Enchytraeid and earthworm communities along a pollution gradient near Olkusz (southern Poland) (original) (raw)
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Horizontal distribution of copper, nickel and enchytraeid worms in polluted soil
Environmental Pollution, 1999
We studied the horizontal distribution of Cu, Ni and enchytraeid worms (Cognettia sphagnetorum, Vejdovsky, Oligochaeta, Enchytraeidae) in forest soil near a Cu±Ni smelter in SW Finland. Soil samples were taken from a polluted site (2 km from the smelter) and a reference area (8 km from the smelter). We used a hierarchical sampling design in the polluted area for studying possible scale-dependent variability in parameters measured, distance between the samples (dierent scales) being 5, 50 and 500 cm. Distribution of metals was moderately heterogeneous in the polluted soil; coecient of variances (CV), 26% for Cu and 32% for Ni. Instead, distribution of enchytraeids in the area was highly heterogeneous (CV, 135%) and the variability increased with increasing a distance between the samples: CV increased from 67 to 104% from the smallest to the largest sampling scale. Soil metal concentrations did not correlate with enchytraeid densities in the polluted area. However, three out of our four sampling plots having distance of 500 cm between each other had lower enchytraeid density than the reference area. Results may indicate that C. sphagnetorum has quite low sensitivity to metal pollution, at least on the forest stand scale. On the other hand, enchytraeids may have population dynamics connected to patches (sources±sinks) caused by uneven distribution of metals. This can mitigate the eects of metals on their population densities. Due to importance of enchytraeids in decomposition processes and the fact that usually only one enchytraeid species is present in boreal coniferous forests, they may be appropriate for ®eld monitoring in these humus rich soils.
Pedobiologia, 2003
In the alluvial plain of Scarpe-Escault, in northern France, past emissions from a Zn smelter resulted in a notable Zn, Cd, and Pb-contamination of soils. The aim of this study was to assess the response of earthworm communities to a gradient of metal pollution. In 11 sites located within 4 kilometers of the smelter, according to the dominant wind direction, characteristic soil parameters and total metal contents were determined and 9 earthworm species were collected. The Kmeans clustering method, applied to the first two axes extracted by Principle coordinate analysis on species abundances, allowed to separate the 11 sites into 6 groups depending on their pollution status and the type of vegetation cover (cultivated soils, grasslands, poplar plantations). Significant differences were found between the 6 groups for the total density of earthworms, which varied from 392 ind.m -2 in unpolluted grassland to 2 ind.m -2 in the metallophyte grassland, where soil pollution was higher than in the other sites. Intermediate densities were found in unpolluted poplar plantations with 271 ind.m -2 (but only 57 ind.m -2 in polluted stands), and 52 ind.m -2 in unpolluted cultivated soils. Metal pollution also reduced species richness (from 6 to 1 species). Aporrectodea caliginosa and Allolobophora chlorotica appeared to be the most sensitive to heavy metals. A. caliginosa was dominant in unpolluted grassland (about 45 ind.m -2 ), absent in the most polluted site (35000, 8271 and 190 mg kg -1 for Zn, Pb, and Cd, respectively), and present in polluted poplar plantation (1112, 616 and 12 mg kg -1 for Zn, Pb, and Cd, respectively) although at a very low density (less than 1 ind.m -2 ).
Soil Invertebrates as Bio-Monitors of Toxic Metals Pollution in Impacted Soils
The bio-indicator potentials of two invertebrate species, Eudrilus eugeniae (earthworm) and Pachybolus ligulatus (millipede) in toxic metals impacted soils in Akwa Ibom State, in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria were assessed. The study involved collection of Eudrilus eugeniae and Pachybolus ligulatus, and their site soil samples from different impacted and non-impacted soils in ten locations spread over four Local Government Areas. Toxic metals (Pb, Fe, Zn, Ni and Cd) in soils and in the bio-indicator organisms were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, after acid digestion. Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) was used to measure the extent of soil pollution; Bio-Accumulation Factor (BAF) to compute the metal uptake from soil by bio-indicators; and multivariate statistics to identify interrelationships among metals and the pollution sources. Metals in all soils were higher than the background levels, and were classified as unpolluted to very strongly polluted. Pb, Fe, Zn and Cd were higher in Eudrilus eugeniae, and Ni in Pachybolus ligulatus at 0.05 level. The organisms absorbed all metals (BAF<1), but Eudrilus eugeniae accumulated Cd and Fe and Pachybolus ligulatus, Ni and Fe (BAF>1). Metals were clustered into three (Eudrilus eugeniae) and two (Pachybolus ligulatus) dissimilar groups. Two principal components extracted, each for Eudrilus eugeniae and Pachybolus ligulatus accounted for 64% and 72% of total variations, respectively. The invertebrates exhibited varying levels of affinity in metals uptake. Eudrilus eugeniae appeared to accumulate Pb, Fe and Cd more, and could serve as a better bio-indicator for monitoring these metals. Pachybolus ligulatus accumulated 3-folds more Ni, and could provide a monitoring tool especially in agriculture, in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, plagued by crude oil pollution of its land and water bodies. Key words: Soil bio-indicators, Pollution, Multivariate analysis, Atomic Spectroscopy.
Environmental Pollution, 2014
The aim of this study was to estimate the bioavailability of essential (Zn, Cu) and non-essential metals (Cd, Pb) to the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus exposed to soils originating from a gradient of metal pollution in Southern Poland. Metal uptake and elimination kinetics were determined and related to soils properties. Experimental results were compared with tissue metal concentrations observed in earthworms from the studied transect. Cd and Pb were intensively accumulated by the earthworms, with very slow or no elimination. Their uptake rate constants, based on 0.01 M CaCl 2 -extractable concentrations in the soils, increased with soil pH. Internal concentrations of Cu and Zn were maintained by the earthworms at a stable level, suggesting efficient regulation of these metals by the animals. The estimated uptake and elimination kinetics parameters enabled fairly accurate prediction of metal concentrations reached within a life span of L. rubellus in nature.
Journal of Applied Toxicology, 2013
Cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) toxicity in Enchytraeus doerjesi after 28-day exposure experiments was studied at 15, 20, and 25 C. Cd lethal concentration (LC) 50 decreased with increasing temperature (293.01 mg kg -1 at 15 C, 261.62 mg kg -1 at 20 C, 231.79 mg kg -1 at 25 C). In contrast, Zn LC 50 increased with increasing temperature (420.21 mg kg -1 at 15 C and 518.42 mg kg -1 at 20 C). At 25 C, a Zn LC 50 could not be computed owing to the lack of sufficient adult mortality (LC 50 > 640 mg kg -1 ). The reproductive output at 20 and 25 C was similar for each metal. Cd EC 50 for reproduction increased between 15 and 20 C (from 23.93 to 35.11 mg kg -1 ) and decreased between 20 C and 25 C (to 16.84 mg/kg). Zn EC 50 increased dramatically from 15 C (41.47 mg kg -1 ) to 20 C (111.75 mg kg -1 ), and then slightly from 20 C to 25 C (112.17 mg kg -1 ). This indicated that metal-temperature effects on E. doerjesi may vary depending on the endpoint. The deleterious effects of Cd on the survival of E. doerjesi increased steadily with increasing temperature. With regard to reproduction, Cd toxicity could be exacerbated by extreme temperatures (15 and 25 C) although conflicting pressures between high temperature and Cd toxicity may have prevented higher reproduction beyond 20 C. The effects of Zn toxicity on survival decreased consistently with increasing temperature. The marginal increase in Zn EC 50 between 20 and 25 C may explain the lack of a significant change in reproduction between the two temperatures. Energy redistribution between the below organism and higher organization endpoints in response to metal contamination may further explain these results.
HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN SOIL AND THEIR BIOACCUMULATION IN EARTHWORMS (Lumbricus terrestris L.)
The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry", 2020
The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, and Cd) in the soil and earthworm body (Lumbricus terrestris), as well to estimate Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) in earthworm body. The soil and earthworm samples were taken three times, from March to June 2018, in six different locations in Kosovo (Mitrovicë, Kishnicë, Kastriot, Barilevë, Drenas and Lipjan) and were brought to the laboratory for heavy metal analysis. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil and earthworm samples were determined by an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) Perkin-Elmer brand model 1100 (Boston, MA, USA). Mean heavy metal concentration in soils were, 0.03-0.78mg/kg, 70.62-264.29mg/kg, 18.96-82.24mg/kg, 0.11-0.52 and 0.03-0.42mg/kg for Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, and Cd respectively. The mean concentration range recorded in earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) were 0.02-0.42mg/kg for Cu, 53.11-205.31mg/kg for Fe, 15.74-53.15mg/kg for Zn, 0.07-0.43mg/kg for Pb, and 0.01-0.37mg/kg for Cd. Based on the results obtained it was shown that there are statistically significant differences of different levels of significance regarding the content of heavy metals according to locality (Factor A), substrate (Factor B), heavy metal (Factor C) and factor interactions (A*B), (A*C), (B*C), and (A*B*C). The accumulation of heavy metals in earthworm samples maintains the same profile as mean heavy metal concentration of the soil Fe>Zn>Pb>Cu>Cd. Since some organisms like reptiles, birds and some other vertebrates feed on earthworms, transfer of these metals across the food chain is most likely, and therefore this research will be useful for risk assessment by relevant institutions responsible for the monitoring and surveying of environmental pollution and food security and safety in Kosovo.