RT Journal Article
T1 The making of a (soil) star: phylogenetic relationships of the genus Lumbricus with insight into its evolution and biogeography
A1 Fernández Marchán, Daniel
A1 Martínez Navarro, Alejandro
A1 Aira, Manuel
A1 Decaëns, Thibaud
A1 Gérard, Sylvain
A1 Domínguez, Jorge
AB The widely distributed earthworm genus Lumbricus exhibits significant ecological and morphological diversity, playing essential roles in soil ecosystems. This study presents a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the genus, incorporating eighteen taxa and four mitochondrial and anuclear marker. The aim was to clarify the phylogenetic relationships within Lumbricus and examine the evolutionary trajectory of bioturbation behaviour and geographic origins.Phylogenetic analyses revealed three major clades within Lumbricus, with Lumbricus baicalensis emerging as the earliest branching species. Evolutionary relationships suggested that the common ancestor of the genus was an epigeic litter dweller, with epi-anecic traits appearing later in their evolutionary history. Ancestral area reconstruction indicated that the genus originated in France and Central Europe, aligning with previous hypotheses of an Alpine origin. Molecular phylogenetics reinforced the monophyly of the genus, confirming the species status of previously unassessed taxa, such as Lumbricus meliboeus and Lumbricus polyphemus. Additionally, high genetic divergence was found between some infraspecific taxa, suggesting that Lumbricus castaneus var. disjunctus and Lumbricus rubellus castaneoides may represent pseudocryptic species. Previous hypotheses about the giant endemic species Lumbricus badensis evolving from a common ancestor with Lumbricus friendi around the Last Glacial Maximum were not supported by our results.These findings contributed an evolutionary and biogeographic background to understand the current ecology and distribution of invasive Lumbricus species such as Lumbricus terrestris or Lumbricus castaneus, potentially opening the way to improved management of these impactful species.
PB Elsevier
SN 1164-5563
YR 2025
FD 2025-06
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/123265
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/123265
LA eng
NO Marchán, Daniel F., et al. «The Making of a (Soil) Star: Phylogenetic Relationships of the Genus Lumbricus with Insight into Its Evolution and Biogeography». European Journal of Soil Biology, vol. 125, junio de 2025, p. 103732. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2025.103732.
NO This work was supported by the Xunta de Galicia (Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria. Secretaria Xeral de Universidades under grants ED431B 2019/038 and ED431C 2022/07). DFM was funded by a María Zambrano Postdoctoral Grant from the Spanish Ministry of Sciences, Innovation and Universities and by a Make Our Planet Great Again Postdoctoral grant from Campus France.
NO Xunta de Galicia
NO Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
NO Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation (Francia)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 27 dic 2025