Rare superorganism ‘wormnadoes' caught on camera for the first time; what is it exactly?

Economic Times

21 hours ago

TIL Creatives When facing starvation and low oxygen, tiny aquatic worms unite to form writhing towers that move like a single superorganism. Known as 'wormnadoes,' this behavior was previously observed only in lab settings, but recent wild footage reveals how these creatures cooperate to survive extreme environments.
When faced with starvation and low oxygen, some creatures don't just fight to survive; they unite. Tiny aquatic worms, barely visible to the eye, crawl toward one another and create writhing towers that move in sync like a single, squirming superorganism. This extraordinary behavior, known only from lab studies until recently, has now been filmed in the wild, shedding light on a remarkable natural strategy.These squirming formations, sometimes nicknamed 'wormnadoes,' had previously been seen only in laboratory experiments. Now, their appearance in natural conditions offers fresh insights into how some animals work together to survive extreme environments.
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The phenomenon was first captured by a group of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Georgia Institute of Technology. They observed these worm towers while studying aquatic blackworms (Lumbriculus variegatus) in their natural habitat. The worms, which are typically found in shallow freshwater bodies, were seen forming wriggling vertical columns, appearing almost like a single moving entity. This behavior is described as a form of 'active matter aggregation,' where individual organisms come together to act as a single, coordinated unit. These towers behave like superorganisms—structures made up of many organisms acting as one body. According to researchers, this form of collective behavior is a survival strategy.
The worm towers were mostly observed in response to environmental stress, such as decreasing oxygen levels or changes in water temperature. By bundling together, the worms can reach the water's surface where oxygen is more plentiful. In some cases, these towers even moved as a group, flowing across a surface in search of better conditions.
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The discovery in nature confirms earlier lab experiments, where researchers simulated harsh environments and noticed blackworms clumping together into blob-like masses. These blobs can adapt shape and flow in response to their environment, showing flexibility and coordination. The new observations suggest that the same behavior happens outside the lab—something scientists had not witnessed before.Each worm plays a role in the tower's movement and stability. As one worm moves, it can drag others with it. The coordination allows the mass to behave like a single structure, making it more efficient at reacting to environmental threats and changes.
Also Read: Sun will die in 5 billion years but life could survive on Jupiter's moon Europa; here's how The implications of this finding go beyond biology. Understanding how simple organisms coordinate could inspire new ideas in robotics and swarm engineering. For example, scientists could design soft robots that mimic worm tower behavior, adjusting their shape and movement based on external stimuli.The study of these worm towers opens a window into the complexity of group behavior in even the simplest life forms. While it might look chaotic to the human eye, the movement is highly organized and purposeful. Researchers now aim to study other species that might show similar collective behaviors in the wild.
Perez and her team at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior further studied this behavior under laboratory conditions to understand the sensory and environmental cues that drive it. Their findings could help decode the mechanics behind such coordinated survival strategies and their broader ecological roles.