TY - JOUR
T1 - Annelids in extreme aquatic environments
T2 - Diversity, adaptations and evolution
AU - Glasby, Christopher J.
AU - Erséus, Christer
AU - Martin, Patrick
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the guest editors of this special edition, Maria Capa and Pat Hutchings, for inviting us to contribute this article. C.J.G. also thanks Olga Biriukova for preparation of figures, and the Australian Biological Resources Study for supporting Olga as part of the ?Annelid Key? project. C.E. is supported by the Swedish EPA?s Environmental Research Fund in collaboration with the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/2/23
Y1 - 2021/2/23
N2 - We review the variety of morphological, physiological and behavioral modifications that annelids have acquired to cope with environments either unsuitable for, or on the limits of, survival for most animals. We focus on polychaetes (excluding sipunculans and echiurans) and clitellates (oligochaetes and leeches) and source information mostly from the primary literature. We identified many modifications common to both polychaetes and clitellates, and others that are specific to one or the other group. For example, certain land-adapted polychaetes show reduction in nuchal organs, epidermal ciliation and receptor cells, and other coastal polychaetes use adhesive glands and glue-reinforced tubes to maintain position in surf zones, while oligochaetes, with their simple body plans, appear to be ‘pre-adapted’ to life underground. Modifications common to both groups include the ability to construct protective cocoons, make cryoprotective substances such as antifreeze and heat shock proteins, develop gills, transform their bodies into a home for symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria, metabolize contaminants, and display avoidance behaviors. Convergent evolution in both directions has enabled annelids to transition from salt water to freshwater, sea to land via beaches, freshwater to soil, and surface water to subterranean water. A superficially simple worm-like body and a mostly benthic/burrowing lifestyle has facilitated radiation into every conceivable environment, making annelids among the most common and diverse animal groups on the planet.
AB - We review the variety of morphological, physiological and behavioral modifications that annelids have acquired to cope with environments either unsuitable for, or on the limits of, survival for most animals. We focus on polychaetes (excluding sipunculans and echiurans) and clitellates (oligochaetes and leeches) and source information mostly from the primary literature. We identified many modifications common to both polychaetes and clitellates, and others that are specific to one or the other group. For example, certain land-adapted polychaetes show reduction in nuchal organs, epidermal ciliation and receptor cells, and other coastal polychaetes use adhesive glands and glue-reinforced tubes to maintain position in surf zones, while oligochaetes, with their simple body plans, appear to be ‘pre-adapted’ to life underground. Modifications common to both groups include the ability to construct protective cocoons, make cryoprotective substances such as antifreeze and heat shock proteins, develop gills, transform their bodies into a home for symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria, metabolize contaminants, and display avoidance behaviors. Convergent evolution in both directions has enabled annelids to transition from salt water to freshwater, sea to land via beaches, freshwater to soil, and surface water to subterranean water. A superficially simple worm-like body and a mostly benthic/burrowing lifestyle has facilitated radiation into every conceivable environment, making annelids among the most common and diverse animal groups on the planet.
KW - Adaptation
KW - Annelida
KW - Behavior
KW - Environment
KW - Habitat
KW - Invertebrate
KW - Morphology
KW - Physiology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102363225&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/d13020098
DO - 10.3390/d13020098
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85102363225
VL - 13
SP - 1
EP - 23
JO - Diversity
JF - Diversity
SN - 1424-2818
IS - 2
M1 - 98
ER -