How to cross the sea: testing the dispersal mechanisms of the cosmopolitan earthworm Pontodrilus litoralis.

ABSTRACT: Dispersal capability often decides the geographical distribution and long-term success of a species. In this investigation, Pontodrilus litoralis, a widely distributed species along shores throughout mid- and low latitudes of the world, was investigated. We tested three hypotheses explaining its dispersal: helped by humans, transported by birds and carried by currents. Although the earthworms seemed to be associated with artificially planted wind-breaking woods and mangroves along the west coast of Taiwan, they were also found on isolated beaches in the Pescadores Islands without such plantings. They are approximately 2 mm wide, making them too small for use as fishing bait. These two mechanisms invoking human help were not supported. In a laboratory experiment, we moved the earthwo

SUBMITTER: Chen SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8355663 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature