Storage of water in various parts of the earthworm at different stages of exsiccation.

Abstract

SummaryLumbricus terrestris, under the conditions stated, survived a loss of 43 per cent in body weight during 5 hours of exsiccation but did not survive longer periods with losses of 50 to 60 per cent. Nevertheless, the curves of body weight during exsiccation and after replacement in water appear similar in all cases (up to 24 hours). Measurernetits of cross-sectional areas indicate that during exsiccation in the earlier stages the epidermis, body muscles, celomic cavity intestinal wall and lumen lose roughly in proportion to their size. But in extreme exsiccation a relatively larger proportion is contributed by the celomic cavity and the intestinal lumen. The loss in the tissues appears chiefly from the intercellular spaces, as the cells (excepting the epidermis) show but slight changes in size and structure.