Enchytraeidae Fridericia bulbosa as a new test species for soil ecotoxicity assessment

Fridericia bulbosa ( Rosa, 1887) was proposed as a new test species to assess soil ecotoxicity. The acute toxicity of mercury (Hg) and bromoxynil (BX) on the mortality of Fridericia bulbosa (F. bulbosa) in OECD soil was investigated. The results suggested there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between controls and treatments except lower concentration of exposure to single pollutant. BX was more toxic to F. bulbosa than Hg. The 14 d LC50 values for F. bulbosa exposed to Hg and BX were 3.87 and 2.41 mg kg−1, respectively. The effects of mixtures with single pollutants on earthworms were observed differently. Toxicity of Hg on earthworms was significantly influenced by the concentration of BX. BX was the main contributive factor of the combined toxic effects. It can be proved that F. bulbosa is a suitable bio-indicator to measure the acute toxicity of mixed pollutants in soil and the mortality of earthworms may be considered as a valuable and sensitive biomarker to diagnose adverse effect of Hg or BX in soil environment.

► Fridericia bulbosa is a new bio-indicator to measure the acute toxicity of contamination.
► Different responses of single and joint stress were observed in the present study.
► Bromoxynil was the main contributive factor of the toxic effects in mixtures.