Field studies for the assessment of pesticides with soil mesofauna, in particular enchytraeids, mites and nematodes: Design and first results
Keywords:
ecotoxicology, standardisation, grassland, Benomyl, Chlorpyrifos(ethyl)Abstract
Currently, earthworm field tests and litter-bag studies are regularly required as part of the environmental risk assessment of pesticides in soil. These tests give almost no indication if there is any structural impact, i.e. on the biodiversity of the soil organism community. Therefore, a design is presented here for such a structural study, which follows basically the design of litter bag studies. Our proposal is based on practical experience made in Southern Germany in 2007 / 2008. A new pesticide was tested, framed by a control (water) and a mix of two reference substances (the fungicide Benomyl and the insecticide Chlorpyrifos(ethyl)) of known effect, the latter in order to confirm the sensitivity of the studied soil organisms. For confidentiality reasons, the identity of the test substance cannot be given here. Six replicates were used per treatment (plot size: 7 m x 3 m). The study was performed on grassland and test chemical and reference substance were applied without soil incorporation. Grassland was chosen because diversity and abundance of enchytraeids, mites and nematodes (and soil mesofauna in general) is usually very low in agricultural soil. The duration of the study was one year and sampling was performed –2, 32, 89, 187 and 372 DAT (days after treatment). The taxonomic groups assessed were enchytraeids, soil-inhabiting mites, collembolans, and nematodes, but collembolans will not be covered in this contribution. All groups except nematodes were sampled using ISO standard methods. Specimens were sampled with soil corers (diameter and depth: 5 cm each). The enchytraeids were identified to the species level, but assessment is based on the genus level. Among mites only the oribatids were identified to species level, the rest to higher groups. The nematodes were only assessed quantitatively. The variance of the samples collected was small enough to detect a change in the taxonomic structure of the soil organism community. In this contribution results from the control, test substance and reference plots are presented. In comparison to the control, the number of enchytraeids on the reference plots was reduced by 60 % at individual sampling dates, thus validating the test design. Mites were not affected at all. The number of nematodes decreased by 48 % at most. The test substance itself showed no significant effect at all, except an unexplained reduction of enchytraeids at the 4th sampling date. Genera of enchytraeids behaved slightly differently, suggesting that in future studies the species level should be addressed. Referring to the experiences made in this study it is concluded that the use of soil mesofauna groups in field studies is a practical and promising tool in the environmental risk assessment of pesticides.
Downloads
References
Abbott, W. S. (1925): A method for computing the effectiveness of an insecticide. – Journal of Economic Entomology 18: 265–267.
Abrahamsen, G. (1972): Ecological study of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) in Norwegian coniferous forest soils. – Pedobiologia 12: 26–82.
Balogh J. & P. Balogh (1992): The oribatid mites genera of the world. Vol. 1 and 2. – Hungarian Natural Museum Press, Budapest.
Behan-Pelletier, V. M. (1999): Oribatid mite biodiversity in agroecosystems: role for bioindication. – Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 74: 411–423.
Bongers, T. (1988): De nematoden van Nederland. Stichting Uitgeverij Koninklijke Nederlandse Natuurhistorische Vereniging. – Uitgeverij Pirola, Schoorl, Netherlands.
Bongers, T. (1990): The maturity index: an ecological measure of environmental disturbance based on soil nematode species composition. – Oecologia 83: 14–19.
Bongers T. & H. Ferris (1999): Nematode community structure as a bioindicator in environmental monitoring. – Trends in Ecology and Evolution 14: 224–228.
De Jong, F. M. W., P. Van Beelen, C. E. Smit & M. H. M. M. Montforts (2006): Guidance for summarising earthworm field studies. – RIVM, Bilthoven, Netherlands: 47 pp.
Didden, W. P. M. (1990): Involvement of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) in soil structure evolution in agricultural fields. – Biology and Fertility of Soils 9: 152–158.
Didden, W. (1993): Ecology of terrestrial Enchytraeidae. – Pedobiologia 37: 2–29.
Didden, W., H. Born, H. Domm, U. Graefe, M. Heck, J. C. Kühle, A. Mellin & J. Römbke (1995): The relative efficiency of wet funnel techniques for the extraction of Enchytraeidae. – Pedobiologia 39: 52–57.
Didden, W. A. M. & J. Römbke (2001): Enchytraeids as indicator organisms for chemical stress in terrestrial ecosystems. – Ecotoxicology Environmental Safety 50: 25–43.
Dózsa-Farkas, K. (1992): List of Enchytraeid Synonyma. – Newsletter on Enchytraeidae 3: 16–46.
EC (European Commission) (1991): Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, O.J. No L230, 19.8.1991 as amended by Directive 97/57/EC establishing Annex VI to Directive 91/414/EEC O.J. No. L265, 27.9.1997.
EFSA (European Food Safety Agency) (2007): Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Plant protection products and their Residues on a request from the Commission related to the revision of Annexes II and III to Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market – Ecotoxicological studies. – The EFSA Journal 461: 1–44.
Ettema, C. H. (1998): Soil nematode diversity: species coexistence and ecosystem function. – Journal of Nematology 30: 159–169.
Frampton, G. K., S. Jänsch, J.J. Scott-Fordsmand, J. Römbke & P.J. Van den Brink (2006): Effects of pesticides on soil invertebrates in laboratory studies: A review and analysis using species sensitivity distributions (SSD). – Environmental Toxicology Chemistry 25: 2480–2489.
Graefe, U. & R. Schmelz (1999): Indicator values, strategy types and life forms of terrestrial Enchytraeidae and other microannelids. – Newsletter on Enchytraeidae 6: 59–68.
Heal O. W. & J. Dighton (1985): Resource quality and trophic structure in the soil system. – In: Fitter, A. H., D. Atkinson, D. J. Read & M. B. Usher (eds): Ecological interactions in soil, No. 4: 339–354.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) (1999): Soil quality – Effects of pollutants on earthworms – Part 3: Guidance on the determination of effects in field situations. – ISO 11268-3. Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) (2006): Soil quality – Sampling of soil invertebrates Part 2: Sampling and extraction of microarthropods (Collembola and Acarina). – ISO 23611-2. Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) (2007): Soil quality – Sampling of soil invertebrates – Part 3: Sampling and extraction of Enchytraeids. – ISO 23611-3. Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) (2008): Soil quality – Sampling of soil invertebrates – Part 4: Sampling, extraction and identification of free-living stages of nematodes. – ISO 23611-4. Geneva, Switzerland.
Jänsch, S., J. Römbke & W. Didden (2005): The use of enchytraeids in ecological soil classification and assessment concepts. – Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 62: 266–277.
Jänsch, S., G. K. Frampton, J. Römbke, P. J. Van den Brink & J. J. Scott-Fordsmand (2006): Effects of pesticides on soil invertebrates in model ecosystem and field studies: A review and comparison with laboratory toxicity data. – Environmental Toxicology Chemistry 25: 2490–2501.
Karg, W. (1993): Raubmilben. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 59. Teil Acari (Acarina), Milben Parasitiformes (Anactinochaeta), Cohors Gamasina Leach. – Fischer Verlag, Jena.
Løkke, H. & C. A. M. Van Gestel (1998): Handbook of soil invertebrate toxicity tests. – J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK: 281 pp.
MacFadyen, A. (1961): Improved funnel-type extractors for soil arthropods. – Journal of Animal Ecology 30: 171–184.
Moser, T., J. Römbke, H-J. Schallnaß & C. A. M. van Gestel (2007): The use of the multivariate Principal Response Curve (PRC) for community level analysis: a case study on the effects of carbendazim on enchytraeids in Terrestrial Model Ecosystems (TME). – Ecotoxicology 16: 573–583.
Nielsen, C. O. & B. Christensen (1959): The Enchytraeidae, critical revision and taxonomy of European species. – Natura Jutlandica 8–9: 1–160.
Nielsen, C. O. & B. Christensen (1961): The Enchytraeidae, critical revision and taxonomy of European species. Supplement 1. – Natura Jutlandica 10: 1–23.
Nielsen, C. O. & B. Christensen (1963): The Enchytraeidae, critical revision and taxonomy of European species. Supplement 2. – Natura Jutlandica 10: 1–19.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development) (2006): Guidance document on the breakdown of organic matter in litter bags. – OECD Series on testing and assessment, No. 56. Environment Directorate. Paris, France.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development) (2008): Guideline for Testing of Chemicals. Predatory mite reproduction test in soil (Hypoaspis (Geolaelaps) aculeifer). No. 226. Paris, France.
Römbke, J., L. Beck, B. Förster, C-H. Fründ, F. Horak, A. Ruf, K. Rosciczewski, M. Scheurig & S. Woas (1997): Boden als Lebensraum für Bodenorganismen und die bodenbiologische Standortklassifikation: Eine Literaturstudie. – Texte und Berichte zum Bodenschutz 4/97. Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz Baden-Württemberg (Karlsruhe): 390 pp.
Römbke, J., L. Beck, P. Dreher, K. Hund-Rinke, S. Jänsch, W. Kratz, S. Pieper, A. Ruf, J. Spelda & S. Woas (2002): Entwicklung von bodenbiologischen Bodengüteklassen für Acker- und Grünlandstandorte. – UBA-Texte 20 (02): 264 pp.
Rota, E. (1995): Italian Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta). – Bollettino di Zoologica 62: 183 –231.
SAS® Proprietary Software Version 9.1.3 Service pack 4 (TS, Level 1 M3); Copyright (c) 2003 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
Schaefer, M. (2000): Brohmer – Fauna von Deutschland. 20. Auflage, Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim: 791 pp.
Schmelz, R. M. (2003): Taxonomy of Fridericia (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta). Critical revision of species with morphological and biochemical methods. – Abhandlungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins Hamburg NF 38: 415 pp., 73 Figs.
Siepel, H. (1995): Applications of microarthropod life-history tactics in nature management and ecotoxicology. – Biology and Fertility of Soils 19: 75–83.
Van Gestel, C. A. M. & A. Doornekamp (1998): Tests on the Oribatid Mite Platynothrus peltifer. In: Løkke, H. & C. A. M. Van Gestel (eds): Handbook of soil invertebrate toxicity tests. – J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK: 113–130.
Walter, D. E. & H. C. Proctor (1999): Mites: ecology, evolution, and behaviour. – CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK: 322 pp.
Weigmann, G. (2006): Die Tierwelt Deutschlands. 76. Teil. Hornmilben (Oribatida). – Goecke & Evers, Keltern, Deutschland.
Wunderle I., L. Beck & S. Woas (1990): Ein Beitrag zur Taxonomie und Ökologie der Oribatulidae und Scheloribatidae (Acari, Oribatei) in Südwestdeutschland. – Andrias 7: 15–60.
Yeates, G. W. (1994): Modification and qualification of the nematode maturity index. – Pedobiologia. 38: 97–101.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
All articles on www.soil-organisms.org may be read, copied, distributed, and (in limited quantity) printed for non-commercial, private, scientific purposes.
