title: Mercury, cadmium and lead concentrations in different ecophysiological groups of earthworms in forest soils.
abstract: Bioaccumulation of Hg, Cd and Pb by eight ecophysiologically distinct earthworm species was studied in 27 polluted and uncontaminated forest soils. Lowest tissue concentrations of Hg and Cd occurred in epigeic Lumbricus rubellus and highest in endogeic Octolasion cyaneum. Soils dominated by Dendrodrilus rubidus possess a high potential of risk of Pb biomagnification for secondary predators. Bioconcentration factors (soil-earthworm) followed the sequence ranked Cd>Hg>Pb. Ordination plots of redundancy analysis were used to compare HM concentrations in earthworm tissues with soil, leaf litter and root concentrations and with soil pH and CEC. Different ecological categories of earthworms are exposed to Hg, Cd and Pb in the topsoil by atmospheric deposition and accumulate them in their bodies. Species differences in HM concentrations largely reflect differences in food selectivity and niche separation.
authors.affiliation: Soil Sciences, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury