The effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals on terrestrial annelids in urban soils

Abstract

-The effect of soil contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals on earthworms and enchytraeids was studied in urban parks, in Brno, Czech Republic. In spring and autumn 2007, annelids were collected and soil samples taken in lawns along transects, at three different distances (1, 5 and 30 m) from streets with heavy traffi c. In both seasons, two parks with two transects each were sampled. Earthworms were collected using the electrical octet method. Enchytraeids were extracted by the wet funnel method from soil cores. All collected annelids were counted and identifi ed. Basic chemical parameters and concentrations of 16 PAH, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were analysed from soil from each sampling point. PAH concentrations were rather low, decreasing with the distance from the street in spring but not in autumn. Heavy metal concentrations did not decrease signifi cantly with increasing distance. Annelid densities did not signifi cantly differ between distances, although there was a trend of increase in the number of earthworms with increasing distance. There were no signifi cant correlations between soil content of PAH or heavy metals and earthworm or enchytraeid densities. Earthworm density and biomass were negatively correlated with soil pH; and enchytraeid density was positively correlated with soil phosphorus.Index Terms: Enchytraeidae, Lumbricidae, soil pollution. O efeito de hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos e metais pesados em anelídeos terrestres de solos urbanosResumo -O efeito da contaminação do solo por hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (PAH) e metais pesados em minhocas e enquitreídeos foi estudado em parques urbanos, em Brno, República Tcheca. Na primavera e outono de 2007, os anelídeos foram coletados, e amostras de solo foram retiradas de gramados ao longo de transectos, em três diferentes distâncias (1, 5 e 30 m) de ruas com muito tráfego. Nas duas estações, foram amostrados dois parques com dois transectos cada um. As minhocas com uso do método do octeto elétrico, e os enquitreídeos foram extraídos das amostras de solo pelo método do funil úmido. Todos os anelídeos coletados foram contados e identifi cados. Parâmetros químicos básicos e concentrações de 16 PAHs, Cd, Cu, Pb e Zn, de cada ponto de amostragem, foram analisados. As concentrações de PAH foram relativamente baixas, e decresceram na primavera, mas não no outono, com a distância da rua. As concentrações de metais pesados não diminuíram signifi cativamente com o aumento da distância. As densidades de anelídeos não diferiram signifi cativamente entre as distâncias, mas houve tendência de aumento no número de minhocas, com o aumento da distância. Não houve correlação signifi cativa entre o conteúdo de PAH ou metais pesados do solo com as densidades de minhocas e enquitreídeos. A densidade e a biomassa das minhocas foram negativamente correlacionadas ao pH do solo; e a densidade de enquitreídeos foi positivamente correlacionada ao conteúdo de fósforo no solo. Termos para indexação: Enchytraeidae, Lumbric...

"Assessment of the Taxonomic Composition of Soil Arthropods in Selected Locations in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria"

“…Furthermore, the rainy season provides favorable conditions such as abundant high-quality food resources, optimal temperature, soil moisture, and radiation, all of which contribute to the thriving of soil arthropods [44,45]. This finding aligns with the results of Wolters [46], Pizl et al [47], and Santorufo et al [48], who also reported no significant differences in their respective studies.…”

Behavioural mechanisms affecting the success of translocations. An investigation using New Zealand’s rarest ratite, the rowi

“…For example, enchytraeid and nematode density and biomass is positively correlated with soil phosphorus/carbon and nitrogen/phosphorus ratios (Vonk & Mulder, 2013). Earthworm density and biomass is negatively correlated with soil pH (Václav et al, 2009), whereas snail abundance is positively correlated with soil pH (Kappes et al, 2006). Soil moisture and temperature can affect different microorganisms in different ways (Kamin, 2010).…”