Zhang M. H. auteur aut IRD Jouquet Pascal auteur aut IRD Dai J. auteur aut IRD Xiao L. auteur aut IRD Du Y. auteur aut IRD Liu K. X. auteur aut IRD Motelica-Heino M. auteur aut IRD Lavelle P. auteur aut IRD Zhong H. S. auteur aut IRD Zhang C. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access This study was aimed to evaluate the potential of four earthworm species commonly found in South China for the bioremediation of soils contaminated by Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn. Survival rates and metal accumulation of Eisenia fetida, Amynthas morrisi, A. robustus and A. corticis and changes in soil physico-chemical properties were investigated in a 60-day incubation experiment with a metal-polluted soil. At the end of the experiment, the survival rates of E.fetida, A. morrisi and A. robustus were significantly higher than that of A. corticis. Principal component analysis showed that earthworm activity improved soil quality with the averaging soil quality index being 0.66, 0.64, 0.56, 0.53, and 0.12 for the A. corticis, A. morrisi, A. robustus, E. fetida, and control treatments, respectively. The highest total available Cd, Cu, and Pb in casts were found in the treatment with A. morrisi, and this species accumulated the smallest amount of metals. Results indicate that A. morrisi may be the best candidate for earthworm-assisted bioremediation of metal contaminated soils in South China. specialized Earthworm species Metals Accumulation Availability Soil quality CHINE 074 038 068 820 152834 [9 p.] 2022 0048-9697 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084538 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152834 0048-9697 [F B010084538] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084538 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2022-05/010084538.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2022-05-04 2025-02-24 fdi:010084538 fre