Behavior and respiration responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida to soil arsenite pollution

Abstract Soil arsenic (As) pollution from mining and industrial sources is a serious issue in China. Earthworms are considered ecosystem engineers and contribute to soil fertility development and maintenance of soil physico-chemical properties. In this study, earthworms were exposed to soils with different sodium arsenite concentrations (0, 5, 20, and 80 mg As kg-1) for 60 d to investigate the changes in soil properties and the responses of the earthworms (e.g., burrowing activity and respiration). Earthworm burrowing activity decreased with increasing arsenite concentrations, and earthworm respiration was significantly lower in soils with 20 and 80 mg As kg-1 compared to 0 mg As kg-1. Changes in soil properties were also observed after incubation of As-amended soil with earthworms. Specifically, soil pH decreased, while soil electrical conductivity and contents of soil NO3– -N, Olsen-P, and available K increased. Our results suggest that arsenite negatively impacts the metabolic activity of earthworms, leading to reduced burrowing activity, which in turn modifies the effects of earthworms on soil fertility and remediation.