Do earthworms impact metal mobility and availability in soil? A review

Sizmur, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9835-7195 and Hodson, M. E. (2009) Do earthworms impact metal mobility and availability in soil? A review. Environmental Pollution, 157 (7). pp. 1981-1989. ISSN 0269-7491 doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.02.029

Abstract/Summary

The importance of earthworms to ecosystem functioning has led to many studies on the impacts of metals on earthworms. Far less attention has been paid to the impact that earthworms have on soil metals both in terms of metal mobility and availability. In this review we consider which earthworms have been used in such studies, which soil components have been investigated, which types of soil have been used and what measures of mobility and availability applied. We proceed to review proposed reasons for effects: changes in microbial populations, pH, dissolved organic carbon and metal speciation. The balance of evidence suggests that earthworms increase metal mobility and availability but more studies are required to determine the precise mechanism for this. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/4103
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.envpol.2009.02.029
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Uncontrolled Keywords	Earthworms; Metals; Mobility; Availability
Publisher	Elsevier
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