The use of enchytraeids in ecological soil classification and assessment concepts

Jänsch, Stephan; Römbke, Jörg; Didden, W.A.M.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2004.10.025

Cited by 76 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Soil invertebrates play an important role in soil structuring, aeration, soil organic matter decomposition, and nutrient cycling processes (Jänsch et al, 2005;Rocco et al, 2011;van Gestel et al, 2011). Enchytraeids (Oligochaeta) play this role in many soils worldwide (Jänsch et al, 2005) and are recommended as a test species within the OECD ecotoxicological testing programme (ISO, 2005;OECD, 2004), which among other factors enable studies to be compared worldwide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Enchytraeids (Oligochaeta) play this role in many soils worldwide (Jänsch et al, 2005) and are recommended as a test species within the OECD ecotoxicological testing programme (ISO, 2005;OECD, 2004), which among other factors enable studies to be compared worldwide. The enchytraeid reproduction test (ERT) was optimized for the species Enchytraeus albidus (see e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Amorim and ScottFordsmand, 2012), but can be performed using various species of the genus Enchytraeus; e.g. Enchytraeus crypticus is frequently used as an alternative model species to assess soil toxicity (Castro-Ferreira et al, 2012;Santorufo et al, 2012), having a shorter generation time and hence test period and different tolerance range to soil properties (pH, texture, organic matter) (Jänsch et al, 2005). As such, the latter species has also been tested in combination with various conditions e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Response of Enchytraeus crypticus worms to high metal levels in tropical soils polluted by copper smelting

Konecny

Ettler

Kristiansen

et al. 2014

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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Tropical soils from the vicinity of the Mufulira copper smelter (Zambian Copperbelt) were found to contain high levels of metals, particularly in the upper parts of soil horizons. Metal concentrations varied within the ranges: 37-8980 mg Cu/kg, 3-46 mg Co/kg, b 2.5-42 mg Pb/kg, and 16-83 mg Zn/kg. The EDTA extractions indicated that a considerable percentage of the metals were bound in the "labile" fractions of the soil (up to 55% of total Cu concentration, 36% Co, 41% Pb, 30% Zn). The mineralogical investigation of the heavy mineral fraction of the most contaminated soil showed that the Cu is mainly present as Cu-(Fe) sulphides (chalcocite, chalcopyrite), metallic Cu, complex Cu-(Fe) oxides, and Cu-bearing sulphates. To determine the toxicity of these soils, we adopted a standardized OECD reproduction test using Enchytraeus crypticus. The number of reproduced enchytraeids correlated negatively with total Cu and Co concentrations (r = −0.97 and −0.94 at p b 0.001, respectively), and EDTA-extractable Cu (r = −0.89, p b 0.001); whereas no effects of the soil properties (pH, CEC, C org ) were observed. No reproduction was possible in soils with Cu levels N5000 mg/kg. Median effect concentration (EC50) was calculated for total Cu concentration, and corresponded to 351 mg/kg.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of Enchytraeus crypticus worms to high metal levels in tropical soils polluted by copper smelting

Konecny

Ettler

Kristiansen

et al. 2014

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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“…This situation improved only recently (Schmelz and Collado, 2010). Enchytraeid communities at crop sites have been classified as "impoverished" grassland communities (Jänsch et al, 2005). Römbke et al (2013), after reviewing their occurrence all over Germany, evidenced the similarity of enchytraeid communities at arable and grassland sites.…”

Section: Enchytraeid Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many intermediate species have short generation cycles, because of asexual reproduction, including fragmentation. Especially species of the genus Enchytraeus are well-known as indicators of stress, e.g., at grassland sites close to roads (Jänsch et al, 2005;Schlaghamerský, 2015). Not much is known about their feeding preferences, but many species of the genus Enchytraeus, for example, E. albidus or E. crypticus, can be bred in the laboratory for a long time on rolled oats.…”

Section: Enchytraeid Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Organic Pesticides on Enchytraeids (Oligochaeta) in Agroecosystems: Laboratory and Higher-Tier Tests

Römbke

Schmelz

Pelosi

2017

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) are often considered to be typical forestliving organisms, but they are regularly found in agroecosystems of the temperate regions of the world. Although less known than their larger relatives, the earthworms, these saprophagous organisms play similar roles in agricultural soils (but at a smaller scale), e.g., influencing soil structure and organic matter dynamics via microbial communities, and having a central place in soil food webs. Their diversity is rarely studied or often underestimated due to difficulties in distinguishing the species. New genetic techniques reveal that even in anthropogenically highly influenced soils, more than 10 species per site can be found. Because of their close contact with the soil pore water, a high ingestion rate and a thin cuticle, they often react very sensitively to a broad range of pesticides. Firstly we provide a short overview of the diversity and abundance of enchytraeid communities in agroecosystems. Afterwards, we explore the available data on enchytraeid sensitivity toward pesticides at different levels of biological organization, focusing on pesticides used in (mainly) European agroecosystems. Starting with non-standardized studies on the effects of pesticides on the sub-individual level, we compile the results of standard laboratory tests performed following OECD and ISO guidelines as well as those of higher-tier studies (i.e., semi-field and field tests). The number of comparable test data is still limited, because tests with enchytraeids are not a regulatory requirement in the European Union. While focusing on the effects of pesticides, attention is also given to their interactions with environmental stressors (e.g., climate change). In conclusion, we recommend to increase the use of enchytraeids in pesticide risk assessment because of their diversity and functional importance as well as their increasingly simplified use in (mostly standardized) tests at all levels of biological organization.

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Effects of climate change on the toxicity of soils polluted by metal mine wastes toEnchytraeus crypticus

González-Alcaraz¹,

Tsitsiou²,

Wieldraaijer³

et al. 2015

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The present study aimed to assess the effects of climate change on the toxicity of metal-polluted soils. Bioassays with Enchytraeus crypticus were performed in soils polluted by mine wastes (mine tailing, forest, and watercourse) and under different combinations of temperature (20 °C and 25 °C) and soil moisture content (50% and 30% of the soil water-holding capacity). Survival and reproduction were set as endpoints. No effect was observed on survival (average survival ≥ 80%). Reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint, and it was reduced between 65% and 98% compared with control after exposure to watercourse soil (lower pH, higher salinity, and higher available metal(loid) concentrations). In this soil, effective concentrations at 50% and 10% (EC50 and EC10) significantly decreased with decreasing soil moisture content. In general, the worst-case scenario was found in the driest soil, but the toxicity under a climate change scenario differed among soil types in relation to soil properties (e.g., pH, salinity) and available metal(loid) concentrations.

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The use of enchytraeids in ecological soil classification and assessment concepts

Cited by 76 publications

References 18 publications

Response of Enchytraeus crypticus worms to high metal levels in tropical soils polluted by copper smelting

Response of Enchytraeus crypticus worms to high metal levels in tropical soils polluted by copper smelting

Effects of Organic Pesticides on Enchytraeids (Oligochaeta) in Agroecosystems: Laboratory and Higher-Tier Tests

Effects of climate change on the toxicity of soils polluted by metal mine wastes toEnchytraeus crypticus

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