01988nas a2200169 4500008004100000020002300041245017300064210006900237260003100306300001400337490000600351520135300357100002101710700002301731700002401754856004001778 2007 eng d a15287092, 1938541200aNatural History Observations on Bipalium cf. vagum Jones and Sterrer (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida), a Terrestrial Broadhead Planarian New to North America0 aNatural History Observations on iBipaliumi cf ivagumi Jones and  bEagle Hill Institutec2007 a - 4604490 v63 a

An increasing number of exotic terrestrial planarian species have established populations worldwide. In North America, the most prominent invasive flatworms are three members of the broadhead planarian genus Bipalium. Herein we report observations on the morphology, predatory behavior, and reproduction of Bipalium cf. vagum, new to this continent and report its occurrence in Florida and Texas. Individuals of this species have a distinctive combination of head shape and pattern of dark dorsal pigmentation (large head spots, complete collar, and prominent median stripe) that distinguishes them from other members of the genus. Although the other North American species of Bipalium feed on earthworms, B. cf. vagum feeds exclusively on terrestrial mollusks. Their predatory behavior includes following mucus trails and subduing the prey by capping the prey's head with the flatworm's anterior end and wrapping the prey's foot in the body of the planarian. Members of this species reproduce via egg capsules that contain small numbers of offspring. Because this is the first land planarian reported in North America that is a predator of mollusks, native land snails and slugs are unlikely to have effective defenses against it. Therefore, we should continue to monitor its geographic spread and potential ecological impact.

1 aDucey, Peter, K.1 aMcCormick, Matthew1 aDavidson, Elizabeth uhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/454104002323nas a2200181 4500008004100000022001400041245011900055210006900174260000900243300001200252490000700264520168800271100002101959700002201980700001502002700002402017856010002041 2005 eng d a0031-405600aReproductive ecology and evolution in the invasive terrestrial planarian Bipalium adventitium across North America0 aReproductive ecology and evolution in the invasive terrestrial p c2005 a367-3770 v493 a

Summary Comparisons between invasive species and their relatives can help in identifying traits that facilitate dispersal and colonization, and comparisons among populations within invasive species may highlight the roles of plasticity and evolutionary adaptation. Bipalium adventitium Hyman 1943 is an exotic, earthworm-eating soil flatworm that has become widespread and abundant in North America. As a first step in better understanding the ecology and evolution of this invasive planarian, we studied its reproductive traits in populations across its extensive geographic range and conducted an experiment on the effects of food availability. Colonization by B. adventitium is facilitated by hermaphroditism, sperm storage, and tough egg capsules containing multiple offspring, traits present in most Terricola. The egg capsules produced by B. adventitium were large (22.5 mg), hatched in 7-37 days (mean=23 days), contained 1-8 offspring (mean=3.4), and represented about 21% of a parent’s predeposition mass. Many individuals produced multiple egg capsules. Although considerable intraspecific variation was detected for most reproductive parameters, significant differences among geographic populations were noted for egg capsule mass, mean offspring mass, and measures of total reproductive output. Intraspecific correlations between parent mass and the masses of egg capsules and offspring, and the results of our experiment showing that food availability affected egg capsule production, together suggest that thus far intra-population variation and plasticity have been more important than local evolutionary adaptation in the invasion of this species.

1 aDucey, Peter, K.1 aWest, Lori-Jeanne1 aShaw, Gina1 aDe Lisle, Jacquelyn uhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B7CW5-4GG2J91-1/2/2ba9658cf26c82e504d9178d4f2e4cb9