Modeling zinc toxicity for terrestrial invertebrates

Acute and chronic ecotoxicity tests with zinc were performed with the earth worm Eisenia fetida, the potworm. Enchytraeus albidus, and the springtail F olsomia candida. To assess the influence of the soil type on zinc toxicity for these soil invertebrates, these tests were carried out in a standard ar tificial soil, a sandy and a loamy field soil. Based on the results of this experimental work and data taken from literature, models were developed re lating the ecotoxicity of zinc to the most important parameters controlling bio availability: pH and cation exchange capacity. Models were developed f or E. fetida and F. candida using the regression technique partial least sq uares projection to latent structures (PLS). Acute as well as chronic toxic ity data of both organisms could be normalized on the basis of the pH and t he cation exchange capacity of the test soils. For other terrestrial invert ebrates, not enough data were available to develop reliable models.