Effects of European Earthworm Invasion on Soil Characteristics in Northern Hardwood Forests of Minnesota, USA

European earthworms are colonizing worm-free hardwood forests across North America. Leading edges of earthworm invasion in forests of northern Minnesota provide a rare opportunity to document changes in soil characteristics as earthworm invasions are occurring. Across leading edges of earthworm invasion in four northern hardwood stands, increasing total earthworm biomass was associated with rapid disappearance of the O horizon. Concurrently, the thickness, bulk density and total soil organic matter content of the A horizon increased, and it’s percent organic matter and fine root density decreased. Different earthworm species assemblages influenced the magnitude and type of change in these soil parameters. Soil N and P availability were lower in plots with high earthworm biomass compared to plots with low worm biomass. Decreases in soil nitrogen availability associated with high earthworm biomass were reflected in decreased foliar nitrogen content for Carex pensylvanica, Acer saccharum and Asarum canadense but increased foliar N for Athyrium felix-femina. Overall, high earthworm biomass resulted in increased foliar carbon to nitrogen ratios. The effects of earthworm species assemblages on forest soil properties are related to their feeding and burrowing habits in addition to effects related to total biomass. The potential for large ecosystem consequences following exotic earthworm invasion has only recently been recognized by forest ecologists. In the face of rapid change and multiple pressures on native forest ecosystems, the impacts of earthworm invasion on forest soil structure and function must be considered.     

The Mixed Media Bag

This article provides basic information on how a common species of earthworm, Eisenia fetida, can be used in the biology classroom as well as a discussion of how to establish and care for a vermicompost bin. We discuss ideas for inquiry activities with the organism and provide a sample-guided inquiry that demonstrates how a long-term, theme-based unit involving earthworms can address a wide variety of content from the National Science Education standards.     

Gene expression profiling of coelomic cells and discovery of immune-related genes in the earthworm,Eisenia andrei,using expressed sequence tags

The coelomic cells of the earthworm consist of leukocytes, chlorogocytes, and coelomocytes, which play an important role in innate immunity reactions. To gain insight into the expression profiles of coelomic cells of the earthworm, Eisenia andrei, we analyzed 1151 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from the cDNA library of the coelomic cells. Among the 1151 ESTs analyzed, 493 ESTs (42.8%) showed a significant similarity to known genes and represented 164 unique genes, of which 93 ESTs were singletons and 71 ESTs manifested as two or more ESTs. From the 164 unique genes sequenced, we found 24 immune-related and cell defense genes. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis showed that levels of lysenin-related proteins mRNA in coelomic cells of E. andrei were upregulated after the injection of Bacillus subtilis bacteria. This EST data-set would provide a valuable resource for future researches of earthworm immune system.     

蚯蚓作用下污泥重金属形态变化及其与化学生物学性质变化的关系

城市污泥处理是一项世界性难题,污泥农业利用是其最简单有效的资源化利用方式之一,但污泥中较高的重金属含量限制了其实际推广应用,利用蚯蚓-超富集植物联合修复污泥重金属的方法已引起国内外研究者的关注。以新鲜城市脱水污泥为研究对象,接种赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)进行室内培养试验,系统研究蚯蚓作用下污泥重金属形态的变化,及其与污泥氧化还原条件、化学和微生物性质变化的关系,以期为蚯蚓-超富集植物联合修复技术在污泥重金属处理中的应用提供理论依据。结果表明,试验前期蚯蚓在污泥中能正常生长和存活,前20 d总生物量增加了52%。蚯蚓可以显著促进污泥中的Cu、Zn、Cd、Ni等重金属从残渣态和铁锰态等稳定形态向交换态和水溶态等有效形态转化。还可以显著降低污泥中还原性物质的含量,减缓p H值下降速度,降低总有机碳含量,促进铵态氮向硝态氮转化,减少污泥微生物的数量并增加其种群活性。蚯蚓作用下,污泥中重金属的活化程度与还原性物质的含量呈显著负相关,而与微生物种群的活性呈显著正相关(P0.05)。综上所述,蚯蚓可以促进污泥重金属的活化,并改善污泥的肥力条件,为修复植物在污泥中的正常生长和对重金属离子的快速吸收提供有利条件。     

蚯蚓野外采样方法评述

蚯蚓作为土壤生态系统的关键组成部分,不但可以改善土壤结构,而且与许多生物化学养分循环直接相关,对土壤质量改善和土壤生产力提高起到至关重要的作用.然而,蚯蚓野外采样方法的系统研究和评估还比较缺乏,在国内尤其少见.本文综述了目前国内外常见蚯蚓野外采样方法的操作过程、优缺点、有效性以及对蚯蚓种群特征研究结果可能产生的影响,认为在允许扰动土壤的区域,利用驱虫剂与手拣法相结合进行蚯蚓采样能够较为准确地反映蚯蚓种群和生物量的真实特征;在不能扰动土壤的区域异硫氰酸烯丙酯(AITC)溶液方法是最佳选择.     

神经营养因子受体TrkA、TrkB、TrkC和TrkE在参环毛蚓体内的分布

高亲和性神经营养因子受体Trk,广泛存在分布于哺乳神经组织,研究表明：随着动物进化程度的降低,亚型Trk受体的类型有所减少,在低等动物,关于环节动物（Annelida)Trk受体存在与否,分布如何尚未见报道,以我国环节动物门典型代表参环毛蚓（Pheretima aspergillum)为研究对象,运用免疫细胞化学染色技术,在光镜下观察TrkA,TrkB,TrkC和TrkE阳性细胞和纤维的形态与分布,发现Trk存在于参环毛蚓的神经系统和非神经组织,各亚型分布有所差异,TrkA阳性 经细胞存在于咽下神经节和肠神经系,阳性神经纤维存在于腹神经索和肠神经系,TrkB阳性细胞存在于非神经组织的肠上皮,TrkC阳性神经细胞存在于脑,咽下神经节和肠神经细胞,阳性神经纤维存在于围咽神经环,腹神经索和肠神经系,TrkE阳性神经细胞存在于脑,阳性神经纤维存在于咽下神经节和腹神经素,上述研究结果表明：Trk存在于进化程度较的环节动物,Trk在进化上具有悠久的历史,各亚型Trk受体的不同分布提示不同部位的神经细胞受不同神经营养因子的作用。     

接种蚯蚓对油菜籽粒产量和含油率的影响

通过田间接种试验,研究了威廉腔环蚓(Metaphire guillelmi)活动对冬油菜(Brassica napus)中双9号产量构成因素、籽粒产量和含油率的影响.结果表明:接种蚯蚓后,中双9号的一次有效分枝数、主花序角果数、每角粒数和千粒重均较未接种对照有增加趋势,但差异不显著;而单株角果数、单株产量和小区产量较对照显著提高,分别比对照增加了36.7%、46.5%和29.7%,这可能与蚯蚓促进油菜营养生长阶段植株生长及对氮素的吸收、累积有关.接种蚯蚓后,油菜籽粒含油率较对照有所降低,但由于蚯蚓活动显著提高了油菜籽粒产量,因此单株产油量和小区产油量仍比对照提高了37.4%和21.0%.     

利用彗星试验检测Cu2+对驯化蚯蚓的基因损伤

为研究Cu2+对驯化蚯蚓的损伤影响,将赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)在非致死浓度(100mgCu2+·kg-1)下驯化培养2周,以未驯化的蚯蚓为对照,测定Cu2+对驯化及未驯化蚯蚓的急性毒性,并通过彗星试验(cometassay)观察铜胁迫下(400mg·kg-1)驯化后蚯蚓基因损伤的动态变化。结果显示:14d时,Cu2+对驯化蚯蚓和未驯化蚯蚓的半致死浓度(LC50)分别为321.83～542.45和230.83～342.91mg·kg-1,驯化后蚯蚓的存活率得到显著提高。彗星试验结果表示:蚯蚓体腔细胞的尾长、尾部DNA含量以及尾矩呈非正态分布,在11和14d时,驯化后的蚯蚓基因损伤程度明显比未驯化蚯蚓低。彗星试验是检测Cu2+对蚯蚓活体基因损伤的有效手段,蚯蚓体的DNA损伤可以作为指示重金属污染物影响的生物标志物。