The effects of saline toxicity and food-based AD digestate on the earthworm Allolobophora chlorotica

1. The water content of Lumbricus terrestris, after keeping on moist filter-paper for 3 or 4 days, is 84.8% of its body weight. That of Allolobophora chlorotica is 80% of its body weight. Both species can survive a loss of 60% of the body weight, but not much more. 2. Earthworms of the species A. chlorotica, A. terrestris f. longa, Dendrobaena subrubicunda, L. rubellus and L. terrestris are all able to survive from 31 to 50 weeks in soil totally submerged beneath aerated water. The same species, and A. caliginosa can survive for 72-137 days in aerated tap water without food. 3. Garden specimens of A. chlorotica make U-shaped burrows in soil beneath water. They do not irrigate either the burrows or glass tubes. Egg-cocoons of A. chlorotica, taken from culture pots of soil, will hatch under water and the young worms will feed and grow though totally immersed.

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Effects of silver nanoparticles on survival, biomass change and avoidance behaviour of the endogeic earthworm Allolobophora chlorotica

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety ◽

10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.03.015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 141 ◽

pp. 64-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

C. Brami ◽

A.R. Glover ◽

K.R. Butt ◽

C.N. Lowe

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Avoidance Behaviour ◽

Allolobophora Chlorotica

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Assessment of biosolids in earthworm choice tests with different species and soils

Global NEST Journal ◽

10.30955/gnj.000727 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 255-265

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Eisenia Fetida ◽

Lumbricus Terrestris ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Toxicity Data ◽

Aporrectodea Caliginosa ◽

Treated Sewage ◽

Choice Tests ◽

Efficient Screening ◽

Allolobophora Chlorotica

Earthworm avoidance response is a new tool for rapid and efficient screening of potentially toxic substances added to soil environments. This technique was used to determine if five common, ecologically different earthworm species (Allolobophora chlorotica, Aporrectodea longa, Aporrectodea caliginosa, Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris) avoid soils amended with six biosolids (treated sewage sludge) applied at rates equivalent to realistic field rates of 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1. The results showed that A. chlorotica, E. fetida and L. terrestris were attracted by low concentrations of biosolids (2 t ha-1), whereas they avoided the highest concentration (20 t ha-1). The other species did not show any preferences. An additional treatment comparing the behaviour of E. fetida in natural and artificial soil suggested that the type of soil can alter the preference of earthworms. Comparisons of behavioural and actual toxicity data for the same six biosolids suggest that avoidance responses by earthworms are sensitive enough to reflect different toxicities of biosolids. It is concluded that earthworm avoidance behaviour offers an ecologically relevant tool for screening the deleterious rate-effect of biosolid amended soils.

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