Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology
https://jabbnet.com/article/doi/10.31893/jabb.22028
Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology
Research Article Open Access

Heavy metal effects on earthworms in different ecosystems

Gulzinat Seribekkyzy, Rita Urgenchbaevna Saimova, Aidana Kanatkyzy Saidakhmetova, Guldana Kanatkyzy Saidakhmetova, Bolat Kabdushevich Esimov

Downloads: 4
Views: 1145

Abstract

Elevated heavy metals in soil are a serious environmental problem that threatens human health and other organisms. Earthworms are widely used as pollution bioindicators of soil ecosystems. The influence of heavy metal content on species composition and population density of earthworms in soils of urban and natural ecosystems has been previously studied. The accumulation of heavy metals in earthworm samples was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. This study found representatives of 11 species of earthworms in biogeocenoses of the Zailiisky Alatau foothills. The low occurrence of earthworms in ecosystems with a maximum content of cadmium (0.25±0.0024 mg/kg), lead (16±0.70 mg/kg) and arsenic (2.84±0.05 mg/kg) was marked. The number and variety of species of lumbricidofauna differed in urban and natural habitats, indicating that increased heavy metal content substantially impacts earthworms. Earthworms can absorb heavy metals from contaminated soils, which simulates the actions of key elements in the body and causes diseases. Thus, one of the primary determining factors of a positive physical and chemical state of the soil is the number and species composition of earthworms. These data can be used to monitor soil contamination near industrial facilities.

Keywords

biogeocenosis, earthworms, heavy metals, species composition

References

Athmann M, Kautz T, Banfield C (2017) Six months of L. terrestris activity in root-formed biopores increases nutrient availability, microbial biomass and enzyme activity. Applied Soil Ecology 120:135–142.

Babenko AS (2013) Soil invertebrates as indicators of the state of the territory. Tomsk, pp. 40.

Bezkorovainaya IN (2001) Biological diagnosis and indication of soils. Krasnoyarsk: State Agrarian University, p. 40.

Borges FLG, da Rosa Oliveira M, de Almeida TC (2021) Terrestrial invertebrates as bioindicators in restoration ecology: A global bibliometric survey.  Ecological Indicators.  doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107458.

Cheng J, Wong MH (2002) Effects of earthworms on Zn fractionation in soils. Biol Fertil Soils. doi: 10.1007/s00374-002-0507-z

Curry JP, Schmidt O (2007) The feeding ecology of earthworms - A review.  Pedobiologia  doi: 10.1016/j.pedobi.2006.09.001.

Garg P, Satya S, Sharma S (2009) Effect of heavy metal supplementation on local (Allolobophora parva) and exotic (Eisenia fetida) earthworm species: a comparative study. Journal of Environmental Science and Health 44:1025-1032

Gilyarov MS, Krivolutskiy DA (1971) Radioecological studies in soil zoology. Journal of Zoology 50:329-342.

Gilyarov MS (1978)  The role of soil animals  in the decomposition of plant residues and the cycle of substances. Results of science and technology. Zoology of Invertebrates. Moscow, p. 69.

Gilyarov MS (1985) Zoological method of soil diagnostics. Moscow, p. 277.

Isayeva AU (2018) Accumulation of lead ions by earthworms in loamy soils of South Kazakhstan. Proceedings of the Orenburg State Agrarian University 3:11-14.

Ivanter EV, Korosov AV, (2010) Elementary biometry: textbook – Petrozavodsk: Publishing house of Petrozavodsk State University.

Kapil P, Rajeev K, Mahipal S, Sankhla SS (2019) Impact of Heavy Metals on Survivability of Earthworms. International medico-legal reporter journal 2:51-57.

Karimov HN, Uzakov ZZ, Khushmurodov JP (2021) Pollution of irrigated soils and their biological treatment.  Biological Sciences 2:34-40.

Langdon CJ, Piearce TG, Feldmann J, et al. (2003) Arsenic speciation in the earthworms Lumbricus rubellus and Dendrodrilus rubidus. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22:1302-1308.

Liu X, Hu C, Zhang S (2005) Effects of earthworm activity on fertility and heavy metal bioavailability in sewage sludge. Environment international. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2005.05.033.

Lukkari T, Teno S, Vaisanen A, Haimi J (2006) Effects of earthworms on decomposition and metal availability in contaminated soil: microcosm studies of populations with different exposure histories. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.05.015

Lukkari T, Taavitsainen M,  Vaisanen  A,  Haimi J (2004) Effects of  heavy  metals  on  earthworms  along  contamination   gradients in organic rich soils. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2003.09.011.

Mustafayev BA (2015) Results of bioconversion of organic waste through earthworms and obtaining biohumus. Problems of household, industrial and agricultural waste reclamation: IV International Scientific Environmental Conference. Krasnodar: Kuban State Agrarian University, p. 27-31.

Narayanan P, Sathrumithra S (2016) Current distribution of the invasive earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) after a century of its first report from Kerala state. Opuscula Zoologica 47:101-107.

Novak AI (2015) Biotopic distribution of earthworms of the family Lumbricidae in Almaty region. Bulletin of the Ulyanovsk State Agricultural Academy. doi: 10.18286/1816- 4501-2015-4-78-83.

Rapport D, Regier H, Hutchinson (1985) Ecosystem Behavior Under Stress. In The American Naturalist 125:617-640.

Ruiz E, Rodriguez L, Alonso-Azcrate J (2009) Effects of earthworms on metal uptake of heavy metals from polluted mine soils by different crop plants.  Chemosphere 75:1035-1041.

Shefali BLJ, Yadav RGJ (2018) Assessment of histological alterations induced by heavy metal exposure on earthworms.  International Journal of Conservation Science 6:1436- 1438.

Sivakumar S (2015) Effects of metals on earthworm life cycles: A review.  Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 187:530.

Sizmur T, Hodson ME (2009) Do earthworms impact metal mobility and availability in soil? A review. Environmental Pollution 157:1981-1989

Striganova BR (1987) Methods of fixation, storage and laboratory mainte- nance of soil invertebrates. Quantitative methods in soil zoology, Moscow, p. 72-87.

Sokolova TL (2010) Diagnostic possibilities of soil mesofauna. Bulletin of N.A. Nekrasov Kostroma State University 3:13-14.

Van Straalen NM, Butovsky R (2001)  Metal concentration in soil and invertebrates in the vicinity of a metallurgical factory near Tula (Russia). Pedobiologia 45:451-466.

Vsevolodova-Perel TS (1997) Rainworms of fauna of Russia: Cadastre and identifier. Moscow, p. 102.

Matveeva DG (1982) Rainworms of the family Lumbricidae of Moscow Region. - In: Soil invertebrates of Moscow Region, Moscow, p. 133-143.

Wen B, Hu X, Liu Y (2004) The role of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in influencing bioavailability of heavy metals in soils.  Biology and Fertility of Soils. doi: 10.1007/s003 74-004-0761-3

Zvyagintsev DG, Babieva IP, Zenova GM (2005) Soil biology: Textbook. - 3rd ed., Moscow, p. 445.


Submitted date:
05/09/2022

Reviewed date:
07/12/2022

Accepted date:
07/13/2022

62ade9bda953953157196b03 jabbnet Articles
Links & Downloads

J. Anim. Behav. Biometeorol.

Share this page
Page Sections