Journal of Environmental Biology

Impact of soil types and petroleum effluents on the earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae

 

B.O. Oboh*, Y. Adeyinka, S. Awonuga and M.O. Akinola

Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Environmental Biology Lab, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

(Received: March 01, 2005 ; Revised received: July 15, 2006; Accepted: August 11, 2006)

Abstract: Earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae, exposed to different concentrations of dump-site soil and petroleum effluents exhibited different morbidity and mortality responses. Lake sediments caused varied fluctuations in weight over a 20 day exposure period.? Colour changes and mortality up to 15% were observed in earthworms cultured in 100% lake sediment, while weight loss, coiling and sluggish movement were observed in 50% lake water. The effects of 100% dump-site soils were more pronounced as 40% death, swelling, body lesions, stiffening, coiling and low reproduction were recorded.? Earthworms were useful as an organism in testing the toxicity of dump-site soils and effluent from a petroleum industry. Dump-site soils and soils polluted with petroleum effluent reduced populations of earthworms and this could subsequently affect other components of the ecosystems associated with earthworm activities.

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