self-assemblage and quorum in the earthworm eisenia fetida (oligochaete, lumbricidae)self-assemblage和蚯蚓群体eisenia fetida(寡毛纲动物正蚓科).pdfVIP

Self-Assemblage and Quorum in the Earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaete, Lumbricidae) 1 2 3 1 1 4 Lara Zirbes *, Yves Brostaux , Mark Mescher , Maxime Jason , Eric Haubruge , Jean-Louis Deneubourg 1 Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium, 2 Applied Statistics, Computer Science and Mathematics, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium, 3 Department of Entomology, Center for Chemical Ecology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, United States of America, 4 Unit of Social Ecology, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium Abstract Despite their ubiquity and ecological significance in temperate ecosystems, the behavioural ecology of earthworms is not well described. This study examines the mechanisms that govern aggregation behaviour specially the tendency of individuals to leave or join groups in the compost earthworm Eisenia fetida, a species with considerable economic importance, especially in waste management applications. Through behavioural assays combined with mathematical modelling, we provide the first evidence of self-assembled social structures in earthworms and describe key mechanisms involved in cluster formation. We found that the probability of an individual joining a group increased with group size, while the probability of leaving decreased. Moreover, attraction to groups located at a distance was observed, suggesting a role for volatile cues in cluster formation. The size of earthworm clusters appears to be a key factor determining the stability of the gro