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Dahlsjö CA, Atkins T, Malhi Y. Large invertebrate decomposers contribute to faster leaf litter decomposition in Fraxinus excelsior-dominated habitats: Implications of ash dieback. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27228. [PMID: 38495134 PMCID: PMC10943353 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Leaf litter decomposition is a major component of nutrient cycling which depends on the quality and quantity of the leaf material. Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior, decay time ∼ 0.4 years) are declining throughout Europe due to a fungal pathogen (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), which is likely to alter biochemical cycling across the continent. The ecological impact of losing species with fast decomposing leaves is not well quantified. In this study we examine how decomposition of three leaf species with varying decomposition rates including ash, sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus, decay time ∼ 1.4 years), and beech (Fagus sylvatica, decay time ∼ 6.8 years) differ in habitats with and without ash as the dominant overstorey species. Ten plots (40 m × 40 m) were set up in five locations representing ash dominated and non-ash dominated habitats. In each plot mesh bags (30 cm × 30 cm, 0.5 mm aperture) with a single leaf species (5 g) were used to include (large holes added) and exclude macrofauna invertebrates (with a focus on decomposer organisms such as earthworms, millipedes, and woodlice). The mesh bags were installed in October 2020 and retrieved without replacement at exponential intervals after 6, 12, 24 and 48 weeks. Total leaf mass loss was highest in the ash dominated habitat (ash dominated: 88.5%, non-ash dominated: 66.5%) where macrofauna were the main contributor (macrofauna: 96%, microorganisms/mesofauna: 4%). The difference between macrofauna vs microorganisms and mesofauna was less pronounced in the non-ash dominated habitat (macrofauna: 68%, microorganisms/mesofauna: 31%). Our results suggest that if ash dominated habitats are replaced by species such as sycamore, beech, and oak, the role of macrofauna decomposers will be reduced and leaf litter decomposition rates will decrease by 25%. These results provide important insights for future ash dieback management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia A.L. Dahlsjö
- School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, OX1 3QY, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Thomas Atkins
- School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, OX1 3QY, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, OX1 3QY, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, University of Oxford, UK
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Barnes AE, Robinson RA, Pearce-Higgins JW. Collation of a century of soil invertebrate abundance data suggests long-term declines in earthworms but not tipulids. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282069. [PMID: 37011064 PMCID: PMC10069791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale declines in terrestrial insects have been reported over much of Europe and across the world, however, population change assessments of other key invertebrate groups, such as soil invertebrates, have been largely neglected through a lack of available monitoring data. This study collates historic data from previously published studies to assess whether it is possible to infer previously undocumented long-term changes in soil invertebrate abundance. Earthworm and tipulid data were collated from over 100 studies across the UK, spanning almost 100 years. Analyses suggested long-term declines in earthworm abundance of between 1.6 to 2.1% per annum, equivalent to a 33% to 41% decline over 25 years. These appeared greatest in broadleaved woodlands and farmland habitats, and were greater in pasture than arable farmland. Significant differences in earthworm abundance between habitats varied between models but appeared to be highest in urban greenspaces and agricultural pasture. More limited data were available on tipulid abundance, which showed no significant change over time or variation between enclosed farmland and unenclosed habitats. Declines in earthworm populations could be contributing to overall declines in ecosystem function and biodiversity as they are vital for a range of ecosystem services and are keystone prey for many vertebrate species. If robust, our results identify a previously undetected biodiversity decline that would be a significant conservation and economic issue in the UK, and if replicated elsewhere, internationally. We highlight the need for long-term and large-scale soil invertebrate monitoring, which potentially could be carried out by citizen/community scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailidh E Barnes
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Robinson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, United Kingdom
| | - James W Pearce-Higgins
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, United Kingdom
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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Brulle F, Amossé J, Bart S, Conrad A, Mazerolles V, Nélieu S, Lamy I, Péry A, Pelosi C. Toward a harmonized methodology to analyze field side effects of two pesticide products on earthworms at the EU level. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023; 19:254-271. [PMID: 35703133 PMCID: PMC10084329 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Before plant protection product (PPP) marketing authorization, a risk assessment for nontarget soil organisms (e.g., earthworms) is required as part of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009. Following a stepwise approach, higher tier earthworm field studies are needed if they cannot demonstrate low long-term risk based on laboratory studies. The European guidance for terrestrial ecotoxicology refers to ISO guideline 11268-3 as a standard to conduct earthworm field studies. Assessment of such studies may be challenging, as no European harmonized guidance is available to properly analyze the accuracy, representativeness, and appropriateness of experimental designs, as well as the statistical analysis robustness of results and their scientific reliability. Following the ISO guideline 11268-3, a field study was performed in 2016-2017 (Versailles, France). An assessment of the first year of this field study was performed in agreement with the quality criteria provided in 2006 in the guidance document published by de Jong and collaborators and recommendations by Kula and collaborators that allows describing the protocol and results of earthworm field studies. Not only did we underline the importance of a detailed analysis of raw data on the effects of pesticides on earthworms in field situations, but we also provided recommendations to harmonize protocols for assessing higher tier field studies devoted to earthworms to advance a better assessment of PPP fate and ecotoxicity. In particular, we provided practical field observations related to the study design, pesticide applications, and earthworm sampling. Concurrently, in addition to the conventional earthworm community study, we propose carrying out an assessment of soil function (i.e., organic matter decomposition, soil structuration, etc.) and calculating diversity indices to obtain information about earthworm community dynamics after the application of PPPs. Finally, through field observations, any relevant observation of external and/or internal recovery should be reported. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:254-271. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Brulle
- Ecotoxicological and Environmental Fate Unit for Pesticides and Fertilisers, Regulated Products Assessment DepartmentANSESMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Joël Amossé
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYSVersaillesFrance
| | - Sylvain Bart
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYSVersaillesFrance
- MOECO (modeling and data analyses for ecology and ecotoxicology)ParisFrance
| | - Arnaud Conrad
- Ecotoxicological and Environmental Fate Unit for Pesticides and Fertilisers, Regulated Products Assessment DepartmentANSESMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Vanessa Mazerolles
- Ecotoxicological and Environmental Fate Unit for Pesticides and Fertilisers, Regulated Products Assessment DepartmentANSESMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Sylvie Nélieu
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYSVersaillesFrance
| | - Isabelle Lamy
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYSVersaillesFrance
| | - Alexandre Péry
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYSVersaillesFrance
| | - Céline Pelosi
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYSVersaillesFrance
- INRAE, Avignon Université, UMR EMMAHAvignonFrance
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Signorini M, Midolo G, Cesco S, Mimmo T, Borruso L. A Matter of Metals: Copper but Not Cadmium Affects the Microbial Alpha-Diversity of Soils and Sediments - a Meta-analysis. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02115-4. [PMID: 36180621 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02115-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal (HM) accumulation in soil affects plants and soil fauna, yet the effect on microbial alpha-diversity remains unclear, mainly due to the absence of dedicated research synthesis (e.g. meta-analysis). Here, we report the first meta-analysis of the response of soil microbial alpha-diversity to the experimental addition of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu). We considered studies conducted between 2013 and 2022 using DNA metabarcoding of bacterial and fungal communities to overcome limitations of other cultivation- and electrophoresis-based techniques. Fungi were discarded due to the limited study number (i.e. 6 studies). Bacterial studies resulted in 66 independent experiments reported in 32 primary papers from four continents. We found a negative dose-dependent response for Cu but not for Cd for bacterial alpha-diversity in the environments, only for Cu additions exceeding 29.6 mg kg-1 (first loss of - 0.06% at 30 mg kg-1). The maximal loss of bacterial alpha-diversity registered was 13.89% at 3837 mg kg-1. Our results first highlight that bacterial communities behave differently to soil pollution depending on the metal. Secondly, our study suggests that even extreme doses of Cu do not cause a dramatic loss in alpha-diversity, highlighting how the behaviour of bacterial communities diverges from soil macro-organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Signorini
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Midolo
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Stefano Cesco
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Tanja Mimmo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
- Competence Centre for Plant Health, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy.
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Xiao R, Ali A, Xu Y, Abdelrahman H, Li R, Lin Y, Bolan N, Shaheen SM, Rinklebe J, Zhang Z. Earthworms as candidates for remediation of potentially toxic elements contaminated soils and mitigating the environmental and human health risks: A review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106924. [PMID: 34634621 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Global concerns towards potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are steadily increasing due to the significant threats that PTEs pose to human health and environmental quality. This calls for immediate, effective and efficient remediation solutions. Earthworms, the 'ecosystem engineers', can modify and improve soil health and enhance plant productivity. Recently, considerable attention has been paid to the potential of earthworms, alone or combined with other soil organisms and/or soil amendments, to remediate PTEs contaminated soils. However, the use of earthworms in the remediation of PTEs contaminated soil (i.e., vermiremediation) has not been thoroughly reviewed to date. Therefore, this review discusses and provides comprehensive insights into the suitability of earthworms as potential candidates for bioremediation of PTEs contaminated soils and mitigating environmental and human health risks. Specifically, we reviewed and discussed: i) the occurrence and abundance of earthworms in PTEs contaminated soils; ii) the influence of PTEs on earthworm communities in contaminated soils; iii) factors affecting earthworm PTEs accumulation and elimination, and iv) the dynamics and fate of PTEs in earthworm amended soils. The technical feasibility, knowledge gaps, and practical challenges have been worked out and critically discussed. Therefore, this review could provide a reference and guidance for bio-restoration of PTEs contaminated soils and shall also help developing innovative and applicable solutions for controlling PTEs bioavailability for the remediation of contaminated soils and the mitigation of the environment and human risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Xiao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Amjad Ali
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yaqiong Xu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hamada Abdelrahman
- Cairo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Soil Science Department, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Ronghua Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yanbing Lin
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Perth WA 6009, Australia
| | - Sabry M Shaheen
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment, and Arid Land Agriculture, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, 21589 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; University of Kafrelsheikh, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil and Water Sciences, 33516 Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; Department of Environment, Energy and Geoinformatics, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea.
| | - Zengqiang Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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Sekulić J, Mrkalić E, Stojanović-Petrović M, Popović F, Trakić T. Assessments of the impact of metals on juvenile earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in laboratory conditions. KRAGUJEVAC JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.5937/kgjsci2244255s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of copper and zinc on the mortality and bodyweight of juvenile earthworms in artificial soil. Copper was more toxic with complete mortality at the dose rate of 1000 mg/kg. Bodyweight loss of earthworms was observed immediately, after the first week, except at the lowest concentration. In comparison to control, there were significant differences in the bodyweight loss every week in the concentrations of 333 and 666 mg/kg, and also 167 mg/kg in the fourth, sixth, and eighth week. Zinc has not shown a significant effect on mortality, except in the highest concentration, where survival was less than 25%. Statistically significant effect (p < 0.05) on bodyweight was registered only at the highest concentration, every week. The impact of metals on earthworm populations should be more accurately assessed, and data for juvenile earthworms should be considered when proposing a safe concentration of pollutants in the environment, because of the great importance of these animals' presence in the soil.
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7
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Turner T, Wheeler R, Oliver I. Assessing the Impacts of Land Spreading Water-Treatment Residuals on the Anecic Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris, Soil Microbial Activity, and Porewater Chemistry. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:1964-1972. [PMID: 33818818 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Water-treatment residuals (WTRs), by-products of drinking water clarification, are increasingly recycled to land to promote circular economy and reduce disposal costs, yet there is a lack of published literature on their effects on soil ecology. In the present study, the effects of WTRs on earthworm growth, soil respiration, and soil porewater chemistry were investigated throughout a 7-wk outdoor mesocosm trial. We derived WTRs from both aluminum and iron coagulants and applied them to a loam soil at 0 to 20% (w/w). In addition, soil from a field that had received long-term WTR applications and that of an adjacent nontreated reference field were included in the study. Earthworm mass increase was significantly higher in all but one laboratory-treated soil when compared to the control. Furthermore, a linear regression model was used to predict increases in weekly soil respiration based on the application rates of both Al and Fe WTRs. In addition, a significant increase in soil respiration was observed from the treated farm soils during the first 4 wk of the trial. Measured sodium, magnesium, potassium, and iron porewater concentrations were higher in the treated farm soils than the reference site soil in a majority of samples, although these differences may be related to land management. Laboratory-treated soils had elevated porewater arsenic concentrations (e.g., ~17 µg L-1 in controls vs ~62 µg L-1 in the 20% w/w Al WTR treatment in week 1), whereas porewater nickel concentrations were, respectively, elevated and lowered in Al WTR- and Fe WTR-amended samples. Overall, observed disturbances to soil ecology were determined to be minimal. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1964-1972. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomi Turner
- School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ian Oliver
- School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
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Huang C, Ge Y, Yue S, Qiao Y, Liu L. Impact of soil metals on earthworm communities from the perspectives of earthworm ecotypes and metal bioaccumulation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 406:124738. [PMID: 33316673 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The current study elucidates the impact of soil metal contamination on earthworm communities at the ecotype level. A total of 292 earthworms belonging to 13 species were collected in metal-contaminated soils from Wanshou (WSC), Daxing (DXC) and Lupu (LPC) plots (1.40-6.60, 29.4-126, 251-336 and 91.9-109 mg/kg for soil Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb, respectively) in Hunan Province, southern China. The results showed that the total earthworm density and biomass significantly decreased along the increasing metal-contaminated gradient while epigeic earthworms became more dominant than anecic and endogeic earthworms. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil pH, total nitrogen and Cd concentration were the primary factors influencing earthworm communities, explaining 33.7%, 29.1% and 26.7% of the total variance, respectively. In addition, epigeic earthworm Metaphire californica bioaccumulated more Cd (0.27-0.60 mmol/kg), while endogeic earthworm Amynthas hupeiensis and anecic earthworm Amynthas asacceus bioaccumulated more Cu (0.55-1.62 mmol/kg) and Zn (2.86-6.46 mmol/kg) from soil, respectively, which were related to their habit soils and showed the species-specific bioaccumulation features. Our study discovered the diverse responses of earthworm ecotypes to metal contamination and their specific features of metal bioaccumulation, provide insight for soil risk assessments and for biodiversity conservation from a niche partitioning perspective. CAPSULE: Earthworms of different ecotypes showed different responses to soil metal contamination and species-specific features of metal bioaccumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caide Huang
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yan Ge
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shizhong Yue
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China
| | - Yuhui Qiao
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Longsheng Liu
- Hengyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hengyang 421151, China
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Rybak AV, Belykh ES, Maystrenko TA, Shadrin DM, Pylina YI, Chadin IF, Velegzhaninov IO. Genetic analysis in earthworm population from area contaminated with radionuclides and heavy metals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 723:137920. [PMID: 32213403 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed the effects of environmental contamination by naturally occurring radionuclides and heavy metals on the genetic structure of a population of the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa. A. caliginosa were collected from four sites and characterized by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses. No differences in genetic structure and diversity were found between sites that differed greatly in soil contamination levels of radionuclides and metals. However, when the genetic structure of the A. caliginosa population was analyzed without considering information about the sampling site, a complex intraspecific genetic structure was identified. At least three highly divergent lineages were found, in unequal proportions, of each genetically isolated group from each study site. No associations were found between the distribution of the detected genetic clusters and the geographical origin of the samples. Thus, no noticeable adaptive changes or signs of directional selection were detected, despite the long history of genotoxic waste disposal at the sampling site. These results suggest a combined effect of three factors on the genetic structure and diversity of A. caliginosa in soils: the complexity of the contaminant composition, the heterogeneous spatial distribution of the pollutants, and the complexity of the intraspecific genetic structures of A. caliginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Rybak
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia
| | - Elena S Belykh
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia
| | - Tatiana A Maystrenko
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia.
| | - Dmitry M Shadrin
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia
| | - Yana I Pylina
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia
| | - Ivan F Chadin
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia.
| | - Ilya O Velegzhaninov
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia; Polytechnical Institute of Vyatka State University, Kirov 610020, Russia.
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10
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Audusseau H, Vandenbulcke F, Dume C, Deschins V, Pauwels M, Gigon A, Bagard M, Dupont L. Impacts of metallic trace elements on an earthworm community in an urban wasteland: Emphasis on the bioaccumulation and genetic characteristics in Lumbricus castaneus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 718:137259. [PMID: 32105923 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Metallic trace elements (MTEs) soil pollution has become a worldwide concern, particularly regarding its impact on earthworms. Earthworms, which constitute the dominant taxon of soil macrofauna in temperate regions and are crucial ecosystem engineers, are in direct contact with MTEs. The impacts of MTE exposure on earthworms, however, vary by species, with some able to cope with high levels of contamination. We combined different approaches to study the effects of MTEs at different levels of biological organisation of an earthworm community, in a contaminated urban wasteland. Our work is based on field collection of soil and earthworm samples, with a total of 891 adult earthworms from 8 species collected, over 87 quadrats across the study plot. We found that MTE concentrations are highly structured at the plot scale and that some elements, such as Pb, Zn, and Cu, are highly correlated. Comparing species assemblage to MTE concentrations, we found that the juvenile and adult abundances, and community composition, were significantly affected by pollution. Along the pollution gradient, as species richness decreased, Lumbricus castaneus became more dominant. We thus investigated the physiological response of this species to a set of specific elements (Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd) and studied the impacts of MTE concentrations at the plot scale on its population genetic. These analyses revealed that L. castaneus is able to bioaccumulate high quantities of Cd and Zn, but not of Cu and Pb. The population genetic analysis, based on the genotyping of 175 individuals using 8 microsatellite markers, provided no evidence of the role of the heterogeneity in MTE concentrations as a barrier to gene flow. The multidisciplinary approach we used enabled us to reveal the comparatively high tolerance of L. castaneus to MTE concentrations, suggesting that this is a promising model to study the molecular bases of MTE tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Audusseau
- Univ. Paris Est Creteil, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris, 94010 Créteil, France; Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UK.
| | - Franck Vandenbulcke
- Université de Lille, EA 4515-LGCgE - Laboratoire Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, Cité scientifique, SN3, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Cassandre Dume
- Univ. Paris Est Creteil, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris, 94010 Créteil, France; Université de Lille, EA 4515-LGCgE - Laboratoire Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, Cité scientifique, SN3, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Valentin Deschins
- Univ. Paris Est Creteil, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris, 94010 Créteil, France
| | - Maxime Pauwels
- Université de Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 - Unité Evolution-Ecologie-Paléontologie, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Agnès Gigon
- Univ. Paris Est Creteil, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris, 94010 Créteil, France
| | - Matthieu Bagard
- Univ. Paris Est Creteil, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris, 94010 Créteil, France
| | - Lise Dupont
- Univ. Paris Est Creteil, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris, 94010 Créteil, France
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Lettoof DC, Bateman PW, Aubret F, Gagnon MM. The Broad-Scale Analysis of Metals, Trace Elements, Organochlorine Pesticides and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Wetlands Along an Urban Gradient, and the Use of a High Trophic Snake as a Bioindicator. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 78:631-645. [PMID: 32123945 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-020-00724-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Wetlands and their biodiversity are constantly threatened by contaminant pollution from urbanisation. Despite evidence suggesting that snakes are good bioindicators of environmental health, the bioaccumulation of contaminants in reptiles is poorly researched in Australia. We conducted the first broad-scale analysis of 17 metals and trace elements, 21 organochlorine pesticides, and 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments (4 samples per site, December 2018) from four wetlands along an urban gradient in Perth, Western Australia, and from the livers (5 livers per site, February-April 2019) of western tiger snakes Notechis scutatus occidentalis captured at those sites. All 17 metals and trace elements were detected in the sediments of wetlands as well as 16 in the livers of tiger snakes. Arsenic, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se, and Zn were at concentrations exceeding government trigger values in at least one sediment sample. Two organochlorine pesticides and six of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in the sediments of a single wetland, all exceeding government trigger values, but were not detected in tiger snakes. Metals and trace elements were generally in higher concentration in sediments and snake livers from more heavily urbanised wetlands. The least urbanised site had some higher concentrations of metals and trace elements, possibly due to agriculture contaminated groundwater. Concentrations of nine metals and trace elements in snake livers were statistically different between sites. Arsenic, Cd, Co, Hg, Mo, Sb, and Se near paralleled the pattern of contamination measured in the wetland sediments; this supports the use of high trophic wetland snakes, such as tiger snakes, as bioindicators of wetland contamination. Contamination sources and impacts on these wetland ecosystems and tiger snakes are discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Lettoof
- Behavioural Ecology Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Brand Drive, Bentley, WA, Australia.
| | - P W Bateman
- Behavioural Ecology Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Brand Drive, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - F Aubret
- Behavioural Ecology Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Brand Drive, Bentley, WA, Australia
- CNRS, Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321 CNRS - Université Paul Sabatier, 09200, Moulis, France
| | - M M Gagnon
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Brand Drive, Bentley, WA, Australia
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Hallam J, Berdeni D, Grayson R, Guest EJ, Holden J, Lappage MG, Prendergast-Miller MT, Robinson DA, Turner A, Leake JR, Hodson ME. Effect of earthworms on soil physico-hydraulic and chemical properties, herbage production, and wheat growth on arable land converted to ley. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 713:136491. [PMID: 31962242 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Effects of earthworms on soil physico-hydraulic and chemical properties, herbage production and wheat growth in long-term arable soils following conversion to ley were investigated. Seven intact soil monoliths were collected from each of four arable fields. One monolith per field served as a control. The other six were defaunated by deep-freezing; three were left defaunated (DeF) and three (DeF+E) were repopulated with earthworms to mimic pasture field density and diversity. The monoliths were planted with a grass-clover ley and inserted into pre-established ley strips in their original fields for 12 months. Hydraulic conductivity measurements at -0.5 cm tension (K0.5) were taken five times over the year. K0.5 significantly increased in summer 2017 and spring 2018 and decreased in winter 2017-18. K0.5 was significantly greater (47%) for DeF+E than DeF monoliths. By the end of the experiment, pores >1 mm diameter made a significantly greater contribution to water flow in DeF+E (98%) than DeF (95%) monoliths. After only a year of arable to ley conversion, soil bulk density significantly decreased (by 6%), and organic matter (OM) content increased (by 29%) in the DeF treatments relative to the arable soil. Earthworms improved soil quality further. Compared to DeF monoliths, DeF+E monoliths had significantly increased water-holding capacity (by 9%), plant-available water (by 21%), OM content (by 9%), grass-clover shoot dry biomass (by 58%), water-stable aggregates >250 μm (by 15%) and total N (by 3.5%). In a wheat bioassay following the field experiment, significantly more biomass (20%) was produced on DeF+E than DeF monolith soil, likely due to the changed soil physico-hydraulic properties. Our results show that earthworms play a significant role in improvements to soil quality and functions brought about by arable to ley conversion, and that augmenting depleted earthworm populations can help the restoration of soil qualities adversely impacted by intensive agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal Hallam
- University of York, Department of Environment and Geography, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK; National Institute of Agricultural Research of Morocco, Avenue des FAR. B.P. 124 CRRA, Agadir, Morocco.
| | - Despina Berdeni
- The University of Sheffield, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Richard Grayson
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Emily J Guest
- The University of Sheffield, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Joseph Holden
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
| | | | - Miranda T Prendergast-Miller
- University of York, Department of Environment and Geography, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK; Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
| | - David A Robinson
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
| | - Anthony Turner
- The University of Sheffield, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Jonathan R Leake
- The University of Sheffield, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Mark E Hodson
- University of York, Department of Environment and Geography, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
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Ozaki S, Fritsch C, Valot B, Mora F, Cornier T, Scheifler R, Raoul F. Does pollution influence small mammal diet in the field? A metabarcoding approach in a generalist consumer. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:3700-3713. [PMID: 30069953 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mammals are mainly exposed to trace metals (TMs) via consuming contaminated food. Several studies have demonstrated relationships between metal concentrations in food and in animal tissues. However, potential effects of TMs on feeding behaviour of wildlife have been poorly documented under field conditions, despite experimental evidence showing that food selection is impacted by resource contamination. Here, we test the hypothesis that the diet of a generalist rodent, the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), is altered by soil TM contamination in the field. Wood mice were sampled in spring and in autumn along a gradient of soil contamination in the surroundings of a former smelter located in northern France. Available resources in the field were inventoried, and the diet of the animals was analysed using DNA "metabarcoding." We demonstrated that (a) relationship between the resource richness in the diet and their richness in the field was altered by soil metal contamination. Wood mice specialized their diet along the gradient of soil metal contamination for both plant and invertebrate resources in spring. We also showed that (b) preference for Salicaceae, a plant family accumulating metals, decreased when soil contamination increased. These results suggest that environmental TM pollution could act as a force modulating trophic interactions in terrestrial food webs, thereby affecting wildlife exposure to contaminants by trophic route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Ozaki
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249 UsC INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Clémentine Fritsch
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249 UsC INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Benoit Valot
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249 UsC INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Frédéric Mora
- Conservatoire Botanique National de Franche-Comté, Observatoire Régional des Invertébrés, Besançon, France
| | - Thierry Cornier
- Centre Régional de Phytosociologie Agréé Conservatoire Botanique National de Bailleul, Bailleul, France
| | - Renaud Scheifler
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249 UsC INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Francis Raoul
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249 UsC INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon Cedex, France
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14
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Amossé J, Bart S, Péry ARR, Pelosi C. Short-term effects of two fungicides on enchytraeid and earthworm communities under field conditions. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2018; 27:300-312. [PMID: 29404867 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-018-1895-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Because of the wide use of pesticides in agriculture, there is still a need of higher-tier field studies to assess ecotoxicological effects of commercial formulations on a wider variety of non-target soil organisms such as soil annelids. We here tested the effects of different concentrations of two fungicide formulations, i.e., Cuprafor Micro® (composed of 500 g kg-1 copper oxychloride) and Swing Gold® (composed of 50 g l-1 epoxiconazole and 133 g l-1 dimoxystrobin) on two families of terrestrial oligochaetes (Lumbricidae and Enchytraeidae) after 1 month of exposure. We also assessed the feeding activity of soil organisms using the bait lamina method. Along with the feeding activity, the enchytraeid density, diversity and communities were not different in the control and the contaminated plots. By contrast, epigeic earthworms were absent and earthworm diversity and densities of anecic species decreased significantly in the plots contaminated at ten times the recommended dose of the Swing Gold® formulation. The copper fungicide (at 0.75 and 7.5 kg Cu ha-1) and the treatment with the pesticide mixture (Cuprafor Micro® at 0.75 kg Cu ha-1 and Swing Gold® at the recommended dose) did not affect Oligochaeta communities compared with the control, except the Shannon index for earthworms in the mixture of both fungicides. Responses of the two annelid families to the tested pesticides were different with higher effects observed on the diversity and the community structure of earthworms compared with enchytraeids. This study allowed detecting early changes on oligochaete populations after pesticide application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joël Amossé
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, 78026, France.
| | - Sylvain Bart
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, 78026, France
| | - Alexandre R R Péry
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, 78026, France
| | - Céline Pelosi
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, 78026, France.
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Mirmonsef H, Hornum HD, Jensen J, Holmstrup M. Effects of an aged copper contamination on distribution of earthworms, reproduction and cocoon hatchability. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 135:267-275. [PMID: 27750094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Contaminated soil is a problem throughout the industrialized world, and a significant proportion of these sites are polluted with heavy metals such as copper. Ecological risk assessment of contaminated sites requires ecotoxicological studies with spiked soils as well as in-situ ecological observations. Here, we report laboratory and field assessment of copper toxicity for earthworms at a Danish site (Hygum) exclusively contaminated with an increasing gradient in copper from background to highly toxic levels (>1000mgkg-1 dry soil). More specifically, we report effects on field populations, body contents of copper, hatching of earthworm cocoons and reproduction of the common species Aporrectodea tuberculata. Abundance of earthworms and cocoons decreased significantly from about 400-150m-2 along the gradient as the soil copper concentration increased from ca. 50 to ca. 1000mgkg-1. At lower concentrations, the population was dominated by endogeic species, whereas at high concentrations the population was dominated by epigeic species. At high copper contents the internal concentration of copper was in the range 100-160mgkg-1 dry tissue. Despite the high internal copper contents, hatchability of field collected cocoons was not impaired in any species. The EC50 reproduction value of A. tuberculata was about 220mg copper kg-1 dry soil in the first two exposure periods, but nearly doubled in the third period suggesting that an acclimation response had occurred. Also in the laboratory reproduction test, cocoon hatchability was not reduced, but rather slightly stimulated by copper. Based on these results we discuss the possibility that acute exposure in laboratory experiments is more detrimental than exposure in a field situation, perhaps because increased tolerance may be acquired through natural selection and genetic adaptation through increased use of defense mechanisms such as metallothioneins. Further, we discuss that the rather high tissue copper level of earthworms from the Hygum site may have smaller effects in these free-ranging worms than it would have in acute-exposure laboratory tests because the copper is more efficiently sequestered and detoxified in the field situation where populations have been exposed for many generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Mirmonsef
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Hanne D Hornum
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - John Jensen
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Holmstrup
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
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16
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Fisker KV, Holmstrup M, Sørensen JG. Freezing of body fluids induces metallothionein gene expression in earthworms (Dendrobaena octaedra). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2016; 179:44-8. [PMID: 26325206 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2015.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms activated by environmental contaminants and natural stressors such as freezing need to be investigated in order to better understand the mechanisms of interaction and potential effects that combined stressors may have on organisms. Using the freeze-tolerant earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra as model species, we exposed worms to freezing and exposure to sublethal copper in a factorial design and investigated the transcription of candidate genes for metal and cold stress. We hypothesised that both freezing and copper would induce transcription of genes coding for heat shock proteins (hsp10 and hsp70), metallothioneins (mt1 and mt2), and glutathione-S-transferase (gst), and that the combined effects of these two stressors would be additive. The gene transcripts hsp10, hsp70, and gst were significantly upregulated by freezing, but only hsp10 was upregulated by copper. We found that copper at the time of sampling had no effect on transcription of two metallothionein genes whereas transcription was strongly upregulated by freezing. Moreover, there was a significant interaction causing more than additive transcription rates of mt1 in the copper/freezing treatment suggesting that freeze-induced cellular dehydration increases the concentration of free copper ions in the cytosol. This metallothionein response to freezing is likely adaptive and possibly provides protection against freeze-induced elevated metal concentrations in the cytosol and excess ROS levels due to hypoxia during freezing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Vincents Fisker
- Section of Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Holmstrup
- Section of Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
| | - Jesper Givskov Sørensen
- Section of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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17
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Žaltauskaitė J, Sodienė I. Effects of cadmium and lead on the life-cycle parameters of juvenile earthworm Eisenia fetida. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2014; 103:9-16. [PMID: 24561241 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Revised: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Juveniles Eisenia fetida were exposed to cadmium (1-500µgCdg(-1)) and lead (20-2500µgPbg(-1)) for fourteen weeks in order to evaluate the impact on life-cycle parameters (survival, growth, sexual maturation, and cocoon production) and lipid peroxidation (expressed as concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA)). Both metals were found to significantly affect survival of the juveniles (fourteen-week LC50 296±125µgCdg(-1) and 911±164µgPbg(-1)) and alter their development. Cd and Pb severely affected the weight of the juveniles, prolonged the time to sexual maturation (at the highest concentrations, earthworms did not reach sexual maturity at all), and reduced cocoon production. LC50 significantly decreased with the time of earthworm exposure, indicating that chronic exposure to the same levels of contaminants in the soil may have more detrimental consequences than short-term exposure. A survival model showed that the survival probability for the juveniles decreased significantly with time and the concentration of metals in the soil. The metals induced a significant increase in MDA concentration (2.98-fold and 1.54-fold at 250µgCdg(-1) and 2500µgPbg(-1), respectively), and the content of MDA was negatively related to the weight of the juveniles and the percentage of mature individuals (p<0.05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jūratė Žaltauskaitė
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos Street 8-223, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Inga Sodienė
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos Street 8-223, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania
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18
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Spurgeon DJ, Keith AM, Schmidt O, Lammertsma DR, Faber JH. Land-use and land-management change: relationships with earthworm and fungi communities and soil structural properties. BMC Ecol 2013; 13:46. [PMID: 24289220 PMCID: PMC4219611 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-13-46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Change in land use and management can impact massively on soil ecosystems. Ecosystem engineers and other functional biodiversity in soils can be influenced directly by such change and this in turn can affect key soil functions. Here, we employ meta-analysis to provide a quantitative assessment of the effects of changes in land use and land management across a range of successional/extensification transitions (conventional arable → no or reduced tillage → grassland → wooded land) on community metrics for two functionally important soil taxa, earthworms and fungi. An analysis of the relationships between community change and soil structural properties was also included. RESULTS Meta-analysis highlighted a consistent trend of increased earthworm and fungal community abundances and complexity following transitions to lower intensity and later successional land uses. The greatest changes were seen for early stage transitions, such as introduction of reduced tillage regimes and conversion to grassland from arable land. Not all changes, however, result in positive effects on the assessed community metrics. For example, whether woodland conversion positively or negatively affects community size and complexity depends on woodland type and, potentially, the changes in soil properties, such as pH, that may occur during conversion. Alterations in soil communities tended to facilitate subsequent changes in soil structure and hydrology. For example, increasing earthworm abundances and functional group composition were shown to be positively correlated with water infiltration rate (dependent on tillage regime and habitat characteristics); while positive changes in fungal biomass measures were positively associated with soil microaggregate stability. CONCLUSIONS These findings raise the potential to manage landscapes to increase ecosystem service provision from soil biota in relation to regulation of soil structure and water flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Aidan M Keith
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Olaf Schmidt
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Dennis R Lammertsma
- Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jack H Faber
- Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
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19
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Morales PK, Yunusa IA, Lugg G, Li Z, Gribben P, Eamus D. Belowground eco-restoration of a suburban waste-storage landscape: Earthworm dynamics in grassland and in a succession of woody vegetation covers. LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING 2013; 120:16-24. [PMID: 25550677 PMCID: PMC4275031 DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Restoration of belowground ecology is seldom a priority in designing revegetation strategies for disturbed landscapes. We determined earthworm abundance and diversity in a 16-year old grass sward (grassland), a 6-year old (Plantation-04) and a 4-year old (Plantation-06) plantation, both of mixed woody species, on a reclaimed waste disposal site, and in nearby remnant woodland, in suburban Sydney, Australia. While no catches were made in autumn, more earthworms were found in spring (21 ± 8.6 m-2) than in winter (10.2 ± 5.9 m-2) or summer (14.4 ± 5.5 m-2). Earthworm abundance in spring was in the order grassland ≈ Plantation-04 (35.2 m-2) > woodland (12.8 m-2) > Plantation-06 (0.8 m-2). None of the revegetated covers had restored earthworm diversity to levels found in the woodland. Exotic species, mostly Microscolex dubius, dominated in the four vegetation covers at any time; the only two native species (Heteroporodrilus sp. and Megascoleceides sp.) found were in the woodland. We also assessed how quality of the evolving soils from the three revegetated covers, compared with that from the woodland, impacted viability of common exotic earthworm species. Both weight gain and cocoon production by the exotic earthworms were higher in the soil from Plantation-04 than in soils from the other vegetation covers, including the woodland; the two variables were positively correlated with the pH and mineral nutrient content (as indicated by electrical conductivity that was in turn correlated with clay content) of the soil. Age of vegetation rather than its composition explained differences in the level of earthworm recovery observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela K. Morales
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Isa A.M. Yunusa
- School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - Glenys Lugg
- Manildra Group, 36 Bolong Road, Bomaderry, NSW 2541, Australia
| | - Zheng Li
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Paul Gribben
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Derek Eamus
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
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20
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Bednarska AJ, Stachowicz I, Kuriańska L. Energy reserves and accumulation of metals in the ground beetle Pterostichus oblongopunctatus from two metal-polluted gradients. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 20:390-8. [PMID: 22669565 PMCID: PMC3536969 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-0993-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2012] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Living in an area chronically polluted with metals is usually associated with changes in the energy distribution in organisms due to increased energy expenses associated with detoxification and excretion processes. These expenses may be reflected in the available energy resources, such as lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. In this context, the energy status of Pterostichus oblongopunctatus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) was studied in two metal pollution gradients near Olkusz and Miateczko Śląskie in southern Poland. Both regions are rich in metal ores, and the two largest Polish zinc smelters have been operating there since the 1970s. Beetles were collected from five sites at each gradient. Zinc and cadmium concentrations were measured in both the soil and the beetles. The possible reduction in energy reserves as a cost of detoxifying assimilated metals was evaluated biochemically by determining the total lipid, carbohydrates, and protein contents. At the most polluted sites, the Zn concentration in the soil organic layer reached 2,906 mg/kg, and the Cd concentration reached 55 mg/kg. Body Zn and Cd concentrations increased with increasing soil Zn and Cd concentrations (p = 0.003 and p = 0.0001, respectively). However, no relationship between pollution level and energetic reserves was found. The results suggest that populations of P. oblongopunctatus inhabiting highly metal-polluted sites are able to survive without any serious impact on their energy reserves, though they obviously have to cope with elevated body metal concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka J Bednarska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
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21
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Hedde M, van Oort F, Lamy I. Functional traits of soil invertebrates as indicators for exposure to soil disturbance. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2012; 164:59-65. [PMID: 22336731 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2011] [Revised: 01/04/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We tested a trait-based approach to link a soil disturbance to changes in invertebrate communities. Soils and macro-invertebrates were sampled in sandy soils contaminated by long-term wastewater irrigation, adding notably organic matter and trace metals (TM). We hypothesized that functional traits of invertebrates depict ways of exposure and that exposure routes relate to specific TM pools. Geophages and soft-body invertebrates were chosen to inform on exposure by ingestion or contact, respectively. Trait-based indices depicted more accurately effects of pollution than community density and diversity did. Exposure by ingestion had more deleterious effects than by contact. Both types of exposed invertebrates were influenced by TM, but geophages mainly responded to changes in soil organic matter contents. The trait-based approach requires to be applied in various conditions to uncorrelate specific TM impacts from those of other environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickaël Hedde
- INRA, UR 251 PESSAC, F78026 Versailles CEDEX, France.
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Spurgeon DJ, Lawlor A, Hooper HL, Wadsworth R, Svendsen C, Thomas LDK, Ellis JK, Bundy JG, Keun HC, Jarup L. Outdoor and indoor cadmium distributions near an abandoned smelting works and their relations to human exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2011; 159:3425-3432. [PMID: 21908085 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2011] [Revised: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The relationship of measured or modelled Cd concentrations in soil, house dust and available to plants with human urinary Cd concentrations were assessed in a population living around a Cd/Pb/Zn smelter in the UK. Modelled air concentrations explained 35% of soil Cd variation indicating the smelter contributed to soil Cd loads. Multi-variate analysis confirmed a significant role of biological and life-style factors in determining urinary Cd levels. Significant correlations of urinary Cd with soil, house dust and modelled plant available Cd concentrations were not, however, found. Potential reasons for the absence of clear relationships include limited environmental contact in urban populations; the role of undefined factors in determining exposure; and the limited spatial scope of the survey which did not sample from the full pollution gradient. Further, the absence of any significant relationship indicates that environmental measures provide limited advantage over atmospheric model outputs for first stage human exposure assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UK.
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23
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Holmstrup M, Sørensen JG, Overgaard J, Bayley M, Bindesbøl AM, Slotsbo S, Fisker KV, Maraldo K, Waagner D, Labouriau R, Asmund G. Body metal concentrations and glycogen reserves in earthworms (Dendrobaena octaedra) from contaminated and uncontaminated forest soil. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2011; 159:190-197. [PMID: 20870326 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2010] [Revised: 08/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/06/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Stress originating from toxicants such as heavy metals can induce compensatory changes in the energy metabolism of organisms due to increased energy expenses associated with detoxification and excretion processes. These energy expenses may be reflected in the available energy reserves such as glycogen. In a field study the earthworm, Dendrobaena octaedra, was collected from polluted areas, and from unpolluted reference areas. If present in the environment, cadmium, lead and copper accumulated to high concentrations in D. octaedra. In contrast, other toxic metals such as aluminium, nickel and zinc appeared to be regulated and kept at low internal concentrations compared to soil concentrations. Lead, cadmium and copper accumulation did not correlate with glycogen reserves of individual worms. In contrast, aluminium, nickel and zinc were negatively correlated with glycogen reserves. These results suggest that coping with different metals in earthworms is associated with differential energy demands depending on the associated detoxification strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Holmstrup
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
| | - Jesper G Sørensen
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Johannes Overgaard
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University, Building 131, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Mark Bayley
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University, Building 131, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Bindesbøl
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark; Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University, Building 131, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Stine Slotsbo
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Karina V Fisker
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Kristine Maraldo
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Dorthe Waagner
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark; Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University, Building 131, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Rodrigo Labouriau
- Aarhus University, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Research Centre Foulum, Blichers Allé 20, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - Gert Asmund
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Department of Arctic Environment, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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Postma-Blaauw MB, de Goede RGM, Bloem J, Faber JH, Brussaard L. Soil biota community structure and abundance under agricultural intensification and extensification. Ecology 2010; 91:460-73. [PMID: 20392011 DOI: 10.1890/09-0666.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the impacts of agricultural intensification and extensification on soil biota communities is useful in order to preserve and restore biological diversity in agricultural soils and enhance the role of soil biota in agroecosystem functioning. Over four consecutive years, we investigated the effects of agricultural intensification and extensification (including conversion of grassland to arable land and vice versa, increased and decreased levels of mineral fertilization, and monoculture compared to crop rotation) on major soil biota group abundances and functional diversity. We integrated and compared effects across taxonomic levels to identify sensitive species groups. Conversion of grassland to arable land negatively affected both abundances and functional diversity of soil biota. Further intensification of the cropping system by increased fertilization and reduced crop diversity exerted smaller and differential effects on different soil biota groups. Agricultural intensification affected abundances of taxonomic groups with larger body size (earthworms, enchytraeids, microarthropods, and nematodes) more negatively than smaller-sized taxonomic groups (protozoans, bacteria, and fungi). Also functional group diversity and composition were more negatively affected in larger-sized soil biota (earthworms, predatory mites) than in smaller-sized soil biota (nematodes). Furthermore, larger soil biota appeared to be primarily affected by short-term consequences of conversion (disturbance, loss of habitat), whereas smaller soil biota were predominantly affected by long-term consequences (probably loss of organic matter). Reestablishment of grassland resulted in increased abundances of soil biota groups, but since not all groups increased in the same measure, the community structure was not completely restored. We concluded that larger-sized soil biota are more sensitive to agricultural intensification than smaller-sized soil biota. Furthermore, since larger-sized soil biota groups had lower taxonomic richness, we suggest that agricultural intensification exerts strongest effects on species-poor soil biota groups, thus supporting the hypothesis that biodiversity has an "insurance" function. As soil biota play an important role in agroecosystem functioning, altered soil biota abundances and functional group composition under agricultural intensification are likely to affect the functioning of the agroecosystem.
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High mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity in the parthenogenetic earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra. Heredity (Edinb) 2010; 105:341-7. [DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2010.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Eijsackers H. Earthworms as colonisers: primary colonisation of contaminated land, and sediment and soil waste deposits. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2010; 408:1759-1769. [PMID: 20138645 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2009] [Revised: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 12/31/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This paper reviews the role of earthworms in the early colonisation of contaminated soils as well as sediment and waste deposits, which are worm-free because of anthropogenic activities such as open-cast mining, soil sterilisation, consistent pollution or remediation of contaminated soil. Earthworms live in close interaction with their soil environment and are able to change it considerably by their burrowing and litter comminuting behaviour. While earthworms have been studied extensively, several questions still remain unanswered such as: What are the characteristics of successful early colonisers? Do they function well in dispersal, individual establishment or population growth? Do the negative environmental conditions in these kinds of anthropogenic soils hamper colonization or are these colonizers relatively resistant to it? To what extent does colonization change the characteristics of the colonized substrate? In short, do earthworms impact the soil? In this paper, the characteristics that make earthworms successful colonisers are briefly described as well as which species are the most successful and under what circumstances, and what do earthworms contribute to the total process of succession. We propose that it is not so much eco-type or r-K strategy that govern success and succession of earthworm colonisation but rather environmental flexibility not only towards pH, desiccation, and temperature but also towards contaminants such as heavy metals. Moreover, the formation of an organic litter layer, in close connection with re-vegetation of the area, is essential for establishing earthworm populations, which, at first, are mainly superficially and shallow active species. The burrowing and organic matter digesting activity of these earthworms changes the upper soil to a well mixed humus layer suitable for deep burrowing earthworm species.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Eijsackers
- Wageningen University and Research Centre, Institute of Ecological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Vorpahl P, Moenickes S, Richter O. Modelling of spatio-temporal population dynamics of earthworms under wetland conditions—An integrated approach. Ecol Modell 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Sanchez-Hernandez JC, Mazzia C, Capowiez Y, Rault M. Carboxylesterase activity in earthworm gut contents: Potential (eco)toxicological implications. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2009; 150:503-11. [PMID: 19651239 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2009.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Revised: 07/21/2009] [Accepted: 07/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Carboxylesterases (CbEs) are key enzymes in pesticide detoxification. These esterases are involved in the biochemical mechanism for pesticide resistance in some pest species, and further they are considered an efficient protective mechanism against acute toxicity by organophosphate (OP) pesticides in mammals. To gain knowledge on the role of CbEs in pesticide toxicity and natural tolerance in earthworms, we performed an enzyme kinetic analysis to investigate whether these annelids are able to secrete them into their gut lumen. We determined levels of CbE activity and isozyme abundance in the gut wall and ingested soil collected from different portions of the gastrointestinal tract of Lumbricus terrestris. Moreover, modulation of enzyme activity by selected substrates (alpha-naphthyl acetate [alpha-NA], 4-nitrophenyl valerate [4-NPV] and 4-nitrophenyl acetate [4-NPA]) and OP pesticides was examined to compare the response between tissue and soil CbEs. We found a high CbE activity in the ingested soil extracts from the crop/gizzard (alpha-NA-CbE=8.43+/-2.76U mg(-1) protein and 4-NPA-CbE=5.98+/-2.11U mg(-1) protein) compared to the gut wall. Three lines of evidences suggest that the gut epithelium is the main source of this luminal CbE activity. First, the effect of substrate concentrations on CbE activity from both the ingested soil extracts and gut tissues resulted in similar apparent K(m) and V(max) values. Second, native PAGE gels revealed that some of the CbE isozymes in the gut tissue were also present in the soil extracts. Third, tissue and soil CbEs showed the same sensitivity to inhibition by OPs. The concentrations of insecticide causing 50% of esterase inhibition (IC(50)) was comparable between tissue (IC(50)s range=4.01-9.67nM dichlorvos and 8480-6880nM paraoxon) and soil (IC(50)s range=6.01-11.5nM dichlorvos and 8400-7260nM paraoxon). Our results suggest a set of (eco)toxicological implications and environmental applications derived from the ability of earthworms to secrete these pesticide-detoxifying enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Sanchez-Hernandez
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Environmental Science, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Carlos III s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
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van Gestel CAM, Koolhaas JE, Hamers T, van Hoppe M, van Roovert M, Korsman C, Reinecke SA. Effects of metal pollution on earthworm communities in a contaminated floodplain area: Linking biomarker, community and functional responses. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2009; 157:895-903. [PMID: 19062144 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2008] [Revised: 10/28/2008] [Accepted: 11/02/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Effects on earthworms in the contaminated floodplain area the Biesbosch, the Netherlands, were determined at different levels of organization using a combination of field and laboratory tests. The species Lumbricus rubellus, collected from different polluted sites in the Biesbosch, showed reduced values for the biomarker neutral red retention time (NRRT), mainly explained by high metal concentrations in the soil and the resulting high internal copper concentrations in the earthworms. Organic pollutant levels in earthworms were low and did not explain reduced NRRTs. Earthworm abundance and biomass were not correlated with pollutant levels in the soil. Litterbag decomposition and bait-lamina feeding activity, measures of the functional role of earthworms, were not affected by metal pollution and did not show any correlation with metal concentrations in soil or earthworms nor with NRRT. Effects at the biochemical level therefore did not result in a reduced functioning of earthworm communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelis A M van Gestel
- Institute of Ecological Science, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Klok C, Kraak MHS. Living in highly dynamic polluted river floodplains, do contaminants contribute to population and community effects? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 406:455-461. [PMID: 18657302 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2008] [Accepted: 05/30/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to collect evidence for the effects of contaminants on biota in a highly dynamic river Rhine floodplain. To this purpose we reviewed the results of circa 10 studies performed in this floodplain. The floodplain was contaminated with elevated levels of cadmium, copper, PAHs, and PCBs and high levels of zinc which were at some sites above legislative values. The results showed that the present contaminants were accumulated by the floodplain inhabiting organisms, but meanwhile population and community effects were ambiguous. Only for the mayfly Ephoron virgo clear effects were detected at the level of the single floodplain. The absence of clear population and community effects is puzzling since at lower contaminant concentrations adverse effects were detected in other environments. Factors that may mask toxic effects include flooding and food quality and quantity. We conclude that given the site specific conditions, being an open, eutrophic system with a highly dynamic flooding pattern, assessment of the contribution of toxicants to observed population density or biomass and community composition requires 1] an increase in number of replicates; 2] a larger scale of investigation and 3] comparison to stable systems with comparable contamination levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Klok
- Department of Ecology and Environment, ALTERRA, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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van Straalen NM, van Gestel CAM. A stress ecology framework for comprehensive risk assessment of diffuse pollution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 406:479-483. [PMID: 18691741 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2008] [Accepted: 06/27/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution is traditionally classified as either localized or diffuse. Local pollution comes from a point source that emits a well-defined cocktail of chemicals, distributed in the environment in the form of a gradient around the source. Diffuse pollution comes from many sources, small and large, that cause an erratic distribution of chemicals, interacting with those from other sources into a complex mixture of low to moderate concentrations over a large area. There is no good method for ecological risk assessment of such types of pollution. We argue that effects of diffuse contamination in the field must be analysed in the wider framework of stress ecology. A multivariate approach can be applied to filter effects of contaminants from the many interacting factors at the ecosystem level. Four case studies are discussed (1) functional and structural properties of terrestrial model ecosystems, (2) physiological profiles of microbial communities, (3) detritivores in reedfield litter, and (4) benthic invertebrates in canal sediment. In each of these cases the data were analysed by multivariate statistics and associations between ecological variables and the levels of contamination were established. We argue that the stress ecology framework is an appropriate assessment instrument for discriminating effects of pollution from other anthropogenic disturbances and naturally varying factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico M van Straalen
- Institute of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Rozema J, Notten MJM, Aerts R, van Gestel CAM, Hobbelen PHF, Hamers THM. Do high levels of diffuse and chronic metal pollution in sediments of Rhine and Meuse floodplains affect structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 406:443-448. [PMID: 18707753 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2008] [Accepted: 06/27/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This paper (re)considers the question if chronic and diffuse heavy metal pollution (cadmium, copper, lead and zinc) affects the structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems of Biesbosch National Park, the floodplain area of rivers Meuse and Rhine. To reach this aim, we integrated the results of three projects on: 1. the origin, transfer and effects of heavy metals in a soil-plant-snail food chain; 2. the impact of bioavailability on effects of heavy metals on the structure and functioning of detritivorous communities; 3. the risk assessment of heavy metals for an herbivorous and a carnivorous small mammal food chain. Metal pollution levels of the Biesbosch floodplain soils are high. The bioavailability of metals in the soils is low, causing low metal levels in plant leaves. Despite this, metal concentrations in soil dwelling detritivores and in land snails at polluted locations are elevated in comparison to animals from 'non-polluted' reference sites. However, no adverse effects on ecosystem structure (species richness, density, biomass) and functioning (litter decomposition, leaf consumption, reproduction) have been found. Sediment metal pollution may pose a risk to the carnivorous small mammal food chain, in which earthworms with elevated metal concentrations are eaten by the common shrew. Additional measurements near an active metal smelter, however, show reduced leaf consumption rates and reduced reproduction by terrestrial snails, reflecting elevated metal bioavailability at this site. Since future management may also comprise reintroduction of tidal action in the Biesbosch area, changes in metal bioavailability, and as a consequence future ecosystem effects, cannot be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelte Rozema
- Department of Systems Ecology, Institute of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Spurgeon DJ, Rowland P, Ainsworth G, Rothery P, Long S, Black HIJ. Geographical and pedological drivers of distribution and risks to soil fauna of seven metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in British soils. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2008; 153:273-283. [PMID: 17950507 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2007] [Revised: 08/16/2007] [Accepted: 08/26/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of seven metals were measured in over 1000 samples as part of an integrated survey. Sixteen metal pairs were significantly positively correlated. Cluster analysis identified two clusters. Metals from the largest (Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn), but not the smallest (Cd, Pb) cluster were significantly negatively correlated with spatial location and soil pH and organic matter content. Cd and Pb were not correlated with these parameters, due possibly to the masking effect of recent extensive release. Analysis of trends with soil properties in different habitats indicated that general trends may not necessarily be applicable to all areas. A risk assessment indicated that Zn poses the most widespread direct risk to soil fauna and Cd the least. Any risks associated with high metal concentrations are, however, likely to be greatest in habitats such as arable and horticultural, improved grassland and built up areas where soil metal concentrations are more frequently elevated.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 2LS, UK.
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Jänsch S, Römbke J, Schallnass HJ, Terytze K. Derivation of soil values for the path 'soil-soil organisms' for metals and selected organic compounds using species sensitivity distributions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2007; 14:308-18. [PMID: 17722765 DOI: 10.1065/espr2006.06.310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND, AIMS AND SCOPE According to the German Federal Soil Protection Act, the natural function of soil as a habitat for human beings, animals, plants and soil organisms is, among other things, to be protected by deriving soil values for important chemicals regarding their amounts in the environment, their persistence and/or their toxicity. This contribution presents the results of the mathematical derivation of such values for nine metals and ten organic substances from soil ecotoxicological effect values available in the literature for microbial processes, plants and soil invertebrates. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ecotoxicological data were mostly extracted from published papers and reports and had to originate from valid studies that were performed according to internationally standardised guidelines (e.g. ISO) or were otherwise well documented, plausible and performed according to accepted laboratory practice. As test results, both structural (i.e., effects on mortality, growth or reproduction) and functional (i.e., effects on microbial activity or organic matter breakdown) parameters were included. The derivation of soil values was performed using the distribution based extrapolation model (DIBAEX) and EC(50)s (Effective Concentration) as input data. RESULTS For 19 compounds, soil values could be calculated. In 18 of these 19 cases clear laboratory ecotoxicological effects (i.e., EC50 values) below the calculated soil value have been found in the literature. DISCUSSION In those few cases where a comparison with field studies is possible, effects have been observed in the same order of magnitude as the calculated soil values. A comparison with other similar approaches confirmed the plausibility of the calculated values. CONCLUSIONS The DIBAEX-method is a feasible and widely accepted method for deriving soil values from ecotoxicological input data. Data availability was already satisfactory for some substances, but other substances, especially organics, were only poorly covered. The soil values presented here were based on EC50 input data. However, depending on the protection level aimed at by using soil values in legislation, it might be appropriate to use other input data such as NOECs in the derivation process. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES It is recommended to generate an appropriate number of data for further relevant substances by means of a test battery or multi-species approaches such as terrestrial model ecosystems. These tests should also consider the influence of the bioavailability of substances. A final recommendation for legally binding soil values demands a plausibility check of the mathematically derived values. This should include a comparison with natural background concentrations, soil values for other pathways and soil values used in legislation of other countries. Finally, expert judgement always has to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Jänsch
- ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böttgerstr. 2-14, 65439 Flörsheim, Germany.
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Klok C, Goedhart PW, Vandecasteele B. Field effects of pollutants in dynamic environments. A case study on earthworm populations in river floodplains contaminated with heavy metals. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2007; 147:26-31. [PMID: 17070636 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2006] [Revised: 08/29/2006] [Accepted: 08/29/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In industrialized countries river floodplains can be strongly polluted with heavy metals. Published studies on effects of heavy metal pollution on soil invertebrates in floodplains, however, are inconclusive. This is unexpected since studies in other less dynamic environments reported clear effects at even lower levels of pollution. Flooding induces extra variation in invertebrate biomass and abundance which may reduce the probability to detect heavy metal effects. In this paper we combine reported data from studies on river floodplains in The Netherlands and Belgium and statistically analyze the effect of heavy metals on species composition, biomass, density and individual weight of earthworms. Interaction effects of heavy metal stress and flooding are also considered. The results suggest clear effects of zinc and copper on all variables and interaction of heavy metals and flooding for individual weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Klok
- Alterra, Centre for Ecosystem Studies, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Svendsen C, Hankard PK, Lister LJ, Fishwick SK, Jonker MJ, Spurgeon DJ. Effect of temperature and season on reproduction, neutral red retention and metallothionein responses of earthworms exposed to metals in field soils. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2007; 147:83-93. [PMID: 17045713 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2006] [Revised: 06/22/2006] [Accepted: 08/18/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the short-term survival, reproduction and physiological (lysosomal membrane stability, metallothionein transcript copy number, body tissue metal concentrations) responses of Lumbricus rubellus exposed to metal contaminated field soils under different laboratory temperatures (10, 15 and 20 degrees C) and physiological responses of earthworms collected from the field in three different seasons (spring, autumn, winter). In the laboratory, metal contaminated soils had significant effects on reproduction (p<0.001), metallothionein-2 (MT-2) expression (p=0.033) and earthworm As (p=0.003), Cd (p=0.001), Pb (p<0.001) and Zn (p<0.001) concentration, but not lysosomal membrane stability and tissue Hg and Cu. No effect of temperature was found for any parameter. Principal component analysis of extractable and tissue metal concentrations indicated PC1 as a measure of metal stress. Both cocoon production (r=-0.75) and MT-2 induction (r=0.41) were correlated with PC1. A correlation was also found between cocoon production and MT-2 expression (r=-0.41). Neutral red retention and MT-2 measurements in worms collected from the field sites in three seasons confirmed the absence of a temperature effect on these responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Svendsen
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 2LS, UK.
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Kamitani T, Kaneko N. Species-specific heavy metal accumulation patterns of earthworms on a floodplain in Japan. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2007; 66:82-91. [PMID: 16324743 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2005.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2005] [Revised: 09/16/2005] [Accepted: 10/08/2005] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
We identified all earthworm species found on a floodplain contaminated by heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) from an old mine in central Japan and compared their abundance, biomass, and heavy metal concentrations in tissue. There were six species belonging to three families: Megascolecidae, Moniligastridae, and Lumbricidae. Earthworm community structure seemed to be influenced mostly by soil properties, especially pH and clay fraction. Despite the same endogeic characteristics, species-specific patterns of heavy metal accumulation were observed: species in Megascolecidae and Lumbricidae had relatively lower concentrations compared to those in Moniligastridae. Within Moniligastridae, Drawida sp. accumulated Cu and Pb markedly higher than Drawida japonica. Based on heavy metal concentrations in extracts of CaCl(2) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, the aging caused remarkably low concentrations in pore water, indicating low availability by dermal uptake. Therefore the different patterns of heavy metal accumulation among species would partly result from species-specific gut process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takafumi Kamitani
- Soil Ecology Research Group, Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan.
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38
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Jelaska LS, Blanusa M, Durbesić P, Jelaska SD. Heavy metal concentrations in ground beetles, leaf litter, and soil of a forest ecosystem. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2007; 66:74-81. [PMID: 16368142 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2005.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2005] [Revised: 10/25/2005] [Accepted: 10/31/2005] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to quantify the relationships between heavy metal concentrations in soil, leaf litter, and ground beetles at four sampling sites of a forest ecosystem in Medvednica Nature Park, Croatia. Ground beetles were sampled by pitfall trapping. Specimens were dry-ashed and soil and beetle samples digested with nitric acid. Lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistically significant differences between plots were found for lead, cadmium, and iron in ground beetles. Correlations between ground beetles and soil or leaf litter were positive for lead and cadmium concentrations and negative for iron concentration. Differences in species metal concentrations were recorded. Higher concentrations of all studied metals were found in female beetles. However, a significant difference between sexes was found only for manganese. Significant differences in species metal concentrations were found for species that differ in feeding strategies and age based on breeding season and emergence of young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucija Serić Jelaska
- Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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39
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Smith J, Chapman A, Eggleton P. Baseline biodiversity surveys of the soil macrofauna of London’s green spaces. Urban Ecosyst 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-006-0001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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40
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Changes in diversity, protein content, and amino acid composition of earthworms from a paddy soil under different long-term fertilizations in the Tai Lake Region, China. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2032(06)60030-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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41
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Sanchez-Hernandez JC. Earthworm biomarkers in ecological risk assessment. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2006; 188:85-126. [PMID: 17016917 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-32964-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Earthworms have had a notable contribution in terrestrial ecotoxicology. They have been broadly used to assess environmental impact from metal pollution, and they are typical test organisms (e.g., Eisenia) in standardized toxicity tests. Several reviews and international workshops have stressed the need for increasing the understanding and applicability of earthworm biomarkers in the ecological risk assessment (ERA) process. This review summarizes recent available information concerning the most investigated earthworm biomarkers. In earthworms, the use of biomarkers has been focused on assessing metal pollution, and available data on biomarker responses to organic contaminants are rather limited. The potential for applying earthworm biomarkers in the standardized toxicity tests is suggested in view of their significant contribution to the risk assessment of contaminated soils (e.g., estimation of bioavailable and bioactive fraction or sublethal effects). Field studies involving earthworm biomarkers are still scarce and are summarized according to their main practical approaches in retrospective ERA: biological surveys, laboratory tests of the soil, simulated field studies, and in situ exposure bioassays. Despite the great volume of laboratory studies on earthworm biomarkers, future lines of research are suggested besides the recommendations made by others: (1) the potential and limitations of the inclusion of biomarkers in the standardized toxicity tests should be examined under a well-defined weight-of-evidence framework; (2) it is necessary to develop operating guidelines to standardize earthworm biomarker assays, an important step to apply biomarkers in a regulatory context; (3) molecular and physiological biomarkers should be directly linked to behavioral changes with significant ecological implications, an important step in considering them as ecotoxicological biomarkers; and (4) biomarkers to organic pollutants of current concern (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, anti-ChE and pyrethroid insecticides, polybrominated flame retardants, etc.) need to be developed and validated in the field. Also, an increase in the knowledge of earthworm biomarkers is undoubtedly useful in assessing the effectiveness of procedures for recovering/protecting the environment (e.g., phytoremediation or agrienvironment schemes) besides its potential use in the ERA framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Sanchez-Hernandez
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Carlos III s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
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Timmermans MJTN, Ellers J, Roelofs D, van Straalen NM. Metallothionein mRNA expression and cadmium tolerance in metal-stressed and reference populations of the springtail Orchesella cincta. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2005; 14:727-39. [PMID: 16160751 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-005-0020-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2005] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Metal contamination in soil ecosystems is a permanent and often strong selection pressure. The present study investigates metal tolerance in 17 Orchesella cincta (Collembola) populations from metal-contaminated and reference sites, and combines analyses at the phenotypic and molecular level. Metal tolerance was phenotypically assayed by measuring survival times of laboratory cultures during exposure to cadmium. Comparisons of survival curves showed that five out of eight metal-stressed populations tested evolved increased cadmium tolerance (Stolberg, Plombieres, Hoboken, Hygum and Gusum). In addition, the role of the metallothionein (MT) gene in cadmium tolerance of O. cincta was studied by means of quantitative RT-PCR. The constitutive and Cd-induced MT mRNA expression of the laboratory cultures was measured. Results show that the mean constitutive MT mRNA expression of populations from polluted sites was significantly higher than of populations from reference sites. However, no correlation between MT mRNA expression levels after laboratory exposure to cadmium and field cadmium concentrations was observed. Furthermore, no relation between survival rate during exposure to cadmium and MT mRNA expression was detected. Our results suggest that constitutive MT mRNA expression plays a role in early protection against cadmium toxicity, and indicate that mechanisms other then MT up-regulation are involved in tolerance to prolonged exposure to cadmium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J T N Timmermans
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Spurgeon DJ, Ricketts H, Svendsen C, Morgan AJ, Kille P. Hierarchical responses of soil invertebrates (earthworms) to toxic metal stress. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2005; 39:5327-34. [PMID: 16082963 DOI: 10.1021/es050033k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The concept of a hierarchical cascade of biological responses to stress occurring across different levels of biological organization is an underlying principle of both theoretical and regulatory ecology/ecotoxicology. This study investigates the reality of this cascade for earthworms exposed to toxic metal stress. Gene expression was the most sensitive endpoint (EC50 = 616 microg Zn g(-1)) followed by the integrity of coelomocyte lysosomal membrane (EC50 = 645 microg Zn g(-1)). This confirms that, in accordance with the cascade concept, suborganism level endpoints respond at lower metal concentrations than higher organization endpoints. The relative sensitivity of the higher organization parameters was not as predicted by the cascade. Organic material removal was more sensitive (EC50 = 997 microg Zn g(-1)) than L. rubellus reproduction (EC50 = 3236 microg Zn g(-1)), L. rubellus population size (EC50 = 5000-11500 microg Zn g(-1)), and earthworm community diversity (EC50 = 1737 microg Zn g(-1)). This can be attributed to (1) the relative insensitivity of L. rubellus to metals and (2) general toxic effects of metals on the earthworm energy budget (and thus feeding). On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that predictive assessments of the consequences of environmental stressors needs to include approaches that respect the relative sensitivities of different taxa, while retrospective appraisals should exploit the sensitivity of low organization level responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 2LS, United Kingdom.
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Hankard PK, Bundy JG, Spurgeon DJ, Weeks JM, Wright J, Weinberg C, Svendsen C. Establishing principal soil quality parameters influencing earthworms in urban soils using bioassays. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2005; 133:199-211. [PMID: 15519451 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2003] [Accepted: 06/22/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Potential contamination at ex-industrial sites means that, prior to change of use, it will be necessary to quantify the extent of risks to potential receptors. To assess ecological hazards, it is often suggested to use biological assessment to augment chemical analyses. Here we investigate the potential of a commonly recommended bioassay, the earthworm reproduction test, to assess the status of urban contaminated soils. Sample points at all study sites had contaminant concentrations above the Dutch soil criteria Target Values. In some cases, the relevant Intervention Values were exceeded. Earthworm survival at most points was high, but reproduction differed significantly in soil from separate patches on the same site. When the interrelationships between soil parameters and reproduction were studied, it was not possible to create a good model of site soil toxicity based on single or even multiple chemical measurements of the soils. We thus conclude that chemical analysis alone is not sufficient to characterize soil quality and confirms the value of biological assays for risk assessment of potentially contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Hankard
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon PE28 2LS, UK.
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Filzek PDB, Spurgeon DJ, Broll G, Svendsen C, Hankard PK, Kammenga JE, Donker MH, Weeks JM. Pedological characterisation of sites along a transect from a primary cadmium/lead/zinc smelting works. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2004; 13:725-737. [PMID: 15736845 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-003-4472-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A pedological characterisation of seven sites along a transect from a smelter at Avonmouth, UK, was undertaken. Site locations comprised a mixture of both grassland (5 sites) and oak tree dominated (2 sites) areas. Geographically, sites were either low lying or on adjacent elevated ground. Across the transect, a severe gradient of metal concentrations was found with highest values for organic soil horizons from close to the factory. Comparisons with quality standards indicate that these metal levels are likely to be a major ecological stressor. In addition to the strong metal gradient, a number of other between site differences were also observed. These were firstly water regime, which at the low lying sites close to the smelter showed influence by both, groundwater and stagnant water, while at more distant sites indicated susceptibility to stagnant water only, and secondly soil pH, which showed large between site variations, although no consistent trend along the transect. Humus forms at sites more than 1.5 km from the smelter were characteristic for the soil conditions and land-use present, while those at sites within 1.5 km showed disturbed profiles. Indeed, the humus types present at these locations suggest that the activity of soil invertebrates may be inhibited. This is almost certainly due primarily to the high concentrations of metals that were present in mineral soil and organic horizons at the sites. However, the potential influences of water regime and pH could also be relevant factors influencing the results of any further studies conducted at these study sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra D B Filzek
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 2LS, UK
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Bundy JG, Spurgeon DJ, Svendsen C, Hankard PK, Weeks JM, Osborn D, Lindon JC, Nicholson JK. Environmental metabonomics: applying combination biomarker analysis in earthworms at a metal contaminated site. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2004; 13:797-806. [PMID: 15736850 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-003-4477-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Earthworms were taken across an environmental gradient of metal contamination for ecotoxicology assessment. Both indigenous (Lumbricus rubellus and L. terrestris) and introduced earthworms (Eisenia andrei, exposed in mesh bags) were studied. Changes in the levels of small molecule metabolites in earthworm tissue extracts were analysed by 1H NMR spectroscopy as a means of identifying combination biomarker compounds. Principal components analysis of the NMR spectral data revealed that biochemical changes were induced across the metal contamination gradient. Native worms (L. rubellus) from the most polluted sites were associated with an increase in the relative concentration of maltose; a decrease was also seen in the concentration of an as yet unidentified biomarker compound. Introduced worms (E. andrei) did not show differences to the same extent. Direct integration of the resonances from histidine and 1-methylhistidine showed that relative histidine concentrations were elevated slightly for L. rubellus, confirming the results of earlier mesocosm studies. Conversely, the relative concentrations of both histidine and 1-methylhistidine were greatly reduced by metal contamination in L. terrestris. This study demonstrates the utility of NMR spectroscopy in detecting previously unknown potential biomarkers for ecotoxicity testing and identified maltose as a potential biomarker compound deserving of further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G Bundy
- Biological Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Division, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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Filzek PDB, Spurgeon DJ, Broll G, Svendsen C, Hankard PK, Parekh N, Stubberud HE, Weeks JM. Metal effects on soil invertebrate feeding: measurements using the bait lamina method. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2004; 13:807-816. [PMID: 15736851 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-003-4478-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Heightened concerns regarding the protection of terrestrial ecosystems at a national level has increased the need to develop a suite of indicators capable of assessing the quality, integrity and fertility of soils. Of the assays currently available, tests that measure aspects of soil function and associated parameters are among the most promising, since these integrate effects on soil quality at the highest level of organisation. In this study we describe results of the deployment of an indicator of soil functional integrity (the bait lamina test) that is designed to measure the feeding activity of soil invertebrates. Bait lamina was used at six grassland sites located along a transect from a smelter at Avonmouth (South-West England) used in the EU funded BIOPRINT II project. Results indicated highest bait removal (feeding) at sites furthest from the factory, intermediate feeding activity at intervening sites and extremely low activities at the two sites closest to the smelter. The strong decline in activity for the group of sites closest to the smelter corresponded with increasing metal concentrations suggesting a clear impact of metals on detritivorous invertebrate feeding. Comparisons of the results of the bait lamina study to previous invertebrate survey work suggested that the differences in observed bait removal can be attributed to direct effects of metals on the abundance and biodiversity of key decomposer groups such as earthworms, isopods, molluscs, myriapods, springtails and mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra D B Filzek
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Muenster, Robert-Koch-Str. 26-28, 48149 Muenster, Germany
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48
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Chapter 6 The use of soil invertebrates in ecological surveys of contaminated soils. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/s0166-2481(04)80010-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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49
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Spurgeon DJ, Svendsen C, Weeks JM, Hankard PK, Stubberud HE, Kammenga JE. Quantifying copper and cadmium impacts on intrinsic rate of population increase in the terrestrial oligochaete Lumbricus rubellus. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2003; 22:1465-1472. [PMID: 12836970 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620220707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Demographic methods can translate toxicant effects on individuals into consequences for populations. To date few such studies have been conducted with longer-lived invertebrates. This is because full life-cycle experiments are difficult with such species. Here we report the effects of copper and cadmium on the key demographic parameter intrinsic rate of population increase (r) in a long-lived invertebrate (an earthworm). The approach used to derive r was based on robust measurement of effects on life-cycle traits in three specifically designed toxicity tests and integration of this data within a demographic model. The three laboratory tests used to generate values for specific life-cycle parameters under copper and cadmium exposure were suited to the task. Significant effects on a range of separate adult and juvenile life-cycle parameters were seen. Integration of parameter values within the demographic equation indicated that for copper, r was reduced only at a concentration that also caused adult mortality. For cadmium, a more graded exposure-dependent effect on fitness was seen, with r reduced at sublethal concentrations. The concentration response patterns for r found for the two metals suggest significantly different consequences for earthworm populations exposed to sublethal levels of copper and cadmium.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Abbotts Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 2LS, United Kingdom.
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Statzner B, Bis B, Dolédec S, Usseglio-Polatera P. Perspectives for biomonitoring at large spatial scales: a unified measure for the functional composition of invertebrate communities in European running waters. Basic Appl Ecol 2001. [DOI: 10.1078/1439-1791-00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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