T. Ryan Gregory and Paul D.N. Hebert
Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 1485-1489.
Abstract
Haploid genome sizes (C-values) were estimated
for 12
species of freshwater oligochaetes (Families Naididae and Tubificidae)
and
15 species of earthworms (Families Lumbricidae and
Megascolecidae). Aquatic worms ranged in genome size from about
0.8 to 7.6pg, while earthworms varied from approximately 0.4 to
1.2pg. Interspecific differences in
nuclear DNA content did not appear to be linked to variation in
chromosome numbers, but there was evidence of cryptopolyploidy in the
aquatic worms. No correlations were found between genome size and
either body size or life
history traits, although there may be an association between higher DNA
content
and parthenogenetic reproduction in earthworms.