Proteomic techniques were used to analyze the protein profile of earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, coelomic fluid collected by either whole body dissection method or the coelomic cavity puncture method. Data demonstrated that collection of coelomic fluid using the coelomic cavity puncture method protocol resulted in a 32% reduction, 377 +/- 4.5 vs 253+/- 19.9 (p=0.0007), in the number of individual proteins. It was determined that the coelomic cavity puncture method yielded a "cleaner" preparation, one less contaminated with extraneous proteins from intestinal tissue, gut contents, and body wall materials. This protocol was used in all later studies. The same proteomic techniques were used to evaluate the effects that exposure to Cu (1.0 μg/cm2) as CuSO4 had on the earthworm coelomic fluid profile. Comparison of protein profile from exposed earthworms demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of proteins expressed (184 ± 2.64 vs 253 ±19.9 p=0.0192) when compared to control organisms. Cu exposure also resulted in a modulation of the protein profile with treated earthworms expressing 47 new proteins that were not identified in unexposed worm coelomic fluid. Additionally, 116 proteins found in coelomic fluid collected from normal worms were absent in Cu exposed organisms. Finally, 137 proteins were conserved or found in both control and exposed organisms; however of these proteins, 24 were up-regulated, 105 were down-regulated, and 8 were unchanged as a result of Cu exposure.

This research is part of an effort to develop non-mammalian surrogate immunoessays with the earth worm Lumbricus terrestris to assess immunotoxic potential of xenobiotics to mammals. The objective was to determine if earthworm immunoessays, namely E- and S- rosette formation and phagocytosis, are sensitive to a known mammalian immunotoxin, the PCB Arclor 1254. Results are presented in terms of PCB exposure and tissue concentrations during uptake/depuration.

For decades, scientists have known where the highest numbers of species that live aboveground are found. So, they made maps of the world showing these patterns. For most of the aboveground groups, the highest numbers of species occur in the tropics and numbers decrease toward the poles. However, until recently, we did not understand such global patterns for many organisms living in the soil. We decided to create global maps of earthworm species richness. Earthworms provide humans with many useful services, such as moving the soils and improving their quality, which can increase the amount of food that is grown. If we want to protect earthworms and the services they provide, these global maps of earthworms are important because we need to understand where they are and why they live there.

No description available.

Anthropogenic activities surrounding horticulture, agriculture and recreation have increased dispersal of invasive earthworms. The introduction of earthworms initiates many physical and chemical alterations in forest soils previously unoccupied by earthworms. Three trials were performed to assess the effects of earthworms on soil-water dynamics, C and N and defensive/storage compound production by a native plant. The first trial was a greenhouse experiment, performed to assess the impact of two ecologically contrasting invasive earthworm species on percolate and evaporative soil water loss. Mesocosms were constructed to simulate a typical forest Entisol commonly penetrated by the species of interest, Lumbricus terrestris and Amynthas agrestis. Earthworms were added in pair and combination to replicate an average population density observed in Vermont. Percolate water was collected and evaporative water loss balance was recorded over a period of 140 days. C and N were quantified in A-horizon bulk and aggregate soil as well as the subsoil. Residual surface leaf litter was also quantified. Results indicated significantly increased evaporative water loss where either worm was present. Conversely, percolate water loss was significantly reduced in presence L. terrestris alone. C and N analysis revealed that only L. terrestris had a significant effect on aggregate soil C. While the abundance of many herbaceous species is reduced at invasive earthworm sites, Arisaema triphyllum anecdotally have greater densities where earthworms are present. It has been hypothesized that the greater density is caused by a trait that allows this plant to store Ca, often observed at increased concentrations in earthworm invaded soils as Ca-oxalate Here, we tested the hypothesis that oxalate increases in A. triphyllum when earthworms are present. As such, we conducted a two-way factorial greenhouse trial to test whether the changes to soil properties made by two invasive earthworm species (Amynthas agrestis and Lumbricus rubellus) or their physical presence (and bioturbation) had an effect on the plant production of oxalate. Upon quantification of variable soluble oxalate in corms after senescence, we found that earthworm presence increased water soluble and total oxalate significantly as well as marginally significantly in the case of HCl soluble oxalate. No significant changes in oxalate concentrations were observed under soil treatments alone. Carbon and nitrogen are found extensively in both terrestrial and atmospheric cycles. A shift in the equilibrium of these elements can suggest a strong interaction between an introduced variable (invasive earthworms in this case) and the abiotic environment. To better understand changes in soil properties with earthworm invasion, a 112-day mesocosm study was undertaken to examine C and N dynamics. Two epi-endogeic invasive earthworm species Lumbricus rubellus and Amynthas agrestis were selected for study. Greenhouse gas production by total mesocosm and soil were monitored. Gas flux measurements on 11 dates indicate both worm species increase CO2 and N2O emitted from mesocosm system as well as soil. Mesocosm total C and N (mass balance) indicate significantly more N but no change in C where earthworms are present. This indicates a disruption of denitrification by earthworm invasion that results in increased N2O emissions. This research is the first to examine these variables in concert and confirms holistic view is essential when examining natural systems.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Morgana Suszek.pdf: 1631457 bytes, checksum: e053e20fe847bb2e96307ad30b523a38 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-11-11 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Green solid residues coming from urban pruner and rests of agricultural products and also swineculture effluents have been showing as one of the main problems in the urban and rural areas, because their insuitable discards, being differents enviromment impacts. A alternative in order to treatment of these residues and effluents is the aerobic composting followed by vermicomposting process. In this study, was of these evaluated the integration of the composting and vermicomposting in the biostabilization of the urban green solid residues using swine wastewater and commercial activator, furthermore being checked the quality of the earthworm humus obtained. The vermicomposts produced showed similarities in the values of the C/N ratio, nitrogen and potass, in relation to the earthworm humus made with cattle manure, indicating the possibility of the green residues use in consortium with swine wastewater in the organic fertilizer production. Metals zinc and copper in the vermicomposts were detected, however, in concentrations which don´t infer risk of the human health, plants and soil contamination. The vermicomposts from organic composts showed, in average, lower value of that metals in relation to cattle manure vermicomposts. / Resíduos sólidos verdes provenientes de podas urbanas e de sobras de produtos hortifrutigranjeiros, assim como efluentes das atividades de suinocultura, apresentam-se como um dos principais problemas nas áreas urbanas e rurais, pois seus descartes de forma inadequada, provocam diversos impactos ambientais. Uma alternativa para o tratamento desses resíduos e efluentes é a compostagem aeróbia seguida pelo processo de vermicompostagem. Neste estudo, avaliou-se a integração da compostagem e vermicompostagem na bioestabilização de resíduos sólidos verdes urbanos, inoculados com água residuária da suinocultura e ativador comercial, ainda aferindo-se a qualidade do húmus de minhoca obtido. Os vermicompostos produzidos apresentaram semelhanças nos valores da relação C/N, nitrogênio e potássio, em relação ao húmus de minhoca feito com esterco bovino, indicando a possibilidade do uso dos resíduos verdes em consórcio com água residuária da suinocultura na produção de adubos orgânicos. Foram detectados os metais zinco e cobre nos vermicompostos, entretanto, em concentrações que não inferem riscos de contaminação ao solo, às plantas ou à saúde humana. Os vermicompostos de compostos orgânicos apresentaram, em média, valores mais baixos desses metais em relação ao vermicomposto de esterco bovino.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:48:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Morgana Suszek.pdf: 1631457 bytes, checksum: e053e20fe847bb2e96307ad30b523a38 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-11-11 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Green solid residues coming from urban pruner and rests of agricultural products and also swineculture effluents have been showing as one of the main problems in the urban and rural areas, because their insuitable discards, being differents enviromment impacts. A alternative in order to treatment of these residues and effluents is the aerobic composting followed by vermicomposting process. In this study, was of these evaluated the integration of the composting and vermicomposting in the biostabilization of the urban green solid residues using swine wastewater and commercial activator, furthermore being checked the quality of the earthworm humus obtained. The vermicomposts produced showed similarities in the values of the C/N ratio, nitrogen and potass, in relation to the earthworm humus made with cattle manure, indicating the possibility of the green residues use in consortium with swine wastewater in the organic fertilizer production. Metals zinc and copper in the vermicomposts were detected, however, in concentrations which don´t infer risk of the human health, plants and soil contamination. The vermicomposts from organic composts showed, in average, lower value of that metals in relation to cattle manure vermicomposts. / Resíduos sólidos verdes provenientes de podas urbanas e de sobras de produtos hortifrutigranjeiros, assim como efluentes das atividades de suinocultura, apresentam-se como um dos principais problemas nas áreas urbanas e rurais, pois seus descartes de forma inadequada, provocam diversos impactos ambientais. Uma alternativa para o tratamento desses resíduos e efluentes é a compostagem aeróbia seguida pelo processo de vermicompostagem. Neste estudo, avaliou-se a integração da compostagem e vermicompostagem na bioestabilização de resíduos sólidos verdes urbanos, inoculados com água residuária da suinocultura e ativador comercial, ainda aferindo-se a qualidade do húmus de minhoca obtido. Os vermicompostos produzidos apresentaram semelhanças nos valores da relação C/N, nitrogênio e potássio, em relação ao húmus de minhoca feito com esterco bovino, indicando a possibilidade do uso dos resíduos verdes em consórcio com água residuária da suinocultura na produção de adubos orgânicos. Foram detectados os metais zinco e cobre nos vermicompostos, entretanto, em concentrações que não inferem riscos de contaminação ao solo, às plantas ou à saúde humana. Os vermicompostos de compostos orgânicos apresentaram, em média, valores mais baixos desses metais em relação ao vermicomposto de esterco bovino.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:15:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 wildjaime de bergaman.pdf: 302638 bytes, checksum: 61eb497bb063a622d1a5b4e1cc763c86 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the Crotalaria juncea, under applications of different doses of cattle manure and of earthworm humus. An experiment was carried out in the period of August to October of 2007 in the greenhouse of the Plant Science Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN. A 2 x 5 factorial scheme with thee replications of two plants per plot in a completely randomized design was used. The treatments consisted of the combination of two sources of organic matter ( cattle manure and earthworm humus ) with five doses of these sources ( 0, 15, 45, 60 t ha-1 ) the doses of organics fertilizers were incorporated to the total soil volume and, soon after application of the treatments it was sowed five seeds per pot with Crotalaria juncea, leaving later two plants per pot. The evaluated traits were: plant height and stalk diameter, number of leaves per plant, shoot fresh and dry mass. Significant interaction between sources of organic matter and their doses was observed on plant height, stalk diameter and number leaves per plant. The highest plant height ( 173.50 cm) and stalk diameter (4,83 cm) were obtained with the dose application of 45 t ha-1 of cattle manure, being this value 24% higher as compared to that value in the same dose of earthworm humus. These was not significant the interaction between sources of organic matter and their doses on shoot fresh and dry mass. The Crotalaria juncea responded very well the input of the organic matter sources. The dose of organic matter to be recommended for fresh production of Crotalaria juncea is of 40 t ha-1 . the production of more vigorous plants was provided by the cattle manure / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a performance da Crotalaria juncea sob a aplicação de diferentes doses de esterco bovino e húmus de minhoca. Um experimento foi conduzido no período de agosto a outubro de 2007 na casa de vegetação do Departamento de Ciências Vegetais da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos completos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, com três repetições com duas por parcela. Os tratamentos consistiram da combinação de duas fontes de matéria orgânica (esterco bovino e húmus de minhoca) com cinco doses destas fontes ( 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 t ha-¹). As doses dos fertilizantes orgânicos foram incorporados ao volume total do solo, e, logo após a aplicação dos tratamentos, semeou-se cinco sementes de Crotalaria juncea por vaso, posteriormente deixando-se das plantas por vaso. As características avaliadas foram: altura de plantas e diâmetro do caule, número de folhas por planta, massa verde e seca da parte aérea. Interação significativa entre as fontes de matéria orgânica e suas doses foi observada na altura de planta, diâmetro de caule e número de folhas por planta. A maior altura de planta (173,50 cm ) e o maior diâmetro de caule (4,83 cm) foram obtidos com aplicação da dose de 45 t ha-¹ de esterco bovino. Para o número de folhas por planta o maior valor foi observado na dose de 30 t ha-¹ de esterco bovino, sendo este valor 24 % superior ao obtido com o húmus de minhoca na mesma dose, não houve interação significativa entre fontes de matéria orgânica e suas doses na massa fresca e seca da parte aérea. A Crotalaria juncea respondeu muito bem ao aporte das fontes de matéria orgânica.a dose de matéria orgânica recomendada para a produção da Crotalaria juncea é de 40 t ha-¹. A produção de plantas mais vigorosas foi proporcionado pelo esterco bovino

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:18:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 wildjaime de bergaman.pdf: 302638 bytes, checksum: 61eb497bb063a622d1a5b4e1cc763c86 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the Crotalaria juncea, under applications of different doses of cattle manure and of earthworm humus. An experiment was carried out in the period of August to October of 2007 in the greenhouse of the Plant Science Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN. A 2 x 5 factorial scheme with thee replications of two plants per plot in a completely randomized design was used. The treatments consisted of the combination of two sources of organic matter ( cattle manure and earthworm humus ) with five doses of these sources ( 0, 15, 45, 60 t ha-1 ) the doses of organics fertilizers were incorporated to the total soil volume and, soon after application of the treatments it was sowed five seeds per pot with Crotalaria juncea, leaving later two plants per pot. The evaluated traits were: plant height and stalk diameter, number of leaves per plant, shoot fresh and dry mass. Significant interaction between sources of organic matter and their doses was observed on plant height, stalk diameter and number leaves per plant. The highest plant height ( 173.50 cm) and stalk diameter (4,83 cm) were obtained with the dose application of 45 t ha-1 of cattle manure, being this value 24% higher as compared to that value in the same dose of earthworm humus. These was not significant the interaction between sources of organic matter and their doses on shoot fresh and dry mass. The Crotalaria juncea responded very well the input of the organic matter sources. The dose of organic matter to be recommended for fresh production of Crotalaria juncea is of 40 t ha-1 . the production of more vigorous plants was provided by the cattle manure / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a performance da Crotalaria juncea sob a aplicação de diferentes doses de esterco bovino e húmus de minhoca. Um experimento foi conduzido no período de agosto a outubro de 2007 na casa de vegetação do Departamento de Ciências Vegetais da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos completos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, com três repetições com duas por parcela. Os tratamentos consistiram da combinação de duas fontes de matéria orgânica (esterco bovino e húmus de minhoca) com cinco doses destas fontes ( 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 t ha-¹). As doses dos fertilizantes orgânicos foram incorporados ao volume total do solo, e, logo após a aplicação dos tratamentos, semeou-se cinco sementes de Crotalaria juncea por vaso, posteriormente deixando-se das plantas por vaso. As características avaliadas foram: altura de plantas e diâmetro do caule, número de folhas por planta, massa verde e seca da parte aérea. Interação significativa entre as fontes de matéria orgânica e suas doses foi observada na altura de planta, diâmetro de caule e número de folhas por planta. A maior altura de planta (173,50 cm ) e o maior diâmetro de caule (4,83 cm) foram obtidos com aplicação da dose de 45 t ha-¹ de esterco bovino. Para o número de folhas por planta o maior valor foi observado na dose de 30 t ha-¹ de esterco bovino, sendo este valor 24 % superior ao obtido com o húmus de minhoca na mesma dose, não houve interação significativa entre fontes de matéria orgânica e suas doses na massa fresca e seca da parte aérea. A Crotalaria juncea respondeu muito bem ao aporte das fontes de matéria orgânica.a dose de matéria orgânica recomendada para a produção da Crotalaria juncea é de 40 t ha-¹. A produção de plantas mais vigorosas foi proporcionado pelo esterco bovino

Les applications thérapeutiques de la neurostimulation ultrasonore représentent un terrain de recherche très prometteur, auquel il fait défaut un modèle valide décrivant les biomécanismes sous-jacents. Le premier objectif de ce travail de thèse était de proposer un modèle nerveux propice à une étude mécanistique du phénomène de neurostimulation ultrasonore. L’objectif suivant était de prouver l’intérêt d’exploiter ce modèle pour recueillir des informations concernant les interactions biophysiques ayant lieu entre les ultrasons (US) focalisés et le système nerveux. La majorité des études réalisées a porté sur le système nerveux du ver de terre commun, Lumbricus terrestris. Elles ont consisté d’une part à comparer entre elles les caractéristiques temporelles des réponses nerveuses associées à différentes modalités de stimulation, et d’autre part à évaluer l’influence de chacun des paramètres acoustiques du stimulus ultrasonore sur le taux de succès de neurostimulation (NSR). Dans les deux cas, la méthodologie suivie reposait sur l’administration de différents stimuli aléatoirement alternés. Complémentairement, le rôle joué par la cavitation acoustique a été étudié. La faisabilité de la stimulation du système nerveux du ver de terre, au moyen d’US et dans des conditions in vivo, a été prouvée. Les aires sensorielles et la dynamique de réponses associées aux trois modalités de stimulation ont été caractérisées. Il a été conclu que, dans ce modèle nerveux invertébré, pendant le phénomène de neurostimulation ultrasonore, les structures nerveuses interagissant fonctionnellement avec les US sont les nerfs afférents segmentaux. Les résultats des études paramétriques ont indiqué que le NSR augmente avec l’intensité acoustique, la durée de pulse et la fréquence de répétition des pulses. Il a été proposé que la structure nerveuse visée est sensible à la « force de radiation moyenne » transportée par le stimulus US, indépendamment des paramètres menant à cette valeur / Ultrasound neurostimulation applied to therapy is a promising field of research but still lacks of a validated model explaining the biomechanisms underlying the phenomenon. The first objective of this PhD thesis was to propose a nervous model suited for a mechanistic study of the phenomenon of ultrasound neurostimulation. In a second time, it was intended to practically prove the interest of this model by using it to gain knowledge regarding the biophysical interactions between focused ultrasound and the nervous system. Studies were performed on the nervous system of the anesthetized earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris. They consisted in either comparing the timings of the nervous responses associated with different modalities of stimulation, or evaluating the influence of each acoustic parameter on the neurostimulation success rate (NSR). In both cases, the methodology followed was to administer randomly mixed sequences of different stimuli. The feasibility of the in vivo activation of the anesthetized earthworm’s nervous system was proven. The sensory fields and response dynamics associated with the three modalities of stimulation were characterized. The parametric studies indicated that the NSR increases with pulse amplitude, pulse duration, pulse repetition frequency, but is more weakly influenced by the harmonic content and number of pulses. By applying a causal approach to interpret the results, we concluded that, in this nervous model, during the phenomenon of ultrasound neurostimulation, the structures functionally responding to the ultrasound stimulus are the segmental afferent nerves. We hypothesize that the main interaction with the axonal regions is mediated by ultrasound radiation force, without excluding the involvement of other biomechanisms