Journal
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Volume 98, Issue 3, Pages 271-279Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0007485308006056
Keywords
Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister; polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis; gut microbiota; microbial community composition; band identification
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus, plays an essential role in soil ecosystems as it affects organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. By ingesting a Mixture of organic and mineral material, a variety of bacteria and fungi are carried to the intestinal tract of the earthworm. To get a better understanding of the interactions between L. rubellus and the microorganisms ingested, this study tried to reveal if the diet affects the composition of the gut microflora of L. rubellus or if its intestinal tract hosts an indigenous, species-specific microbiota. A feeding experiment with L. rubellus was set up; individuals were collected in the field, transferred to a climate chamber and fed with food sources of different quality (dwarf shrub litter, grass litter or horse dung) for six weeks. DNA was extracted from the guts of the earthworms, as well as from the food sources and the surrounding soil, and further analysed by a molecular fingerprinting method, PCR-DGGE (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Denaturing Gradient Get Electrophoresis). We were able to demonstrate that the gut microbiota was strongly influenced by the food source ingested and was considerably different to that of the surrounding soil. Sequencing of dominant bands of the bacterial DGGE fingerprints revealed a strong occurrence of y-Proteobacteria in all gut samples, independent of the food source. A specific microflora in the intestinal tract of L. rubellus, robust against diet changes, could not be found.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available