Earthworm reproduction
2001
Rozen, A. (Universytet Jagielonski, Krakow (Poland). Zaklad Ekologii Ekosystemow)
Earthworms are hermaphroditic animals. They posses both testes and ovaries, that function simultaneously.Most earthworms reproduce by cross-fertilization, although some species can reproduce parthenogenetically. In earthworms common is polyploidy. When polyploidy is associated with partenogenesis, it results in high amount of heterozygosity which is advantageous for individuals (increase of resistance to environmental stress). The number of laid cocoons depends on life strategy. Usually from one cocoon hatch one individual. Eisenia fetida is species that produce more than one hatching per cocoon
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