Fig 2. Biomarker response in L. terrestris control and Cadmium (Cd)-exposed individuals over 19 weeks including three different exposure periods.

1: Earthworms spent 12 weeks in clean soil (grey lines) or soil spiked with 10 mg/kg CdCl₂ (black lines). 2: All earthworms were kept in clean soil for five weeks (recovery). 3: Both the control-and Cd-derived group were each split up into two groups, with one being transferred to clean soil (grey lines) and one being transferred to soil spiked with 60 mg/kg CdCl₂ (thick black lines) for two weeks. The expressions "Control- and Cd-derived group" refer to the respective treatment during exposure period 1. (a) DNA damage measured in coelomocytes using comet assay. (b) Catalase (CAT) activity measured in tissue samples. (c) Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in tissue samples. Stars indicate significant differences to the controls (p≤0.05).