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The Ecotoxicity Approach as a Tool for Assessing Vermiremediation Effectiveness in Polychlorobiphenyls, Polychlorodibenzo-p-Dioxins and Furans Contaminated Soils
Full text linkChemical analyses are inadequate for assessing soil biological quality. Instead, the soil living community can be used both for monitoring and restoring soil health. The aim of this research was to verify vermiremediation efficiency in PCDD/F and PCB contaminated soils from Brescia-Caffaro (Italy), using an ecotoxicity approach. To gauge whether Caffaro soil could sustain a living community, a characterization of the arthropod community was conducted. Earthworms’ suitability for soil bioremediation was assessed applying ecotoxicity tests. Five treatments were set up: 1) contaminated soil; 2) contaminated soil + Eisenia fetida; 3) contaminated soil + Lepidium sativum; 4) contaminated soil + E. fetida + L. sativum, 5) uncontaminated soil + E. fetida. The ecotoxicity tests were: L. sativum germination index and root elongation inhibition, and Folsomia candida survival and reproduction, applied on soil and elutriate on: starter soil (T0), after 56 and 112 days (T56 and T112), the last after water percolation. Soil arthropod community was dominated by Hypogastruridae, Oribatida and, to a lesser degree, Formicidae and Coleoptera larvae. Ecotoxicity tests showed that F. candida reproduction and L. sativum root elongation were more adversely affected by pollutants than survival and germination. The higher soil ecotoxicity at T112 than at T56, suggested higher contaminant bioavailability after water addition. F. candida showed more variability between soil and elutriate than L. sativum. Both bioassays suggested earthworm treatment as the most promising. The importance of selecting different organisms in soil ecotoxicity monitoring, and the role of elutriate like a solid phase complement, was highlighted
Soil health and arthropods: From complex system to worthwhile investigation
Full text linkThe dramatic increase in soil degradation in the last few decades has led to the need to identify methods to define not only soil quality but also, in a holistic approach, soil health. In the past twenty years, indices based on living communities have been proposed alongside the already proven physical-chemical methods. Among them, some soil invertebrates have been included in monitoring programs as bioindicators of soil quality. Being an important portion of soil fauna, soil arthropods are involved in many soil processes such as organic matter decomposition and translocation, nutrient cycling, microflora activity regulation and bioturbation. Many studies have reported the use of soil arthropods to define soil quality; among taxa, some have been explored more in depth, typically Acari and Collembola, while generally less abundant groups, such as Palpigradi or Embioptera, have not been investigated much. This paper aims to evaluate and compare the use of di_erent soil microarthropod taxa in soil degradation/quality studies to highlight which groups are the most reported for soil monitoring and which are the most sensitive to soil degradation. We have decided not to include the two most present and abundant taxa, Acari and Collembola, in this paper in consideration of the vast amount of existing literature and focus the discussion on the other microarthropod groups. We reported some studies for each taxon highlighting the use of the group as soil quality indicator. A brief section reporting some indices based on soil microarthropods is proposed at the end of this specific discussion. This paper can be considered as a reference point in the use of soil arthropods to estimate soil quality and health
Tuxenidia lorenzoi (Protura: Acerentomidae), a new species from Italy and updates on the distribution of genus Tuxenidia
No full textTuxenidia lorenzoisp. nov. from the Eastern Italian Alps is described. The new species, like T. balcanica Nosek and Cvijović, 1969 has abdominal appendages II and III with only one seta, and it shares with T. hermonensis Szeptycki and Broza, 2004 the absence of posterior setae on urosternite VIII. Tuxenidia lorenzoisp. nov. differs from T. balcanica in the chaetotaxy of tergites I to V, VIII and XI, and of sternites II–III and VIII. In the new species, sensillum a is much shorter and b is longer than in T. balcanica. Tuxenidia lorenzoisp. nov. differs from T. hermonensis in the chaetotaxy of the metanotum, tergite I and sternite I. Some differences in the porotaxy of the mesonotum, metasternum, and sternites V–VII can also be observed. In addition, the new species has shorter sensilla a and b compared to T. hermonensis. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:87C97B5F-04F8-4019-B473-19F52BAF32EA
Soil arthropods in extreme environments: biodiversity and community structure in the Ansanto Valley (Mefite, Southern Italy)
No full textSoil arthropods play key roles in ecosystem functioning and can be used to detect the impact of environment alterations. The Mefite Geological Site (Campania, Southern Italy) hosts a sulphurous lake, a rare geological phenomenon of gaseous exhalations in a non-volcanic land that affects the vegetation cover in the vast 3km radius. The aim of this study was to characterise the response of soil arthropod community to this extreme condition, underlining its bioindicator role as well as the taxa that can cope with this environment. Arthropods were extracted from soil cores sampled (by Kempson extractor) at 3 distances from the lake: A) 30m, B) 80m and C) 120m away and identified at order level (with a focus on Collembola families, and Protura genera). Community structure (with PERMANOVA based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) and taxa associations (with Indicator Species Analysis), Shannon and Simpson biodiversity, and QBS-ar (based on the number of groups morphologically well adapted to soil; PARISI, 2005)(with Mann-Whitney test) were evaluated to understand the extent of the impact of the sulphurous emissions on soil arthropods. Arthropod community composition at order level, as well as QBS-ar index, differ both in A and B compared to C, and the poorest soil biodiversity was found in A. No orders were particularly associated with A, while Acarina and Coleoptera were linked to B and C, and Tetramerocerata was associated to C. Collembola did not show a significant difference in family composition between the different distances from the lake, however Hypogastruridae resulted clearly associated with A. On the other hand, Protura confirmed to be a highly sensitive group, being absent in A and with Acerentulus genera only present in C. Arthropod community composition at order level resulted a sensitive soil bioindicator in sulphurous environments, reflecting soil biological quality (e.g. Tetramerocerata confirmed to prefer more structured soils); however, Collembola showed responses at family level, with Hypogastruridae being tolerant to higher sulphurous environments and Onychiuridae often dominant in the less ones. Proturan’s high sensitivity to disturb is well known, but their presence in Campania is scarcely recorded (first records belong to GALLI, 2021; GALLI and SARÀ, 2022), reporting Acerentulus as the dominant genera, here only present at the major distance from the lake. Firsts records of Acerentomon and Proturentomon in Campania were reported in this study
HUMIPEDON DYNAMICS IN ALPINE SOILS AFTER A SEVERE WINDSTORM
No full textIn October 2018, “Vaia” storm hit the Italian Alps, causing major damage to forests. The resulting changes in microclimate and soil structure are expected to shape the structure of soil communities and the dynamics of humus formation and of soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation.
In Val Di Fassa (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy), 12 sites were identified, uniform in altitude and plant composition, half of which was hit by the storm. Soil samples of 3 conditions were taken: intact forest (IF); under grass in windthrow areas (G); under decaying wood in windthrow areas (W). For each sample, Humus system was identified, soil arthropod community were analysed, and SOM stored in organic (O) and organo- mineral (A) soil horizon was quantified.
Regarding Humus, the majority of IF samples express Amphi system (86%). This percentage drops to 50% in windthrow areas, with small differences between G and W, where the other 50% is represented majorly by Mull system. SOM quantification shows a similar pattern, with IF containing a greater quantity of SOM compared with G and W. Considering also soil microarthropods communities’ parameters (abundances, number of taxa, Shannon index, QBS-ar index), FAMD Analysis shows that the IF category is the only cluster that deviates from the others and that there’s no clear differentiation between G and W. Only the structure of the community in W was different from the other categories.
In conclusion, in studied forest sites, the passage of Vaia storm produced a shift in the functionality of the humipedon, from a system characterized by a medium speed of SOM turnover (Amphi) to one with a faster turnover of SOM (Mull). The differences are clear between intact forest soils and windthrow soils, but not between conditions in windthrow soils. The small differences observed between G and W suggest that different management of windthrow areas cannot influence humipedon dynamics in these few years after the disturbance. Longer monitoring is needed to help address this question
Keywords: Alpine Humus,Soil microarthropods,Windthrow,SOM dynamic
Evolution of Forest Humipedon Following a Severe Windstorm in the Italian Alps: A Focus on Organic Horizon Dynamics
No full textThis study investigates the effects of the 2018 Vaia windstorm on the evolution of humus profiles in forest soils of the north-eastern Italian Alps five years after the disturbance. The humipedon in five soil conditions was compared: intact forest (IF) and permanent meadow (M) for undisturbed soils, and soil under herbaceous cover (G), under dead wood (W), and bare soil (B) for windthrow-affected areas. No difference in pH and soil organic matter content (SOM) emerged within the same soil horizon between IF and windthrow-affected soils. When compared to IF, however, in G and B, a thinning of all O horizons (OL, OF, and OH) was detected, resulting in SOM loss and an increase in pH in the top 15 cm of the humipedon, conditions approaching the values found in M. Amphi was the most frequently occurring humus system in IF, with a shift towards a Mull system observed in all windthrow-affected soils—a shift more marked in G and B, approaching M conditions, but less marked in W, where the O horizon remained thicker. This study underscores the importance of considering soil heterogeneity and humus dynamics when assessing forest recovery and resilience after a severe disturbance
Natural surface hydrocarbons and soil faunal biodiversity: A bioremediation perspective
Full text linkHydrocarbon pollution threatens aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems globally, but soil fauna in oil-polluted soils has been insufficiently studied. In this research, soil hydrocarbon toxicity was investigated in two natural oil seepage soils in Val D'Agri (Italy) using two different approaches: (i) toxicological tests with Folsomia candida (Collembola) and Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta) and (ii) analysis of abundance and composition of micro- and meso-fauna. Soil sampling was done along 20 m-transepts starting from the natural oil seepages. Toxicological testing revealed that no exemplars of F. candida survived, whereas specimens of E. fetida not only survived but also increased in weight in soils with higher PAH concentrations, although no reproduction was observed. Analysis on microfauna showed that Nematoda was the most abundant group, with distance from seepages not affecting its abundance. Arthropoda results showed that Acarina, Collembola and Diptera larvae represented the most abundant taxa. The highest divergence in community composition was found between soils situated near seepages and at 5 m and 10 m distance. Arthropoda taxa numbers, total abundance and Acarina were lower in soils with high PAH concentration, while Diptera larvae were not significantly affected. Earthworms, together with Nematoda and Diptera larvae, could therefore represent ideal candidates in PAH degradation studies
Soil arthropods in bioindication and ecotoxicological approach: The case of the extreme environment Mefite (Ansanto Valley, Southern Italy)
No full textSoil arthropods are pivotal in maintaining soil health and serve as sensitive indicators of soil alterations. The soil arthropod community in the Mefite Geological Site (Italy), characterized by a sulphurous lake and intense degassing, was the focus of this study. In details, the objectives were: i) to characterize soil arthropod community at different distances from the Mefite lake; ii) to identify resilient taxa acting as bioindicators to assess soil ecotoxicity. Soil cores were collected at A) 30m, B) 80m, C) 120m away from the lake; soil organic matter (SOM), and pH, ecotoxicity tests (Lepidium sativum: germination index, elongation inhibition; Folsomia candida: survival, reproduction), and identification of soil arthropods (orders, Collembola families, Protura species) have been carried out. Statistical analyses assessed the impact of sulphurous emissions on soil chemistry, ecotoxicity, and arthropod parameters (community structure, taxa associations, biodiversity indices like Shannon and Simpson, and soil biological quality index – QBS-ar). The results showed: no SOM differences; pH: A < B < C; the highest ecotoxic effects were observed in A for both target species; arthropod community composition and QBS-ar varied notably in A compared to C, with the lowest soil biodiversity found in A. Hypogastruridae (Collembola) showed a clear association with A, while Protura were notably absent in A. This study also provided the first records of 4 Protura species in Campania, updating existing knowledge. Overall, arthropod community biodiversity and composition proved to be effective soil bioindicators in highly acidic conditions, reflecting soil ecotoxicity. In particular, the QBS-ar index demonstrated sensitivity in sulphurous environments
Windthrow Impact on Alpine Forest Humipedon: Soil Microarthropod Communities and Humus Dynamics Five Years after an Extreme Windstorm Event
No full textThe ecological impact of windthrow disturbance on humipedons and soil microarthropod communities is examined in two areas of the Italian Alps (Val di Fassa and Cansiglio) five years after the Vaia Storm. The following soil coverage conditions were identified: herbaceous vegetation (G), decaying wood (W), no vegetation (B) in windthrow areas; and these were compared with conditions in adjacent undisturbed intact forests (IF) and, only in Val di Fassa, with permanent meadows (M). Soil pH, soil organic matter content (SOM), humus systems and microarthropod communities were analyzed. In Val di Fassa, SOM loss was observed in windthrow areas vs. IF, moving toward a Mull humus system, while G evolved toward M-like conditions, W maintained a thicker O horizon and lower pH and B exhibited severe soil erosion and the lowest SOM. In Cansiglio, windthrow areas showed a slower transition to a Mull system, with a trend toward increasing pH and decreasing SOM. A clear relationship between microarthropod communities and humus systems could not be established because the consistency and biological origins of the humus diagnostic horizons were not considered. Microarthropod communities under different conditions exhibited significant dissimilarity, with varying responses across groups; Shannon and QBS-ar indices remained stable except for a significant decrease in B. Community dissimilarity thus appears to be enhanced by post-windthrow disturbance, suggesting that destructive windstorms may also present an opportunity for enriched microarthropod diversity
Below-ground biodiversity in agricultural systems: The role of crop-specific management in shaping soil arthropod communities
No full textSoil arthropod communities play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, yet their response to agricultural land use and management practices remains poorly understood. This study aims to assess (i) soil biological quality, (ii) arthropod biodiversity, and (iii) community structure across different agricultural systems, evaluating the effects of soil management strategies (organic, integrated, conservative). A total of 414 sampling areas were investigated (during spring and, where the same crop was maintained, autumn, in the years 2019 and 2022) across arable land, vineyards, orchards, and grasslands, with soil properties characterization (texture, humidity, bulk density) and soil arthropods extracted and identified to the order or class level. The QBS-ar and QBS-c indices, Shannon diversity (H’), and Pielou's Evenness (J) were used to evaluate soil biological quality and community structure. Results indicate that agricultural management significantly influences soil biological quality and arthropod abundance. Organic management improved biodiversity and QBS-ar in alfalfa and cereals but not in leguminous crops. Vineyards exhibited higher arthropod densities than arable land, where soil biological quality was most impacted. Seasonal variation influenced community structure, but not diversity indices. Specific arthropod taxa correlated with distinct land uses, with Pseudoscorpionidae, Isopoda, and Protura associated with vineyards, while Myriapoda, Diplura, and Hymenoptera thrived in organically managed alfalfa. These findings highlight the role of agricultural management in shaping soil arthropod communities and emphasize the need for crop-specific management approaches to enhance soil biodiversity and ecosystem services
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