Journal
PEDOBIOLOGIA
Volume 45, Issue 1, Pages 61-68Publisher
ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG
DOI: 10.1078/0031-4056-00068
Keywords
earthworms; cocoon production; cocoon viability; heavy metals; sublethal toxicity
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study compares the cocoon production and cocoon viability of three earthworm species, Eudrilus eugeniae, Perionyx excavatus and Eisenia fetida after exposure to a sublethal concentration of lead nitrate. Cocoon production in all three species did not differ significantly between exposed and control worms. However, cocoon viability in all three species was affected detrimentally by the presence of lead nitrate. Cocoons of Eisenia fetida from substrates contaminated by lead nitrate, cadmium sulphate and zinc sulphate for 36 months, also showed a lowered cocoon viability. It is concluded that cocoon viability may be a sensitive endpoint of sublethal toxicity of these metal salts.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available