Invertebrate

Comparison
Part Two & Three
Gas Exchange in Pigs vs Earthworms
How is this process different to that in a pig?

• Earthworms exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide through their

skins, whereas gas exchange occurs internally in the alveoli of pigs. https://www4.uwsp.edu/physastr/kmenning/Phys204/Lect32.html

• In pigs, oxygenated air diffuses into the capillaries and enters the
bloodstream, whilst carbon dioxide diffuses out and is expelled via
exhalation. In worms, the oxygenated air is absorbed into the blood
vessels and carbon dioxide is expelled, both occurring via skin.

• Worm bodies release fluids and mucus to keep their exterior moist for
gases to be diffused through their skins, whereas pigs must intake
oxygen-rich air from their nasal cavity to humidify the air brought in to
maintain the moisture of the internal respiratory system.
https://evaprofebio.jimdofree.com/natural-science-2nd-eso/ud-2-nutricion/2-2-respiracion/
Gas Exchange in Pigs vs Earthworms
How is this process similar to that in a pig?
• Earthworms and pigs both require oxygen for cellular respiration, so their cells
are using oxygen to perform cellular processes.

• The worm's skin must be kept moist, similarly to how the

alveoli of pigs must be moist to allow gasses to diffuse
quickly.

• Diffusion allows earthworms and pigs to get the oxygen they

need to survive, meaning the amount of oxygen internally will
always be in lower concentration than the area outside to https://slideplayer.com/slide/6493540/
create a concentration gradient in O2 and CO2 for gas
exchange to occur,

• For both animals, O2 diffuses into tiny blood vessels, the capillaries
where it binds to hemoglobin to be carried throughout the
bloodstream. CO2 is transported back either by the skin for worms
or alveoli for pigs, where it is diffused out the body.

https://www4.uwsp.edu/physastr/kmenning/Phys204/Lect32.html
 Digestion in Pigs vs Earthworms
How is this process different to that in a pig?
• Earthworms and pigs both circulate oxygenated blood around
the body exclusively through three vessels that supply blood to
all regions of their body. Pigs on the contrary have a far more
complex circulatory process consisting of the heart and blood
vessels.
• The three main vessels that supply blood within the earthworm are
the aortic arches, dorsal blood vessels, and ventral blood vessels,
whereas the arteries, veins and capillaries of the pig circulate blood
and nutrients through its body.

• Pigs' deoxygenated blood is transported through the right atrium

https://thoracickey.com/brief-comparative-phylogeny/
and ventricle and oxygenated in the pulmonary arteries, while
oxygen-rich blood is brought to the heart by the pulmonary veins
and dispersed throughout the body from the aorta. Worms carry
oxygenated blood in their system however do not have to dispose
of CO2 as that occurs through their skins. Thus, the dorsal blood
vessels simply carry blood to the front of the earthworm and the
ventral blood vessels carry blood to the back.
 Digestion in Pigs vs Earthworms
How is this process similar to that in a pig?

• Earthworms have a close circulatory system, like pigs, where

the blood containing nutrients is transported via blood vessels
separate from the body tissues.

• The aortic arches function like a pig's heart, where the five pairs
of aortic arches are responsible for pumping blood into the
dorsal and ventral blood vessels, similar to the pulmonary veins,
arteries and aorta that bring blood in and distribute it out of the
heart.
https://www.brainkart.com/article/Circulatory-and-Nervous-system-of-Earthworm-%28Lampito
-mauritii%29-Anatomy_33175/
• The dorsal blood vessels are similar to the arteries of the pig, as
they are the largest with the thickest wall that operates to force
the blood from the anterior sides of the worm.

• The ventral blood vessels are similar to the capillaries of pigs's,

as they have a thin wall and lack muscles and valves directing
blood the posterior side of the worm.
Earthworm Taxonomy
Domain: Eukarya Scientific Name: Lumbricus terrestris

Kingdom: Animillia Common Names: Nightcrawler or the common Earthworm

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Clitellata

Order: Haplotaxida

Family: Lumbricidae

Genus: Lumbricus
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/i
nvertebrates/facts/common-earthworm
Species: Terrestris
Proposed Evolutionary History
• Some of the most primitive animals were essentially worms.
Early on, worms split into two groups. One group, the
Cycloneuralia, remained limbless: they gave rise to some
modern worms like nematodes and earthworms.

• Earthworms belong to a larger group called annelids, which are

among the most abundant and diverse types of animals alive
today. They have colonized environments from soils on land to
the ocean, where they first evolved over 500 million years ago.

• Earthworms belong to a larger group called annelids. They have

colonized environments from soils on land to the ocean, where
they first evolved over 500 million years ago.
 Two Adaptions of the Earthworm
• Species of Earthworms share common traits or adaptions, however different species of Earthworms have adapted to
different habitats to occupy various niches within the ecosystem.
Morphological Adaption
• The setae of earthworms is a morphological adaption that gave
them numerous bristly hairs on segments of their body.
• These hairs aid earthworms in latching onto and navigating the damp
soil in which they live. This trait is crucial to their fitness as
terrestrial, subsurface organisms that have evolved from aquatic
species.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-ima
ge-earthworm-showing-setae-162
910962.html
Behavioural Adaption
• The earthworm's sensitivity to vibrations is a behavioural adaption
of the species that has allowed them to develop a reflexive response
to escape their primary predator being moles who live
underground.
• This behavioral adaptation has allowed them to escape predators
and increase their rate of survival.
https://www.columbiatribune.com
/story/lifestyle/family/2017/10/10/
the-secret-lives-moles/183396080
07/
Species Diploid Number

The diploid number of chromosomes for earthworm

36, meaning that they have 18 chromosome pairs.
Earthworm Gene of Interest
 Worm Species Comparison
Scientfic Name: Lumbricus rubellus Common Name: Redhead worm or Red wiggler worm

Physical Differences

Earthworm VS Redhead worm

• Redhead worms have distinctive
• An earthworm's body is segmented
yellowish blemishes at the ends of
and reddish brown in color.
their tails and are reddish-purple in
colour. Some species of redhead
• The species range in size from a
worms have stripes.
quarter of an inch to about 6 inches.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/lumbricus-rubellus.html?so
rtBy=relevant • Redhead worms measure between 2
and 3 inches long.
 Worm Species Comparison
Diet and Composting Differences

Earthworm VS Redhead worm

• Earthworms consume dead organic matter carried • Redhead worms comsume organic matter on the soil surface; earthworms
underground. do not.

• Earthworms burrow underground, therefore would not bring • Redhead worms reproduce at a faster rate and help decompose organic
compostable material to the surface, making them unsuitable matter into humuc improving soil fertility. Dwelling on the soil surface,
for compost bins. they are more suitable for composting bins.

Habitat Differences
Earthworm VS Redhead worm
• Earthworms thrive in open gardens with moist • Redhead worms thrive in warm climates
soil for their survival. and are adaptable to temperature
fluctuations.
• Cannot survive in dry and cold, therefore
they burrow underground when conditions • They live in topsoil, in leaf litter and in
become unfavourable. generally organic-rich environments.
 Earthworm Habitat/Ecosystem
• Earthworms thrive in moist conditions and can live anywhere is
moist soil and decaying plant material. Their species are most
abundant in rainforests and in environments consisting of abundant
freshwater,

• The majority of earthworm species spend their time below the soil
surface, where abundant decaying plant matter is present. When it is
sufficiently humid at night, several species come to the surface. To
avoid droughts or winter freezes, they dig deeper and live metres
below the surface where moisture is sufficient for their survival.

• Earthworms are primarily found in temperate, tropical,

terrestrial and aquatic environments.
 Earthworm Ecological Niche
• Earthworms are referred to be "keystone species" by ecologists
due to their significant impact on the biological, chemical, and
physical characteristics of the soil.

• As a result of their feeding and burrowing activities, organic

leftovers and amendments are incorporated into the soil, promoting
humus formation, nitrogen cycling, decomposition, and soil
structure development. They aid in boosting soil fertility, serve as a
gauge for the toxicity or health of the soil, and stop erosion and
floods.

• Without them present in the ecosystem, would have lower crop

yields, higher levels of pollution and higher levels of flooding,
making them essential for the harmony of the environment.