Aim: To explore the effect of exposure to commercial Parathion~ (Pc) on the reproductive parameters (sperm and cocoon production and genotoxicity on male germ cells), the survival, the body weight and the gross anatom...Aim: To explore the effect of exposure to commercial Parathion~ (Pc) on the reproductive parameters (sperm and cocoon production and genotoxicity on male germ cells), the survival, the body weight and the gross anatomical changes in Eiseniafoetida. Methods: Three doses of Pc(1478, 739 and 444 mg/kg of soil) and three time intervals of exposure (5, 15 and 30 days) were used. Results: All treated animals were affected. An acute genotoxic effect, revealed by DNA fragmentation (comet assay), was seen by 5 days. Alterations in reproductive parameters were conspicuous in regard to the number of sperm, cocoons and worms born, and the histological observation of the gonads and seminal receptacles. In addition, the body weight and survival rate were decreased. Neuromuscular function was also affected. Conclusion: Earthworms are suitable bioindicators of chemical contamination of the soil, their advantage being their easy and economical handling展开更多
This study was conducted to examine the responses of earthworms to soil organic matter and litter at different decomposition stages and their contributions in litter decomposition processes in southern subtropical are...This study was conducted to examine the responses of earthworms to soil organic matter and litter at different decomposition stages and their contributions in litter decomposition processes in southern subtropical areas of China. Two plantations were selected as the study sites: Site I was dominated by the exotic endogeic earthworm species Ocnerodrilus occidentalis; Site II was dominated by epigeic species Amynthas corticis. After the fallen litter and earthworms were removed or expelled, four treatments were set up as: reserving the top soil (0–5 cm, equal to H layer) (H), removing the top soil and adding fresh litter (Le), removing the top soil and adding semi-decomposed litter (Li), and a control with no top soil nor any litter (CK). Five randomized blocks that were enclosed with nylon nets on the top were set up in each site, and then the four treatments were arranged randomly in each block. After 2–3 months, earthworms were collected using the formalin method. The results showed that Ocnerodrilus occidentalis preferred Treatment H though it was found in Treatments Le and Li as well; Amynthas corticis preferred Treatment Li though sometimes it also appeared in Treatment H; and Amynthas sp., another epigeic species, was mainly present under Treatment Le and only appeared in Treatment H occasionally. These findings confirmed that earthworm species belonging to different ecological groups had different responses to organic matter at different decomposition stages. The impacts of earthworm communities dominated by O. occidentalis mainly appeared at the later periods of litter decomposition.展开更多
The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between soil biota such as microbial activity,soil fauna(e.g.,earthworms and enchytraeids),and soil physical and chemical properties.The study area was ...The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between soil biota such as microbial activity,soil fauna(e.g.,earthworms and enchytraeids),and soil physical and chemical properties.The study area was located in Pieniny National Park(PNP)in the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland.Soil samples were collected from six forest monitoring areas of PNP from two soil layers(at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm down,respectively).The investigated soils were classified to eutric cambisols and had silt or silt loam soil texture.Upon analysis,soil aggregate stability index was connected with other physical,chemical,and biological soil properties.It was noted that the stability index of 3 mm to 5 mm soil aggregates influenced pH and dissolved organic carbon.The stability index of 2 mm to 3 mm soil aggregates was positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon,soil moisture,microbial biomass carbon,total organic carbon,total nitrogen,and enchytraeid density,and negatively correlated with bulk density,particle density,porosity,and permanent wilting point.The stability index of 1 mm to 2 mm soil aggregates was positively correlated with total nitrogen,enchytraeid and earthworm density and negatively correlated with particle density,porosity,and permanent wilting point.The study has shown what factors create a stable soil structure in the forest soils of PNP.展开更多
At present time when climate change has negative effect on soil moisture and can decrease significantly the productivity, good agricultural practises have a high importance via their direct influence on soil propertie...At present time when climate change has negative effect on soil moisture and can decrease significantly the productivity, good agricultural practises have a high importance via their direct influence on soil properties, regimes and biodiversity. Objectives of this study have been focused on the assessment of good agricultural practises in different soil cultivation types: conventional, minimum till, mulch, no-till and organic farming. Method used was based on two case study areas where organic and/or minimal farming systems have been applied. As a control, we chose soil with traditional cultivation. In organic farm, we evaluated earthworms;their amount and status and in farm with different types of cultivation we evaluated the microbial activity to assess the biodiversity conditions. Basic soil properties and soil structure have been set to be able to assess the influence of good agricultural practises on soil environment. Our study shows positive effect of these practises on soil moisture content, biodiversity and soil structure stability. These findings can be used for further studies determining the ways of soil cultivation in harmony with nature—in sustainable way.展开更多
Soil fauna can sensitively respond to alterations in soil environment induced by land-use changes.However,little is known about the impact of urban land-use changes on earthworm communities.In this study,three land-us...Soil fauna can sensitively respond to alterations in soil environment induced by land-use changes.However,little is known about the impact of urban land-use changes on earthworm communities.In this study,three land-use types(i.e.,forest,nursery and abandoned lands)were chosen to identify differences in diversity,abundance and biomass of earthworm community in Kunming City.Urban land-use had a pronounced difference in species composition,evenness and diversity of earthworm communities.Forest land had the highest density,biomass and diversity of the earthworm communities.Total abundance was dominated by endogeic species in nursery land(70%)and abandoned land(80%),whereas in the forest land,the earthworm community comprised epigeic,endogeic and anecic species.Temporal changes in earthworm density and biomass were also significantly affected by land-use change.Total density and biomass of earthworms in the forest and nursery lands were highest in September,but highest in the abandoned land in October.The influence of soil physicochemical properties on the earthworm density and biomass also varied with land-use types.Soil temperature significantly affected earthworm density and biomass in the three land-use types.Soil pH was positively correlated with earthworm biomass in the forest land,but negatively associated with earthworm density in the abandoned land.Soil organic matter was positively correlated only with density and biomass of earthworms in the nursery and abandoned lands.Our results suggest that the species composition,abundance and biomass of earthworm communities can be determined by the modification of soil properties associated with urban land-use type.展开更多
Acetochlor and methamidophos are two important agrochemicals which are widely applied to agricultural production in northeast China. The investigation on the earthworm Eisenia fetida as an important type of soil anima...Acetochlor and methamidophos are two important agrochemicals which are widely applied to agricultural production in northeast China. The investigation on the earthworm Eisenia fetida as an important type of soil animals exposed to single and binary-combined contamination of acetochlor and methamidophos was thus carried out. The single toxic effect test showed that the two agrochemicals had their toxicity to the earthworms living in phaiozem. Acetochlor had a stronger acute toxic effect on the earthworms than methamidophos. The mortality of the earthworms exposed to individual acetochlor and methamidophos changed with an increase in the exposure time and the exposed concentrations. The LD50 value of acetochlor and methamidophos toxic to the earthworms was 115.6-275,3 and 29.5-228.6 mg/kg, respectively. The weight of the earthworms was a more sensitive index compared to the mortality in indicating toxic effects of acetochlor and methamidophos in phaiozem. When considering both the mortality and the body-weight change, the combined pollution of acetochlor and methamidophos in phaiozem resulted in their synergic toxic effects on the earthworms.展开更多
Earthworms promises to provide cheaper solutions to several social, economic and environmental problems plaguing the human society. Earthworms can safely manage all municipal and industrial organic wastes including se...Earthworms promises to provide cheaper solutions to several social, economic and environmental problems plaguing the human society. Earthworms can safely manage all municipal and industrial organic wastes including sewage sludge and divert them from ending up in the landfills. Their body work as a ‘biofilter’ and they can ‘purify’ and also ‘disinfect’ and ‘detoxify’ municipal and several industrial wastewater. They reduce the BOD & COD loads and the TDSS of wastewater significantly. They can even remove the EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals) from sewage which is not removed by the conventional sewage treatments plants. Earthworms can bio-accumulate and bio-transform many chemical contaminants including heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil and clean-up the contaminated lands for re-development. Earthworms restore & improve soil fertility by their secretions (growth hormones) and excreta (vermicast with beneficial soil microbes) & boost ‘crop productivity’. They have potential to replace the environmentally destructive chemical fertilizers from farm production. The ‘protein rich’ earthworm biomass is being used for production of ‘nutritive feed materials’ for fishery, dairy & poultry industries. They are also being used as ‘raw materials’ for rubber, lubricant and detergent industries. The bioactive compounds isolated from earthworms are finding new uses in production of ‘life saving medicines’ for cardiovascular diseases and cancer cure.展开更多
文摘Aim: To explore the effect of exposure to commercial Parathion~ (Pc) on the reproductive parameters (sperm and cocoon production and genotoxicity on male germ cells), the survival, the body weight and the gross anatomical changes in Eiseniafoetida. Methods: Three doses of Pc(1478, 739 and 444 mg/kg of soil) and three time intervals of exposure (5, 15 and 30 days) were used. Results: All treated animals were affected. An acute genotoxic effect, revealed by DNA fragmentation (comet assay), was seen by 5 days. Alterations in reproductive parameters were conspicuous in regard to the number of sperm, cocoons and worms born, and the histological observation of the gonads and seminal receptacles. In addition, the body weight and survival rate were decreased. Neuromuscular function was also affected. Conclusion: Earthworms are suitable bioindicators of chemical contamination of the soil, their advantage being their easy and economical handling
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.39970140)the Department of Science andTechnology of Guangdong Province, Chinathe Open Foundation of Heshan Hilly Land Interdisciplinary Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the 100 Talents Program of CAS.
文摘This study was conducted to examine the responses of earthworms to soil organic matter and litter at different decomposition stages and their contributions in litter decomposition processes in southern subtropical areas of China. Two plantations were selected as the study sites: Site I was dominated by the exotic endogeic earthworm species Ocnerodrilus occidentalis; Site II was dominated by epigeic species Amynthas corticis. After the fallen litter and earthworms were removed or expelled, four treatments were set up as: reserving the top soil (0–5 cm, equal to H layer) (H), removing the top soil and adding fresh litter (Le), removing the top soil and adding semi-decomposed litter (Li), and a control with no top soil nor any litter (CK). Five randomized blocks that were enclosed with nylon nets on the top were set up in each site, and then the four treatments were arranged randomly in each block. After 2–3 months, earthworms were collected using the formalin method. The results showed that Ocnerodrilus occidentalis preferred Treatment H though it was found in Treatments Le and Li as well; Amynthas corticis preferred Treatment Li though sometimes it also appeared in Treatment H; and Amynthas sp., another epigeic species, was mainly present under Treatment Le and only appeared in Treatment H occasionally. These findings confirmed that earthworm species belonging to different ecological groups had different responses to organic matter at different decomposition stages. The impacts of earthworm communities dominated by O. occidentalis mainly appeared at the later periods of litter decomposition.
基金funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland, No. BM-4175/17 and BM-2111/18
文摘The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between soil biota such as microbial activity,soil fauna(e.g.,earthworms and enchytraeids),and soil physical and chemical properties.The study area was located in Pieniny National Park(PNP)in the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland.Soil samples were collected from six forest monitoring areas of PNP from two soil layers(at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm down,respectively).The investigated soils were classified to eutric cambisols and had silt or silt loam soil texture.Upon analysis,soil aggregate stability index was connected with other physical,chemical,and biological soil properties.It was noted that the stability index of 3 mm to 5 mm soil aggregates influenced pH and dissolved organic carbon.The stability index of 2 mm to 3 mm soil aggregates was positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon,soil moisture,microbial biomass carbon,total organic carbon,total nitrogen,and enchytraeid density,and negatively correlated with bulk density,particle density,porosity,and permanent wilting point.The stability index of 1 mm to 2 mm soil aggregates was positively correlated with total nitrogen,enchytraeid and earthworm density and negatively correlated with particle density,porosity,and permanent wilting point.The study has shown what factors create a stable soil structure in the forest soils of PNP.
文摘At present time when climate change has negative effect on soil moisture and can decrease significantly the productivity, good agricultural practises have a high importance via their direct influence on soil properties, regimes and biodiversity. Objectives of this study have been focused on the assessment of good agricultural practises in different soil cultivation types: conventional, minimum till, mulch, no-till and organic farming. Method used was based on two case study areas where organic and/or minimal farming systems have been applied. As a control, we chose soil with traditional cultivation. In organic farm, we evaluated earthworms;their amount and status and in farm with different types of cultivation we evaluated the microbial activity to assess the biodiversity conditions. Basic soil properties and soil structure have been set to be able to assess the influence of good agricultural practises on soil environment. Our study shows positive effect of these practises on soil moisture content, biodiversity and soil structure stability. These findings can be used for further studies determining the ways of soil cultivation in harmony with nature—in sustainable way.
基金supported by the China 948Program of National Forestry Bureau(2015-4-39)the National Science Foundation of China(No.41461052+1 种基金31660191)Yunnan education department project(2017YJS089)
文摘Soil fauna can sensitively respond to alterations in soil environment induced by land-use changes.However,little is known about the impact of urban land-use changes on earthworm communities.In this study,three land-use types(i.e.,forest,nursery and abandoned lands)were chosen to identify differences in diversity,abundance and biomass of earthworm community in Kunming City.Urban land-use had a pronounced difference in species composition,evenness and diversity of earthworm communities.Forest land had the highest density,biomass and diversity of the earthworm communities.Total abundance was dominated by endogeic species in nursery land(70%)and abandoned land(80%),whereas in the forest land,the earthworm community comprised epigeic,endogeic and anecic species.Temporal changes in earthworm density and biomass were also significantly affected by land-use change.Total density and biomass of earthworms in the forest and nursery lands were highest in September,but highest in the abandoned land in October.The influence of soil physicochemical properties on the earthworm density and biomass also varied with land-use types.Soil temperature significantly affected earthworm density and biomass in the three land-use types.Soil pH was positively correlated with earthworm biomass in the forest land,but negatively associated with earthworm density in the abandoned land.Soil organic matter was positively correlated only with density and biomass of earthworms in the nursery and abandoned lands.Our results suggest that the species composition,abundance and biomass of earthworm communities can be determined by the modification of soil properties associated with urban land-use type.
文摘Acetochlor and methamidophos are two important agrochemicals which are widely applied to agricultural production in northeast China. The investigation on the earthworm Eisenia fetida as an important type of soil animals exposed to single and binary-combined contamination of acetochlor and methamidophos was thus carried out. The single toxic effect test showed that the two agrochemicals had their toxicity to the earthworms living in phaiozem. Acetochlor had a stronger acute toxic effect on the earthworms than methamidophos. The mortality of the earthworms exposed to individual acetochlor and methamidophos changed with an increase in the exposure time and the exposed concentrations. The LD50 value of acetochlor and methamidophos toxic to the earthworms was 115.6-275,3 and 29.5-228.6 mg/kg, respectively. The weight of the earthworms was a more sensitive index compared to the mortality in indicating toxic effects of acetochlor and methamidophos in phaiozem. When considering both the mortality and the body-weight change, the combined pollution of acetochlor and methamidophos in phaiozem resulted in their synergic toxic effects on the earthworms.
文摘Earthworms promises to provide cheaper solutions to several social, economic and environmental problems plaguing the human society. Earthworms can safely manage all municipal and industrial organic wastes including sewage sludge and divert them from ending up in the landfills. Their body work as a ‘biofilter’ and they can ‘purify’ and also ‘disinfect’ and ‘detoxify’ municipal and several industrial wastewater. They reduce the BOD & COD loads and the TDSS of wastewater significantly. They can even remove the EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals) from sewage which is not removed by the conventional sewage treatments plants. Earthworms can bio-accumulate and bio-transform many chemical contaminants including heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil and clean-up the contaminated lands for re-development. Earthworms restore & improve soil fertility by their secretions (growth hormones) and excreta (vermicast with beneficial soil microbes) & boost ‘crop productivity’. They have potential to replace the environmentally destructive chemical fertilizers from farm production. The ‘protein rich’ earthworm biomass is being used for production of ‘nutritive feed materials’ for fishery, dairy & poultry industries. They are also being used as ‘raw materials’ for rubber, lubricant and detergent industries. The bioactive compounds isolated from earthworms are finding new uses in production of ‘life saving medicines’ for cardiovascular diseases and cancer cure.