| Positive relationships between multilocus heterozygosity (MLH) and fitness have been found in a variety of organisms. This study examined the effects of temperature and soil moisture on survivorship, growth, MLH-survivorship relationships, and MLH-growth relationships in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Survivorship was dependent on temperature, but not moisture. Growth was dependent on both temperature and moisture. Survivorship and growth were almost completely unaffected by MLH. A positive MLH-growth relationship was found at high temperature and high moisture. Other MLH-fitness relationships were probably not found because of uncontrolled environmental factors or the absence of environmental fluctuation that may contribute to MLH-fitness relationships. In short, differences in survivorship and growth were attributable to interactions among temperature, moisture, and, to a lesser extent, MLH. |
