Effects of enhanced gravity on earthworm survival, growth, and reproduction. Name: Cornel-Mari van der Merwe Supervisor: Professor Henk Bouwman Co-supervisor: Professor Mark Maboeta

Effects of enhanced gravity on earthworm survival, growth, and reproduction. Name: Cornel-Mari van der Merwe Supervisor: Professor Henk Bouwman Co-supervisor: Professor Mark Maboeta.

Introduction. The gravitational roll in shaping evolution. What is gravity ? Microgravity & Hypergravity. Earthworms use in space. Earthworms endures and adaptations for prolong periods of hypergravity. The effects of hypergravity on other organisms..

Problemstatement. 3. Understanding the effects of hypergravity on soil microbes such as earthworms is crucial for human space exploration and future colonisation of the Moon and Mars..

4. Aim & objectives. Determine the effects of hypergravity on earthworms. Earthworms will be exposed to hypergravity in a centrifuge to create a hypergravitational environment. Changes in mass, behaviour, and possible reproduction will be measured. Histology will be performed on earthworms after exposure to hypergravity..

5. Hypothesis. Earthworms will survive gravity of up to 6 G for two days. Normal rocket launch acceleration is between 3 and 4 G. Earthworms exposed to hypergravity will develop larger circular and longitudinal muscles Earthworms exposed to hypergravity will decrease in mass and length. Hypergravity will cause a decrease in the number of earthworm cocoons and hatchlings. Cocoons and hatchlings exposed to hypergravity will increase in mass..

6. Methodology. Weighed Centrifugation Earthworms be weighed afterwards, cocoons will be counted and weighed. Some earthworms will be euthanised and others set free. Histology.

Thank you. . 7. Rocket outline.