title: Important Issues in Ecotoxicological Investigations Using Earthworms.
abstract: The importance and beneficial effects of earthworms on soil structure and quality is well-established. In addition, earthworms have proved to be important model organisms for investigation of pollutant effects on soil ecosystems. In ecotoxicological investigations effects of various pollutants on earthworms were assessed. But some important issues regarding the effects of pollutants on earthworms still need to be comprehensively addressed. In this review several issues relevant to soil ecotoxicological investigations using earthworms are emphasized and guidelines that should be adopted in ecotoxicological investigations using earthworms are given. The inclusion of these guidelines in ecotoxicological studies will contribute to the better quantification of impacts of pollutants and will allow more accurate prediction of the real field effects of pollutants to earthworms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 8/A, Osijek, 31000, Croatia. mirna.velki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 8/A, Osijek, 31000, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ečimović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D017753:Ecosystem; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D059165:Hormesis; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Biomarker responses; Earthworms; Ecotoxicology; Experimental conditions; Hormesis; Microcosmic systems; Pollutant mixtures; Pollutants; Risk assessment; Soil ecosystems; Temperature change; Toxic effects