Interactive effects of soil moisture and food on growth and aerobic metabolism in eisenia fetida (oligochaeta)

Abstract

1. 1. Rates of growth, respiration, heart beat and burrowing were measured in Eiseniafetida raised in four combinations of soil moisture and food for 6 days. 2. 2. Moisture alone had a significant positive effect on growth and heart beat rates. 3. 3. Both moisture and food had significant effects on respiration and burrowing rates. 4. 4. Low soil moisture caused a general reduction in aerobic metabolism and growth, possibly because of reduced O 2 diffusion across a dry cuticle. 5. 5. For terrestrial organisms with cutaneous respiration, effects of low soil moisture may mimic those of hypoxia in aquatic organisms.