Temperature Relations of Three Egyptian Oligochaete Species
- 1 January 1965
- Vol. 16 (1/2) , 9-+
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3564859
Abstract
The thermopreferendum and the upper lethal temperature of Allolobophora caliglnosa f. trapezoides, Pheretima caltfornica and Alma sp. were determined by the use of new methods which exclude the defects of previous experiments concerning the effect of changing relative humidity. The use of a new thermopreferendum apparatus based on that of Herter is introduced, and the method of Fry for lethal temperature determination is adopted with certain modifications. The temperature preference ranges of A. callgtnoaa, Ph. californica and Alma sp. are 2-37[degree]C, 26-35[degree]C, and 2-26[degree]C, respectively. A. callginosa has the highest upper lethal temperature. This may be one reason why it is the dominant species in Egypt. Worms perish more readily at high temperatures in habitats to which they are not adapted. They show a good adaptation to the hot Egyptian climate by having high upper lethal temperatures.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: