as the worms inside become mature. These cocoons are clearly visible to the naked eye. At 25°C, E. fetida hatches from its cocoon in about 3 weeks. [16]

DNA repair

Ionizing radiation induces DNA strand breaks and oxidized DNA bases in both spermatogenic cells and somatic cells of E. fetida, and also induces the repair of these damages.[17]

Lifespan

The lifespan of E. fetida under controlled conditions varies between one and five years. [18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Catalogue of Life : Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826). 2021-01-26. www.catalogueoflife.org.
  2. Web site: Red wiggler Body appearance. 26 January 2021 .
  3. Bruhn. Heike. Winkelmann. Julia. Andersen. Christian. Andrä. Jörg. Leippe. Matthias. 2006-01-01. Dissection of the mechanisms of cytolytic and antibacterial activity of lysenin, a defence protein of the annelid Eisenia fetida. Developmental & Comparative Immunology. en. 30. 7. 597–606. 10.1016/j.dci.2005.09.002. 16386304. 0145-305X.
  4. Albanell. E.. Plaixats. J.. Cabrero. T.. 1988. Chemical changes during vermicomposting (Eisenia fetida) of sheep manure mixed with cotton industrial wastes. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 6. 3. 10.1007/BF00260823. 0178-2762. 21470644.
  5. Orozco. F. H.. Cegarra. J.. Trujillo. L. M.. Roig. A.. 1996. Vermicomposting of coffee pulp using the earthworm Eisenia fetida: Effects on C and N contents and the availability of nutrients. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 22. 1–2. 162–166. 10.1007/BF00384449. 0178-2762. 25060696.
  6. Maboeta. M.S.. Rensburg. L.van. 2003. Vermicomposting of industrially produced woodchips and sewage sludge utilizing Eisenia fetida. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 56. 2. 265–270. 10.1016/S0147-6513(02)00101-X. 0147-6513. 12927558.
  7. Web site: Vermicomposting Toilets. 2021-10-27. Vermicomposting Toilets. en-GB.
  8. Dey Chowdhury. Sanket. Bhunia. Puspendu. 2021-04-02. Simultaneous Carbon and Nitrogen Removal from Domestic Wastewater using High Rate Vermifilter. Indian Journal of Microbiology. 61. 2. 218–228. 10.1007/s12088-021-00936-4. 33927463 . 8039078 . 0046-8991.
  9. Web site: May 26, 2016. Testing the "Tiger Toilet". US AID. January 14, 2019. October 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029205537/https://www.usaid.gov/div/portfolio/bvv-tiger. dead.
  10. Web site: Jim . Uncle . Best Worms For Bait Fishing . Uncle Jim's Worm Farm . 3 February 2023 . 26 June 2012.
  11. Web site: LOBWORMS, REDWORMS AND DENDROBAENA WORMS . Angling Times . 30 January 2009 . 3 February 2023.
  12. Book: Townsend . Craig . Ebizuka . Yutaka . Natural products structural diversity-I, secondary metabolites : organization and biosynthesis . 2010 . Elsevier . Boston . 978-0-08-045381-1 . 1st. 1. 393.
  13. Plytycz. Barbara. Bigaj. Janusz. Panz. Tomasz. Grzmil. Paweł. 2018-09-21. Asymmetrical hybridization and gene flow between Eisenia andrei and E. fetida lumbricid earthworms. PLOS ONE. en. 13. 9. e0204469. 10.1371/journal.pone.0204469. 6150523. 30240427. 2018PLoSO..1304469P. free.
  14. Pérez-Losada . Marcos . Eiroa . Julio . Mato . Salustiano . Domínguez . Jorge . Phylogenetic species delimitation of the earthworms Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) and Eisenia andrei Bouché, 1972 (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences . Pedobiologia . August 2005 . 49 . 4 . 317–324 . 10.1016/j.pedobi.2005.02.004 .
  15. Domínguez. Jorge. Velando. Alberto. Aira. Manuel. Monroy. Fernando. 2003-01-01. Uniparental reproduction of Eisenia fetida and E. andrei (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae): evidence of self-insemination: The 7th international symposium on earthworm ecology · Cardiff · Wales · 2002. Pedobiologia. en. 47. 5. 530–534. 10.1078/0031-4056-00224. 0031-4056.
  16. Neuhauser. Edward F.. Hartenstein. Roy. Kaplan. David L.. August 1980. Growth of the Earthworm Eisenia Foetida in Relation to Population Density and Food Rationing. Oikos. en. 35. 1. 93–98. 10.2307/3544730. 3544730. 2020-10-14.
  17. Hertel-Aas T, Oughton DH, Jaworska A, Brunborg G . Induction and repair of DNA strand breaks and oxidised bases in somatic and spermatogenic cells from the earthworm Eisenia fetida after exposure to ionising radiation . Mutagenesis . 26 . 6 . 783–93 . November 2011 . 21825113 . 10.1093/mutage/ger048 .
  18. Venter. J.M.. Reinecke. A.J.. 1987-01-29. The life-cycle of the compost worm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta). African Zoology. en. 23. 3. 161–165. 10.1080/02541858.1988.11448096. free.

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