Cryptic speciation and blurred species boundaries of the earthworm: A challenge for soil-based toxicological risk assessments.

ABSTRACT: The toxicological risk assessment of chemicals is largely based on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. These internationally approved methodologies help shape policy and political strategy of environment and human health issues. Risk assessments which pertain to soil biota 'recruit' sentinel organisms, including the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Despite E. fetida being morphologically similar to Dendrobaena veneta, they are characterized by a several-fold difference in sensitivity to xenobiotics. Worms, sold as either as pure E. fetida stocks or E. fetida/D. veneta mixed cultures, were obtained from five commercial suppliers. The species identity of 25 earthworms was determined by sequencing the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (COII). We revealed that o

SUBMITTER: Katsiamides A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7670304 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature