Vision AI is changing the way we study segmented worms

Segmented worms are organisms that belong to the phylum Annelida, a group of soft-bodied invertebrates that includes well-known species such as earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes.

They are referred to as segmented worms because their bodies are made up of repeating sections, a feature that sets them apart from many other groups.

A common example of a segmented worm is the earthworm, often seen in soil after rainfall, but many species also live in freshwater and marine habitats. These worms play crucial roles in maintaining the balance of natural ecosystems.

For example, earthworms improve soil fertility, making it possible for plants to grow more effectively. Meanwhile, leeches have been used in medicine for centuries, and some species are still studied for their ability to help improve the environment.  

Also, studying segmented worms helps scientists understand ecosystems and track changes in environments. Their presence or absence can signal the health of soil, rivers, or coastal areas.

However, observing worms manually can be time-consuming and difficult. That’s why technologies like computer vision are being adopted by scientists. Computer vision is a branch of artificial intelligence that enables machines to analyze and interpret images, making it possible to detect and study segmented worms more efficiently.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at segmented worms, their characteristics, and how computer vision models like Ultralytics YOLO11 can help when analyzing them. Let's get started! 

An overview of the phylum Annelida

Before exploring the role of computer vision in this field of research, let’s take a closer look at what makes segmented worms unique and how they help maintain the balance of nature. By understanding their role, we can see why studying these creatures is so important for ecosystem health. Let’s begin with how these organisms are classified.

Segmented worms belong to a large group called annelids, which scientists divide into three main classes. The first group is the class Oligochaeta, which includes earthworms. They live in soil, dig burrows, and help recycle nutrients. Their constant movement improves soil health and makes it easier for plants to grow.

The second group is the class Hirudinea, which includes the leeches. Most leeches live in freshwater habitats. Some are harmless scavengers, while others are blood sucking, such as Hirudo medicinalis, a species that has been used in medicine for hundreds of years.

The third group is the class Polychaeta, also called polychaete worms, featherduster worms, bristle worms, or tube worms. They are common in marine environments, where some build protective tubes in sand and rock, while others swim freely in the water.

Nowadays, taxonomy often groups earthworms and leeches under Clitellata and places the others in Polychaeta, though the traditional three-class system is still widely used in education.

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A closer look at the anatomy of segmented worms 

Next, let’s walk through the anatomy of segmented worms to see how their bodies are built and how each part helps them survive and move.

The body of an annelid is made up of repeating units called segments, which is why they are often described as having segmented bodies. Scientists also use the term metameric to describe this structure.

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Each body segment may contain muscles, nerves, and parts of the internal organs, which help the worm move with flexibility and control. Many species have small bristles known as chaetae or setae. In polychaetes, these bristles are attached to parapodia, which are paired appendages used for crawling, swimming, or breathing.

Other key structures include the body wall, which shapes and supports the worm, and the thin outer cuticle that serves as protection. At the front is the prostomium, a head-like region that often carries sensory organs. 

Inside, a fluid-filled cavity called the coelom cushions the organs and helps with movement. The long body muscles are separated by thin walls known as septa, giving the worm both strength and flexibility. Also, running along the underside is the ventral nerve cord, a main communication pathway that allows the worm to sense and respond quickly to its surroundings.

How segmented worms live and move

Now that we have a better idea of the parts of a segmented worm, let’s see how these features work together to help them move and survive.

Segmented worms move in different ways depending on their group and environment. Locomotion in earthworms is powered by their muscles and the fluid-filled coelom. By contracting and relaxing their longitudinal muscles, they generate pressure that allows them to extend, contract, and dig burrows through the soil.

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In the ocean, polychaetes swim or crawl with the help of parapodia and tiny bristles, which give them more flexibility in movement. The digestive system of segmented worms has two openings, starting at the mouth with a muscular pharynx. Food continues through the digestive tract, where nutrients are absorbed before waste leaves the body.

Annelids also have a closed circulatory system, where blood moves through blood vessels. This system is more efficient than the open circulation found in many other invertebrates. The nervous system is simple but effective. It includes clusters of nerve cells called ganglia and a ventral nerve cord that runs the length of the body.

The role of segmented worms in an ecosystem 

How segmented worms are designed by nature and the way they move is a key part of their role in the environment. Now, let’s explore why they are significant and why researchers are turning to cutting-edge technology to better understand these organisms.

Segmented worms play an important part in keeping ecosystems balanced. Earthworms improve soil fertility by moving through soil burrows and breaking down organic matter. As they feed and tunnel, they mix nutrients into the soil, which helps plants grow. Because of this, scientists often use earthworms as bioindicators to measure soil health.

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In water, many segmented worms act as filter feeders. They process particles from their surroundings and help keep freshwater and marine environments clean. Others serve as food for fish and larger animals, making them a vital link in aquatic food chains.

Although segmented worms often play helpful roles, certain marine species can cause biofouling, a buildup of organisms on ships or pipelines that leads to costly problems for industry.

On the other hand, leeches stand out for their medical importance. Certain species, such as Hirudo medicinalis, feed on blood and have been used for centuries in treatments that improve circulation.

Studies related to segmented worms highlight their similarities with other animal groups, such as arthropods and vertebrates, enabling scientists to better understand animal phyla and evolutionary history.

Challenges in observing and analyzing segmented worms

Observing and analyzing segmented worms in their natural habitats can be challenging. The way segmented worms look and move makes them hard to follow by sight. 

However, Vision AI can make this task easier. Computer vision analyzes and interprets images, allowing researchers to detect segmented worms more consistently and at scale.

Here are some of the specific challenges that computer vision can address:

• Camouflage in soil and water: Many segmented worms blend into their surroundings. In soil or on marine substrates, their colors and textures make them hard to see.
  
  
• Varied postures: Depending on their activity, worms may be elongated, coiled, or partially hidden, creating challenges for consistent recognition.
  
  
• Counting in groups: When many worms cluster together, it is difficult for researchers to detect and count individuals accurately by eye.
  
  
• Small size and subtle features: Worms often have fine bristles or body markings that are hard to notice during field surveys.

Using computer vision to study segmented worms

Traditionally, studying segmented worms in the field or lab has relied on careful observation and manual counting. But subtle changes in posture, cluttered backgrounds, and the small size of many species make accurate identification difficult, even for experienced researchers.

Computer vision offers a more scalable and dependable approach. By analyzing images automatically, it can be used to detect worms, classify them by group, and even track their movements over time. This reduces the effort of manual work while improving accuracy and repeatability.

At the core of such Vision AI solutions are models like YOLO11 that support various tasks like object detection and instance segmentation. YOLO11 can be custom-trained on specialized datasets of worm images from soil, lab dishes, or underwater cameras. Once trained, the model can recognize the unique shapes and textures of different worms, making detection more accurate and consistent across environments.

Vision AI in action: Detecting earthworm cocoons

Computer vision is already being used to make research on segmented worms faster and more practical. One interesting example comes from vermicomposting, where earthworms recycle organic waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer. 

Worm cocoons are key because they produce the next generation of worms, but separating them from compost by hand is slow and difficult. In 2022, researchers in Turkey developed a Vision AI-powered system to detect and sort earthworm cocoons in real time. The system was trained on thousands of images to recognize the tiny, round cocoons hidden in compost.

It was then connected to a conveyor belt with air jets that automatically separated the cocoons from the compost. By automating cocoon detection, the system saves time and labor, reduces costs, and makes vermicompost production more efficient and sustainable.

Beyond worms: Wider applications of Vision AI in biology

You might be wondering, if computer vision can be used to study worms, what else can it do? Beyond worms, Vision AI has wide applications in biology. 

Models like YOLO11 are being used to monitor insects, track fish in rivers and oceans, and even study soil health through image analysis. These advances give researchers faster and more reliable ways to study animals and ecosystems, supporting conservation and environmental monitoring on a larger scale.

Key takeaways

Segmented worms are part of the phylum Annelida, which includes familiar species such as earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes. They are a critical part of our ecosystem because they improve soil fertility, support aquatic food chains, and contribute to medicine.

Studying segmented worms in soil or water can be challenging. With computer vision models like Ultralytics YOLO11, researchers can detect these organisms more accurately and study them at scale.

Want to learn more? Explore our community and GitHub repository to connect with others in the AI space. Dive into our solution pages about AI in retail and computer vision in agriculture, and check out our licensing options to get started with Vision AI today.