A study on bioluminescence and photoluminescence in the earthworm Eisenia lucens

Peš, Ondřej; Midlik, Adam; Schlaghamerský, Jiří; Žitňan, Michal; Táborský, Petr

doi:10.1039/c5pp00412h

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In a most recent paper, Pes et al report blue-green luminescence of Eisenia lucens upon stimulation with ethanol. These authors also state that riboflavin stored in coelomocytes plays an important role in the glowing reaction (38).…”

Section: First Laboratory Studies Of Earthworm Luminescencementioning

confidence: 98%

Progress in the Study of Bioluminescent Earthworms

Родионова

Rota

Tsarkova

et al. 2017

Photochem & Photobiology

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Even though bioluminescent oligochaetes rarely catch people's eyes due to their secretive lifestyle, glowing earthworms sighting reports have come from different areas on all continents except Antarctica. A major breakthrough in the research of earthworm bioluminescence occurred in the 1960s with the studies of the North American Diplocardia longa. Comparative studies conducted on 13 earthworm species belonging to six genera showed that N-isovaleryl-3-aminopropanal (Diplocardia luciferin) is the common substrate for bioluminescence in all examined species, while luciferases appeared to be responsible for the color of bioluminescence. The second momentous change in the situation has occurred with the discovery in Siberia (Russia) of two unknown luminous enchytraeids. The two bioluminescent systems belong to different types, have different spectral characteristics and localization, and different temperature and pH optima. They are unique, and this fact is confirmed by the negative results of all possible cross-reactions. The bioluminescent system of Henlea sp. comprises four essential components: luciferase, luciferin, oxygen and calcium ion. For Friderica heliota, the luminescent reaction requires five components: luciferase, luciferin, ATP, magnesium ion and oxygen. Along with luciferin, more than a dozen analogues were isolated from worm biomass. These novel peptide-like natural compounds represent an unprecedented chemistry found in terrestrial organisms.

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Section: First Laboratory Studies Of Earthworm Luminescencementioning

confidence: 98%

Progress in the Study of Bioluminescent Earthworms

Родионова

Rota

Tsarkova

et al. 2017

Photochem & Photobiology

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“…A total absence from soil samples collected at 2 sites (I and III) and from the others during the spring and early summer may indicate no more than this earthworm was not in the mineral soil. Previous records (Pes et al 2016;Szederjesi et al 2018) and our own collection for laboratory experiments in 2013 and 2017, showed that a large component of the life cycle of this earthworm is enacted within rotting wood above the soil surface. To assess this fully, more than just hand-sorting of soil from a given area plus addition of a vermifuge is required.…”

Section: Fieldworkmentioning

confidence: 85%

Aspects of the ecology of the earthworm Eisenia lucens (Waga 1857) studied in the field and in laboratory culture

Kostecka

Butt

Mazur-Pączka

et al. 2019

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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This work relates data from field sampling of Eisenia lucens and from laboratory-based culture. Field sampling used soil sorting and vermifuge extraction and took place in beech-dominated forests of southwest Poland. Initial work derived population estimates from four sub-communities of the forest looking for seasonal dynamics and later work employed targeted sampling in summer within rotting wood to obtain live specimens for laboratory culture. A preliminary examination within and below rotten wood during winter was also undertaken. In the laboratory, clitellate earthworms were kept at 20°C, the substrate changed every 6 months, and the population examined. Cocoons were incubated individually at 15°C, with number of hatchlings per cocoon and the mass of each determined. Hatchlings were grown at 15°C in field-collected wood and compared with growth in a 1:1 volume ratio of wood and horse manure. Further hatchlings were fed with horse manure only (at 10°C) and after 19 weeks, half were transferred to 15°C. In the field, mature individuals varied significantly (p < 0.01) in biomass between 2 sampling sites where found, with an overall mean density across sites of 4.14 ± 3.53 m −2 with a mean biomass of 2.21 ± 1.93 g m −2. Numbers in soil varied over the sampling period, with a suggestion that this species moves from mineral soil to organic-rich dead wood as conditions permit. In summer, all life stages were recovered from rotting wood above the mineral soil. Sampling in winter found cocoons in rotting wood below snow. These hatched rapidly (within 2 weeks) when taken to the laboratory. Laboratory culture allowed maintenance of a population for 2 years. Mean cocoon mass was 50.6 mg with a mean of 2.9 hatchlings per cocoon and hatchling mass was inversely proportional to number per cocoon. Growth with 50% horse manure was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than with wood. Increased temperature from 10 to 15°C brought more significantly (p < 0.05) rapid growth. To culture this species through its life cycle, a natural substrate is needed, but then it is necessary to acclimate the animals to something more easily obtainable. More work is needed from field sampling to fully understand the seasonal dynamics of this species, which utilises different parts of the soil profile throughout the year.

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“…Riboflavin exists in the cytoplasm of coelomocytes with different contents among earthworm species of various genera [33]. The secreted mucus from intersegmental pores and mouths also produces fluorescence [29,34,35]. Since riboflavin is essential to the regeneration, the stem cells responsible for regeneration accumulate more riboflavin than other cells thus inducing stronger autofluorescence [36].…”

Section: Annelidamentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofluorescence in Terrestrial Animals, with Emphasis on Fireflies: A Review and Field Observation

Jeng¹

2019

Bioluminescence - Analytical Applications and Basic Biology

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The mysterious world of biofluorescence in terrestrial ecosystems is mesmerizing. Though not as ubiquitous as in the ocean, it is not a rare phenomenon on land. Fluorescence occurs in all major phyla of terrestrial animals (Platyhelminthes, Mollusca, Annelida, Nematoda, Onychophora, Arthropoda, and Chordata) and their subgroups, with diverse fluorophores and performance. In this chapter, we make a general review on the fluorescence in terrestrial animals first, including their systematic distribution, research history, fluorophores, and proposed functions for each group among several other aspects. A systematic observation on the fluorescence of fireflies is reported for the first time. The co-occurrence of biofluorescence and bioluminescence in luminescent land snails, earthworms, potworms, millipedes, and fireflies is a fascinating issue. Though the biochemical mechanism of photogenesis is not fully understood in many terrestrial animals except fireflies, it appears that biofluorescence and bioluminescence do not have clear interaction during the light production process. However, fluorophores and luminophores are usually biochemically related and are different from the photogenic mechanism of jellyfish and several marine creatures whose ultimate light emission is made through energy transfer from bioluminescence to biofluorescence by green fluorescent protein (GFP) or its variants. The role of fluorescence is disputative. In general, nocturnal animals or animals having cryptic living styles, e.g., in earth or under shelters like tree bark or rocks, tend to exhibit UV fluorescence more frequently than animals that are diurnal or inhabit open environments. This pattern is evident in fireflies wherein only nocturnal and luminescent species exhibit noticeable UV fluorescence (likely from luciferin), which is dim or absent in diurnal or crepuscular fireflies. It is unlikely that occasionally induced UV fluorescence in natural environments can play a significant role in intra-or interspecific communication in fireflies or other nocturnal animals.

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A study on bioluminescence and photoluminescence in the earthworm Eisenia lucens

Cited by 20 publications

References 22 publications

Progress in the Study of Bioluminescent Earthworms

Progress in the Study of Bioluminescent Earthworms

Aspects of the ecology of the earthworm Eisenia lucens (Waga 1857) studied in the field and in laboratory culture

Biofluorescence in Terrestrial Animals, with Emphasis on Fireflies: A Review and Field Observation

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