Comments on: Study Finds ‘Rollie Pollies’ Remove Heavy Metals From Soil, Stabilizing Growing Conditions, Protecting Groundwater

By: Doe B Doe

Doe B Doe — Thu, 06 May 2021 22:56:04 +0000

Pill bugs are a type of millipede

By: Nancy Stetten

Nancy Stetten — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 12:51:14 +0000

Their scientific name I’d isopods. They awe Crustaceans, relatives if crabs and lobsters. They are I think the only gro of crustaceans that live on land

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 10:11:40 +0000

I know that heavy-metal resistant microorganisms, such as certain bacteria and yeasts, are able to detoxify by forming metal sulphides. As these compounds are extremely insoluble, toxic heavy metals are effectively locked away. Many metal ore deposits are sulphides, which is why they persist for geological periods. Maybe woodlice, the name I’ve always know for these crustaceans, use the same trick, as I can’t see them being inherently resistant. Or perhaps the ability is due to microorganisms in their gut, as anaerobic conditions are required for production of metal sulphides.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:54:42 +0000

In reply to Ciaobaby. My totally uneducated guess would be the heavy metals accumulate in the creature’s carapace, and are not digested by the robins and sparrows eating the pill bugs, but instead are excreted elsewhere, making the HMs an SEP...

By: Kristin Nama

Kristin Nama — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 09:42:48 +0000

Another article says the toxins stay in their bodies and would return to the soil after they die.

By: Betty Morris

Betty Morris — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 00:00:14 +0000

In reply to Julie. How can they be edible if they consume heavy metals themselves? Sorry for my ignorance, just asking!

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 04:03:35 +0000

Are they leaving the soil ” clean and healthy” as the article states or are they leaving the soil ” sterile?” After all, to grow better crops don’t we add micro minerals such as copper, calcium, zinc etc?.

By: Mark Anthony Brennan

Mark Anthony Brennan — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:35:29 +0000

In reply to Jinx. Dunno either. Potato bugs are something completely different. I've always just called them wood lice.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 03:36:50 +0000

Well, probably the mentioned metals in their bodies cannot find the way to our potatoes. As to the predators, I believe they can deal with the small amount of heavy metals (eagles die from poisoning if they eat buckshot, but it takes a lot of lead to poison such a bird) The predators who eat these little things may be as immune as rolli pollies.