What significant challenges did earthworm (Oligochaeta) development innovations address during their transition to land?
Answer
Respiration, reproduction outside of constant aquatic saturation, and interaction with soil
The colonization of land by worm-like forms, leading to the specialized group recognized as earthworms, necessitated specific biological advancements beyond what was required in an aquatic setting. The key adaptations involved systems for respiration that could function in air rather than water, reproductive strategies that did not require constant immersion for viability, and fundamentally new ways to interact with and utilize the new substrate presented by soil rather than just sediment or water.
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