Monday 13 July 2015

Worms hitch rides on slugs when traveling to far flung places

Slugs provide essential public transport for small worms in the search for food

Date: July 12, 2015

Source: BioMed Central

Summary: Slugs and other invertebrates provide essential public transport for small worms in the search for food, according to new research.

Slugs and other invertebrates provide essential public transport for small worms in the search for food, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Ecology.

Nematode worms (including Caenorhabditis elegans) are around a millimeter long and commonly found in short-lived environments, such as decomposing fruit or other rotting plant material. The worms face a high level of unpredictability in these environments as temperature and food availability fluctuate, and frequently need to move to new locations. However, little is understood on how such a small animal with limited mobility is able to travel long distances to find new food.

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