Genetic diversity of a clonal earthworm : gene expression variation and impacts on decomposition in metal contaminated soil
Biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning positively. Metal-contamination diminishes species diversity and ecosystem function depends on the remaining
species, and the genotypes within them. I studied how the clonally reproducing
earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra responds to soil metal contamination and how
its genetic diversity affects decomposition. Expression of the gene for the metal
tolerance protein metallothionein was compared between populations with or
without metal exposure history: with exposure history expression was high and
stable and without there was a slow response. Adaptation to metal contamination likely explains the differences. Clonality of D. octaedra was verified with
microsatellite markers. However, there was considerable gene expression variation both between and within genotypes, highlighting the need to consider such
variation in comparative gene expression studies. The main study question focused on if genetic diversity is important for ecosystem functioning in metalcontaminated soil. I manipulated genetic diversity of a key decomposer, D. octaedra in a microcosm experiment. Indications of positive effects of higher genetic diversity on decomposition were found, especially in the contaminated conditions. However, the differences between the treatments often depended on
which genotype was in the low diversity treatment, suggesting that traits of the
genotypes might be more important than the level of genetic diversity for ecosystem functioning. An alternative technique to the real-time quantitative PCR,
droplet digital PCR, was tested for gene expression measurements, and found
to be a promising technique.
...
Publisher
University of JyväskyläISBN
978-951-39-6834-2ISSN Search the Publication Forum
1456-9701Keywords
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
- Väitöskirjat [3589]
License
Related items
Showing items with similar title or keywords.
-
Impact of genetic diversity of an earthworm on decomposition and ecosystem functioning
Mustonen, Marina; Haimi, Jari; Knott, K. Emily (Elsevier, 2020)Ecosystem functioning is affected positively by increased biodiversity, through complementary functions of multiple species or because high-functioning species are more likely in a species-rich community. Genetic diversity ... -
Variation in gene expression within clones of the earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra
Mustonen, Marina; Haimi, Jari; Kesäniemi, Jenni; Högmander, Harri; Knott, Emily (Public Library of Science, 2017)Gene expression is highly plastic, which can help organisms to both acclimate and adapt to changing environments. Possible variation in gene expression among individuals with the same genotype (among clones) is not widely ... -
Earthworm responses to metal contamination : tools for soil quality assessment
Lukkari, Tuomas (University of Jyväskylä, 2004)Tuomas Lukkari tutki väitöstyössään kuinka haitta-aineet, esimerkkinä metallit, vaikuttavat ympäristöömme ja sen eliöihin. Lukkari selvitti lieroista mitattavien muuttujien avulla, kuinka haitallisia metallit ovat ja miten ... -
An uptake and elimination kinetics approach to assess the bioavailability of chromium, copper, and arsenic to earthworms (Eisenia andrei) in contaminated field soils
Kilpi-Koski, Johanna; Penttinen, Olli-Pekka; Väisänen, Ari; van Gestel, Cornelis A. M. (Springer, 2019)The aim of this study was to determine the bioavailability of metals in field soils contaminated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) mixtures. The uptake and elimination kinetics of chromium, copper, and arsenic were ...