Abstract
Earthworms originally evolved in aquatic ecosystems and began to colonize terrestrial ecosystems 600 million years ago. Over the past few decades, research into earthworms has revealed that they stimulate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and hence enhance soil fertility. Recent works have revealed that earthworms are able to direct the fates of heavy metals by passing and accumulating toxic metals through and in their body tissues, and that this distinctive phenomenon is influenced by various factors.
This chapter considers the role of earthworms in the accumulation, availability, and uptake of heavy metals in soil. In particular, it is known that the functions and capabilities of earthworms in various soil ecosystems are closely linked to their biological characteristics and habitats, so this review places special emphasis on these factors.
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Karaca, A., Kizilkaya, R., Turgay, O.C., Cetin, S.C. (2010). Effects of Earthworms on the Availability and Removal of Heavy Metals in Soil. In: Soil Heavy Metals. Soil Biology, vol 19. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02436-8_17
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