https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 Assessment of metal toxicity and bioavailability in metallophyte leaf litters and metalliferous soils using Eisenia fetida in a microcosm study https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:30283 Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:33:33 AEDT ]]> Metal bioavailability to Eisenia fetida through copper mine dwelling animal and plant litter, a new challenge on contaminated environment remediation https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:29623 Zn (37.3%) > Cu (15.4%) > Pb (1.7%) and is consistent to earlier findings. There was no significant correlation between litter samples and concentration of metals in worm tissue. However, the bioavailability percent for copper in all samples are dominant except for Acacia pycnantha leaf litter being the lowest 90.9%. Earthworm reproduction test revealed that even with a high copper concentration in all samples, Eucalyptus camaldulensis litter produced the highest juvenile count (160%). Evidently, earthworms are seen to reproduce well even in contaminated litter irrespective of level of metal content. Our findings suggest that there are various risks associated with metal transfer and pollution through plant and animal litter in ecosystem and should be appropriately managed.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:32:13 AEDT ]]>