Tolerance to Zinc in Populations of the Earthworm Lumbricus rubellus from Uncontaminated and Metal-Contaminated Ecosystems |
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Authors: | D J Spurgeon S P Hopkin |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood, Abbotts Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE17, 2LS, UK , UK;(2) Division of Zoology, School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, PO Box 228, Reading, RG6 6AJ, UK , UK |
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Abstract: | Zinc tolerance in Lumbricus rubellus populations from two metal-polluted (smelter and mine) sites was studied by comparing the effects of zinc with responses
in a reference site strain. For the study, adult worms were collected directly from the field. Thus, no attempt was made to
differentiate between tolerance resulting from population-level genetic adaptation or phenotypic plasticity in metal physiology.
To compare relative sensitivity for zinc, worms from the three populations were exposed in laboratory tests. Effects on survival,
weight change, cocoon production, and internal zinc levels were measured. Prior to exposure, it was anticipated that worms
from the metal-contaminated sites would show substantially increased tolerance to zinc. This was not the case for all measured
parameters. Thus, although differences in the shape of the dose-response relationships for survival and cocoon production
were found, substantial variations in measured responses, effect concentrations, or zinc accumulation rates were not apparent.
Overall, therefore, zinc tolerance is unlikely to be a major factor influencing the distribution of L. rubellus in contaminated regions.
Received: 8 September 1998/Accepted: 21 March 1999 |
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