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There is a growing conservation concern about the possible consequences of environmental contamination in the health of bat communities. Most studies on the effects of contaminants in bats have been focused on organic contaminants, and the consequences of bat exposure to metals and metalloids remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of external biological matrices (fur and wing membrane) for the assessment of exposure and bioaccumulation of metals in bats. The concentration of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, selenium and zinc was measured in internal organs (liver, heart, brain), internal (bone) and external tissues (wing membrane, fur) collected from bat carcasses of four species (Hypsugo savii , Nyctalus leisleri , Pipistrellus pipistrellus , Pipistrellus pygmaeus) obtained in windfarm mortality searches. With the exception of zinc (P = 0.223), the results showed significant differences between the concentrations of metals in the analyzed tissues for all metals (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also found between organs/tissues (P < 0.001), metals (P < 0.001) and a significant interaction between organs/tissues and metals was found (P < 0.001). Despite these results, the patterns in terms of metal accumulation were similar for all samples. Depending on the metal, the organ/tissue that showed the highest concentrations varied, but fur and wing had the highest concentrations for most metals. The variability obtained in terms of metal concentrations in different tissues highlights the need to define standardized methods capable of being applied in monitoring bat populations worldwide. The results indicate that wing membrane and fur, biological matrices that may be collected from living bats, yield reliable results and may be useful for studies on bats ecotoxicology, coupled to a standardized protocol for large-scale investigation of metal accumulation. Image 1 • Internal and external samples were used to assess metal accumulation in bats. • Metal concentrations measured depended on the tissue/organ analyzed. • Wing membrane and fur had the highest metal concentrations for most metals. • Wing membrane can be a proxy for metal concentrations in internal organs. • External biological matrices are the best option for studies on wildlife ecotoxicology. Wing membrane and fur are reliable biological matrices for studies on bats ecotoxicology, being useful to measure bat's exposure to metals/metalloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The laboratory reproduction test with the predatory mite Hypoaspis aculeifer is currently a mandatory test in the new EU data requirements for prospective environmental risk assessment of Plant Protection Products (PPPs). However, the low sensitivity often shown by this mite towards PPPs, when compared to other invertebrates (namely Folsomia candida and Eisenia fetida), makes the test with this species not very useful in the lower tier test battery. However, the current test protocol only considers exposure to contaminants via contaminated soil, disregarding exposure via contaminated food and does not take into account the fact that H. aculeifer is a predatory species. Therefore, through this protocol, the toxicity of contaminants to soil mites might be underestimated and, thus, an adaptation of the test performance, by including exposure via contaminated food, may be necessary. With this aim, two reproduction tests with H. aculeifer were performed using copper chloride as model substance, artificial soil as test substrate and cheese mites as food. The OECD guideline was followed but, while in one test cheese mites from normal laboratory breeding cultures (clean prey mites) were provided, in the other test, cheese mites previously exposed to copper (Cu pre-exposed prey mites) were provided. Predatory mites were affected at lower concentrations in tests using Cu pre-exposed prey compared to test with clean-prey (NOEC = 1225 and 1508 mg kg−1 and EC 10 = 1204 and 1903 mg kg−1 using Cu pre-exposed and clean prey, respectively). However, this higher sensitivity was not detected by EC 50 values (EC 50 = 2634 and 2814 mg kg−1 using Cu pre-exposed and clean prey, respectively). Further tests are needed in order to (i) investigate the relevance of oral exposure to different PPPs, (ii) optimize the contamination of prey mites according to the chemical properties of each substance and (iii) substantiate a proposal to adapt the standard protocol. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Reproduction test with H. aculeifer has often low sensitivity to soil contaminants. • Current test protocol disregard exposure via contaminated food. • Predatory mites feed through contaminated preys were more sensitive towards Cu. • However, this higher sensitivity was detected only by EC 10 values. • Further tests should investigate the relevance of oral exposure to different PPPs. Predatory mites were affected at lower concentrations in tests using Cu pre-exposed prey mites compared to test with clean prey, which highlights the need of including exposure via food in tests with H. aculeifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Changes in Collembola richness and diversity along a land-use intensity gradient were studied in eight European countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Hungary, UK, Ireland and Finland). In each country a set of six 1km2 land-use units (LUUs) were selected forming a gradient ranging from natural forest to agricultural dominated landscapes, passing through mixed-use ones. In addition to data on Collembola, detailed information regarding landscape diversity and structure was collected for each LUU. A total of 47,774 individuals were identified from 281 species. Collembola reacted not only to changes in the diversity of the landscape, but also to the composition of that diversity and the area occupied by each land-use type at each LUU. Although species richness patterns were not concordant among the different countries, the total number of species per LUU (landscape richness) was generally higher in natural forests and mixed-used landscapes, and lower in agricultural dominated landscapes. Moreover, high richness and diversity of Collembola at each LUU were associated with a diverse landscape structure, both in terms of number of patches and patch richness. Despite this comparable species richness between mixed-use landscapes and those dominated by natural forests, average species richness on forested areas (local richness) decreased along the gradient, showing that forest patches on mixed-use landscapes support a lower richness than in landscapes dominated by forest. This aspect is important when addressing the role of native forests in structuring biodiversity in disturbed and fragmented landscapes. Although a diverse landscape can support a high biodiversity, the results suggest that intensive fragmentation should be avoided with the risk of collapsing local species richness with the consequent result for regional biodiversity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Collembola communities were sampled along a gradient of soil-use intensification in a typical Mediterranen landscape dominated by cork-oak. This gradient ranged from a land-use unit (LUU1) dominated by closed oak forest with minimum intervention to an unit entirely composed of a monoculture crop submitted to frequent anthropogenic disturbances (LUU6), passing through LUUs with managed woodland (LLU2) or dominated by open cork-oak areas and pastures (LUU3 and LUU5). The Collembola community in the overall area was dominated by a few abundant species, mainly Isotomidae, present in almost all units. Abundance, diversity and species richness decreased along the gradient, with the agricultural site presenting an impoverished community. Diversity descriptors were positively and significantly correlated with habitat diversity, measured on the basis of the proportion of the different soil-use types present at each land-use unit. Multivariate analysis revealed changes in Collembola community composition between the LUUs, with LUU6 detaching from the rest. LUU1 and LUU2, despite the less diverse community of the latter, formed a separate group from the remaining two units (LUU3 and LUU5). Species composition in all these units was mainly determined by soil-use types present at each LUU (open cork-oak land and pastures vs. closed cork-oak areas), the proportion of the different soil-use types and the different management practices adopted for each soil use. Overall analysis revealed that Collembola reacted to changes in the landscape structure, with community composition giving a more robust response than diversity indices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies the bioaccumulation and elimination of [sup 14]C-lindane in Enchytraeus albidus in artificial OECD soil and a salty loam from an agricultural field on Central West Portugal. Chemical kinetics of the two soil types; Suitability of enchytraeids as test organisms for bioaccumulation studies.

The impact of sugarcane vinasse on soil invertebrates was assessed through ecotoxicological assays. Increasing concentrations of two vinasses from different distillery plants (VA and VB), and a vinasse from a laboratory production (VC), were amended on two natural tropical Oxisols (LV and LVA) and a tropical artificial soil (TAS) to characterize the effects of the vinasses on earthworms ( Eisenia andrei ), enchytraeids ( Enchytraeus crypticus ), mites ( Hypoaspis aculeifer ) and collembolans ( Folsomia candida ). The highest concentrations of VA and VB were avoided by earthworms in all soils and by collembolans especially in the natural soils. The presence of VC in all of the tested soils did not cause avoidance behavior in these species. The reproduction of earthworms, enchytraeids and collembolans was decreased in the highest concentrations of VA and VB in the natural soils. In TAS, VB reduced the reproduction of all test species, whereas VA was toxic exclusively to E. andrei and E. crypticus . The vinasse VC only reduced the number of earthworms in TAS and enchytraeids in LVA. The reproduction of mites was reduced by VB in TAS. Vinasses from distillery plants were more toxic than the vinasse produced in laboratory. The vinasse toxicities were influenced by soil type, although this result was most likely because of the way the organisms are exposed to the contaminants in the soils. Toxicity was attributed to the vinasses' high salt content and especially the high potassium concentrations. Data obtained in this study highlights the potential risk of vinasse disposal on tropical soils to soil biota. The toxic values estimated are even more relevant when considering the usual continuous use of vinasses in crop productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The “Montado ecosystem” is important both economically and ecologically; this ecosystem is dominated by cork and holm oak trees (Quercus suber L. and Quercus rotundifolia Lam. respectively) combined with a rotation of crops/fallow/pastures. Diverse management strategies, deviating from the sustainable use of the ecosystem, have been implemented, from which arise some extreme situations of over-use or abandonment. To evaluate the effects of different soil use and management, namely extensive cropping, intensive pasture and abandonment, in the activity of soil microorganisms, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase and urease activities, N-mineralization and nitrification rates were measured in different land-use practices, in different seasons (winter, spring and autumn). Also, the potential metabolic diversity was evaluated by analysis of community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs). Seasonal effects were evident with maximum activity occurring in rainy seasons (winter and autumn) and lower substrate utilization in winter. Significant correlations between most microbial parameters and soil water content reflect this seasonal effect. Although showing mainly a seasonal change, microbial parameters were able to distinguish the abandoned area, with a general low activity and differential exponential rates in the use of several substrates, such as amino acids, miscellaneous and polymers, probably associated with changes in organic matter quality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Collembolans, earthworms and isopods are considered to be sedentary animals. [•] Gene flow is expected to be low leading to significant genetic differentiation. [•] Several populations were genetically undifferentiated over considerable distances. [•] Passive dispersal has been implicated in the maintenance of genetic homogeneity. [•] Genetic structure reflects past events as glaciations and geological rearrangements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Chrysoperla carnea s.l. adults in olive crops fed on surrounding landscape patches. • Both anemophilous and entomophilous pollens were consumed by adults. • Adults fed on pollen settled in the environment in non-flowering periods. • Some available pollen was never ingested, while rare or absent pollen was consumed. Landscape and crop management are important concepts for conservation biological control as they can influence the abundance of natural enemies. In this work we accomplished a multi-scale study focused on the effect of landscape structure and crop management on the olive moth, Prays oleae (Bernard), an important pest of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.). The olive moth was collected in different olive groves managed under organic farming and integrated production and surrounded by different landscape structures. Generalized additive mixed models were used to analyze the response of the pest to (i) landscape composition and configuration indices, (ii) the management system and (iii) pesticides applications at different scales. Results indicated that the landscape composition, through the effect of the Simpson's diversity index, negatively influenced P. oleae abundance and that the effect was evident at larger scales. Also, the landscape configuration negatively affected P. oleae at larger scales. However, neither the crop management system nor the pesticide applications affected P. oleae abundance. This study emphasizes that the preservation or implementation of diverse and complex landscapes can contribute to maintain lower population levels of P. oleae when compared with homogenous landscape areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Management practices alter litter quality but not litter mass loss. • Decay rates were higher in grassy (Agrostis) than in cork-oak (Quercus) litters. • A higher proportion of eu-edaphic species was found in Agrostis treatments. • Mixed litter increased Collembola richness, fungal biomass, P and phenolic concentrations. • Mass loss was strongly related to the initial litter P and phenolic concentrations. Plant litter decomposition depends on the nutrient content and the amount of recalcitrant materials such as lignin and phenolic compounds. These traits are inherent to the plant species providing the litter. In agro-ecosystems, the type of land management may also shape litter traits and then influence the litter decomposition process. However, the effects of management practice/intensity on litter traits have not been addressed in previous studies, particularly in Mediterranean systems. Our aim was to test the effect of management practices on litter traits associated to nutritional quality and recalcitrance and the resulting effects on fungal biomass, Collembola communities and decomposition parameters in cork-oak agro-forest systems. A litterbag experiment was conducted using litter of dominant plant species, Quercus suber L. and Agrostis pouretii L., collected in an organic agro-forest system and in its neighbor conventional farm. We also tested the effects of litter mixtures using these two contrasting litter types, and the subsequent effects on Collembola communities and decomposition parameters. Land management influenced initial litter traits, mostly in terms of phenolics concentration, higher on the conventional site, and P concentrations, that were higher on the organic farm. After the decomposition experiment, fungal biomass was significantly higher on Quercus litters from the conventional management, while %P and %phenolics were significantly higher in litters from organic compared to conventional management. Collembola richness was significantly higher in Quercus treatments and in litter mixtures compared to single Agrostis litters. These recorded more epigeous species and collembolans with bigger body size, which apparently found more suitable habitat or resource availability in mixtures than in single Agrostis litters. Mixed litters also favored higher fungal biomass, and P and phenolics concentrations, in relation to single litters. Yet, land management and litter mixtures did not explain litter mass loss. Decay rates were higher in Agrostis than in Quercus litter, due to the differences in the initial litter traits (lignin, phenolics and P contents). Particularly, litter mass loss was positively related to P concentration and negatively associated to the concentration of phenolics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The woodlouse Porcellio dilatatus was used in food preference tests. • Cork-oak and a grass species litter from farms with different management was used. • Management is a strong determinant of litter consumption for the oak species. • Management effects on litter intake vary with plant species and fungal colonization. Abstract The detritivore woodlouse Porcellio dilatatus was selected to test the effects of home-field advantage and land management on the isopod feeding preferences and ingestion rates. Woodlice specimens and plant litter from two neighbouring farms were used in "cafeteria" experiments. The farms are cork-oak agro-forests with a similar litter matrix but different land-use history and current management (organic vs. conventional farms). The plant litter species selected were Quercus suber L. and Agrostis pouretti L. Leaf litter lignin, N and C concentrations, total phenolics, and fungal biomass were measured on both litter species for the assessment of litter quality. A higher preference for cork-oak litter from the conventional site was observed, both in isopods collected from the organic farm and from the conventional farm. This can be explained by the significant differences in litter quality that were found between Quercus litter types collected in the two farms. The differences in the nutritional content (lower C:N ratio for Quercus of the conventional farm) of litter from the same plant species support the assumption of a management effect on decomposition by changing plant litter quality. Yet, this pattern was not found for the other plant litter tested in this study – the grass species Agrostis pouretti. Also, despite the remarkable differences in litter traits between Quercus and Agrostis , no significant differences were found between the ingestion rates of the litter from the two plant species. Although, depending on the plant species, litter quality resulting from different management influenced P. dilatatus feeding preferences and ingestion rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematodes are numerous in soils and play a crucial role in soil food-webs. DNA metabarcoding offers a time-effective alternative to morphology-based assessments of nematode diversity. However, it is unclear how different DNA extraction methods prior to metabarcoding could affect community analysis. We used soils with woody vegetation from a European latitudinal gradient (29 sites, 39 to 79°N, ∼4500 km, covering six biomes) to systematically evaluate the effect of two sources of nematode DNA either directly extracted from soils vs. extracted from nematodes previously isolated from soils hypothesizing that the DNA source material may produce different diversities, community structures and abundances of feeding types. Nematode-sample DNA exhibited a higher richness, while no difference in Shannon diversity was found between the approaches. The DNA sources also created significantly different community structures, with greater differences observed across soil-extracted DNA than nematode-sample DNA. The most overrepresented species in nematode-sample DNA were Heterocephalobus elongatus , Eucephalobus striatus and Hexatylus sp., whereas Phasmarhabditis sp. and Eumonhystera filiformis were overrepresented in soil-extracted DNA. Read abundances of feeding types significantly differed between the DNA sources and across sites, with a significant effect of biome on both ecto- and endoparasitic herbivores in soil-extracted DNA and for ectoparasitic herbivores only in nematode-sample DNA. Collectively, our data suggest that choice of the DNA source material may lead to different patterns of nematode community composition across space and environmental conditions. Improving the sensitivity of the soil-extracted DNA method by developing protocols using larger amounts of soil and designing nematode-specific primers will make this approach an efficient screening tool to analyse nematode diversity and community structure complementing the labour-intensive isolation of intact nematodes from soils (nematode-sample DNA). • DNA source material created different nematode community structure. • Nematode community structure differed across sites and biomes. • Soil-extracted DNA correlated more strongly with environmental factors. • Bacterivores were the most abundant feeding types. • Abundances of soil nematodes varied with sites but not biomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxicity of the fipronil and its metabolites, fipronil sulfone and fipronil desulfinyl on Folsomia candida . Three types of soils were used to perform the ecotoxicological tests, two natural soils (Oxisol and Entisol), and an artificial substrate (Tropical Artificial Soil). The treatments consisted of increasing doses of a veterinary medicinal product with active ingredient based on fipronil, and of its two main metabolites, fipronil sulfone and fipronil desulfinyl. The doses of fipronil were 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, 0.15, 0.30, 0.60, and 1.00 mg kg −1 of the active ingredient. For fipronil sulfone and fipronil desulfinyl the doses tested were: 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.15, 0.30, 0.60, 1.00, and 5.00 mg kg −1 . The effects of toxicity on F. candida were evaluated by survival and reproduction tests, based on the methods described by ISO 11267. There was a completely randomized design, with six replicates for the fipronil tests and eight for the metabolites. We show that fipronil and its metabolites, even at very low concentrations, are toxic to F. candida . Reduction of reproduction can be observed at concentrations of 0.15 mg kg −1 . There was little difference in toxicity (LC 50 and EC 50 ) between fipronil and its metabolites. Rather, differences were related more to soil type, where the artificial soil was more sensitive than the two natural soils (Oxisol and Entisol). We conclude that it is important to perform ecotoxicological tests in natural soils, in order to generate more realistic representations of veterinary drug toxicity on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures on soil ecosystems are expected to create a global patchwork of disturbance scenarios. Some regions will be strongly impacted by climate change, others by agricultural intensification, and others by both. Soil microbial communities are integral components of terrestrial ecosystems, but their responses to multiple perturbations are poorly understood. Here, we exposed soils from sustainably- or intensively-managed grasslands in an agro-silvo-pastoral oak woodland to month-long intensified drought and flood simulation treatments in a controlled mesocosm setting. We monitored the response of the bacterial communities at the end of one month as well as during the following month of recovery. The communities in sustainably-managed plots under all precipitation regimes were richer and more diverse than those in intensively-managed plots, and contained a lower proportion of rapidly-growing taxa. Soils from both land managements exhibited changes in bacterial community composition in response to flooding, but only intensively-managed soils were affected by drought. The ecologies of bacteria favored by both drought and flood point to both opportunism and stress tolerance as key traits shaping the community following disturbance. Finally, the response of several taxa (i.e. Chloracidobacteria RB41 , Janthinobacterium sp .) to precipitation depended on land management, suggesting that the community itself affected individual disturbance responses. Our findings provide an in-depth view of the complexity of soil bacterial community responses to climatic and anthropogenic pressures in time, and highlight the potential of these stressors to have multiplicative effects on the soil biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonicotinoids are the most prominent group of insecticides in the world and are commercialized in over 120 countries for the control of agricultural pests mainly due to their broad-spectrum activity and versatility in application. Though non-target soil organisms are likely to be exposed during application, there is paucity of information in scientific literature regarding their sensitivity to neonicotinoids. This study attempts to fill this gap by evaluating, under laboratory conditions, the chronic toxicity of the neonicotinoids thiacloprid and acetamiprid, through their commercial formulations (CF), to the soil invertebrates Folsomia candida , Eisenia andrei and Enchytraeus crypticus . Results obtained indicate that the relative reproductive sensitivity of the test organisms can be expressed as: F. candida = E. andrei > E. crypticus (for acetamiprid CF) and E. andrei > F. candida > E. crypticus (for thiacloprid CF). To extrapolate from laboratory test results to field conditions, predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) and predicted no-effect concentrations were derived. Calculated toxicity-exposure ratios (TER = EC10/PEC) were below trigger values for acetamiprid and thiacloprid, when estimated with initial PEC. While estimated hazard quotients (HQ = PEC/PNEC), were greater than the European Commission trigger value. Therefore, with the current data under standard environmental risk assessment schemes it can be considered that the risk of thiacloprid and acetamiprid to the soil compartment is unacceptable. However, further research into the effects of these substances on different organisms is required to increase the confidence in the risk assessment estimates for instance, by calculating hazardous concentrations using species sensitivity distribution curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of land-use management and environmental features at different scales on carabid beetle diversity and trait structure were assessed across olive groves in northeastern Portugal. We selected organic and integrated olive groves that were distinct in terms of specific management practices, local linear features and landscape configurations. Besides the management intensification levels, differences in carabid diversity and community traits were mainly due to local habitat and ecological linear structures at a finer spatial scale. Carabid community traits related to disturbance, namely traits of body size and species dispersal ability, responded to land-use intensity and particular olive grove features were influencing diversity patterns. Within the olive grove patches, larger and brachypterous species were associated to plots with more dense vegetation cover while macropterous and small-sized species were more associated to open areas. Also, larger carabid species benefitted from higher patch size heterogeneity within the landscape mosaics. Our findings indicate that the effects of farming system is contingent on the specific management practices, local and linear features present in agroecosystems such as olive groves. Particularly, the influence of local features on carabid diversity patterns and community traits linked to dispersal and movement may be crucial in maintaining pest control at a landscape scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using organic wastes, as soil amendments, is an important alternative to landfilling with benefits to soil structure, water retention, soil nutrient and organic matter concentrations. However, this practice should be monitored for its environmental risk due to the frequent presence, of noxious substances to soil organisms. To evaluate the potential of eight organic wastes with different origins, as soil amendments, reproduction tests with four soil invertebrate species ( Folsomia candida , Enchytraeus crypticus , Hypoaspis aculeifer , Eisenia fetida ) were performed using gradients of soil–waste mixtures. Results obtained demonstrated that contaminant concentrations required by current legislation might not be a protective measure for the soil ecosystem, as they do not properly translate the potential toxicity of wastes to soil invertebrates. Some wastes with contaminant loadings below thresholds showed higher toxicity than wastes with contaminants concentrations above legal limits. Also, test organism reproduction was differently sensitive to the selected wastes, which highlights the need to account for different organism sensitivities and routes of exposure when evaluating the toxicity of such complex mixtures. Finally this study shows that when combining chemical and ecotoxicological data, it is possible to postulate on potential sources of toxicity, contributing to better waste management practices and safer soil organic amendment products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of veterinary pharmaceuticals (VPs) used to control endo- and ectoparasites in ruminants, on the survival and reproduction of the collembolan species Folsomia candida . Standard ecotoxicological tests were conducted in Tropical Artificial Soil and the treatments consisted of increasing dosages of four commercial products with different active ingredients: ivermectin, fipronil, fluazuron and closantel. Ecotoxicological effects were related to the class and mode of action of the different compounds. Fipronil and ivermectin were the most toxic compounds causing a significant reduction in the number of juveniles at the lowest doses tested (LOEC reprod values of 0.3 and 0.2 mg kg −1 of dry soil, respectively) and similar low EC 50 values (fipronil: 0.19 mg kg −1 dry soil, CL 95% 0.16–0.22; ivermectin: 0.43 mg kg −1 dry soil, CL 95% 0.09–0.77), although the effects observed in the former compound were possibly related to a low adult survival (LC 50 of 0.62 mg kg −1 dry soil; CL 95% : 0.25–1.06). For the latter compound no significant lethal effects were observed. Fluazuron caused an intermediate toxicity (EC 50 of 3.07 mg kg −1 dry soil, CL 95% : 2.26–3.87), and also here a decrease in adult survival could explain the effects observed at reproduction. Closantel, despite showing a significant reduction on the number of juveniles produced, no dose-response relationship nor effects higher than 50% were observed. Overall, all tested compounds, especially ivermectin, when present in soil even at sub-lethal concentrations, can impair the reproduction of collembolans and possibly other arthropods. However, the actual risk to arthropod communities should be further investigated performing tests under a more realistic exposure (e.g., by testing the dung itself as the contaminated matrix) and by deriving ecotoxicologically relevant exposure concentration in soil derived from the presence of cattle dung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collembolans are known indicators of soil disturbance, used in several soil biodiversity monitoring programmes. As for other groups of soil microarthropods, taxonomic determination of Collembola species requires a huge effort and expert knowledge. In this study, we evaluated whether identification of Collembola species to the morphotype level, using an eco-morphological index which classifies individuals based on their adaptation to the soil, can be used as a surrogate of species richness in extensive monitoring schemes. The same evaluation was performed for higher taxa surrogates, using taxonomic categories at the genus and family levels. Additionally, sampling effort for perennial crops and forest systems was determined. Species data were collected from 35 sites sampled within different projects with the same number of samples (16 per site). Results showed that, on average, 8–12 samples are enough to have a good estimate of species richness for this type of systems, averaging 80–90%, but varying considerably with site habitat heterogeneity and local Collembola species pool. GLM models (using species richness as response variable) fitted for family, genus or morphotype levels (explanatory variables) were all significant ( p < 0.05) but only the latter two had a pseudo R 2 higher than 0.75. This indicates that when a rapid, cost-effective assessment of Collembola richness in different sites is required, this eco-morphological trait approach, as well as the determination to the genus level, could be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent preoccupations regarding possible negative effects of pollution, inappropriate land management, climate change, desertification, erosion, compaction or over-exploitation on soils has led to initiatives for the survey of soils. One of them, EcoFINDERS, launched a pan-European survey in order to define normal operating ranges for soil biodiversity and quality, through the use of several methodologies. The objective of the current work was the characterization of European soils under different land uses and from representative bio-geographical locations, using a PLFA method developed in the context of the mentioned survey, in order to recognize and define operation ranges for soil PLFA. PLFA analysis demonstrated to be a valuable tool in the evaluation, comparison and distinction of several land uses and biogeographical (BG) zones. The analysis of the PLFA diversity with PCA and PERMANOVA/SIMPER demonstrated a good separation of soil samples relatively to each defined land use and BG zone. Soils of the same BG zone and land use group showed an average biomarker constitution with consistent differences of PLFA/biomarker compositions relatively to other groups, especially concerning land uses. Total PLFA biomass was consistently higher in non-arable environments, i.e., forest or grass soils. Arable soils contained a total PLFA biomass that was in average 2.5–2.9 times lower than grassland or forest soil. Arable and grassland soils contained significantly low relative quantities of the saprophytic Fungi biomarker 18:2ω6,9c (which decreased more than 18:1ω9c), and low Total Fungi biomarkers/Bacteria biomarkers ratio (TF/B). The opposite occurred in forestry soil samples, and the Boreal BG zone stood out, showing the highest total fungal composition, with a most important contribution of the 18:2ω6,9c saprophytic Fungi biomarker. Grasslands (all BG zones) showed to be the richest (3.5–3.8%) in Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi biomarker, 16:1ω5c. High proportions of Gram-positive, relatively to Gram-negative biomarkers occurred essentially in arable soils, in this study, but also in Alpine grasslands, which main Gram-positive biomarkers were a15:0, and i15:0. Total biomass, PLFA Biomarker groups, and different balances between individual PLFA enabled the discrimination of samples originating from both different BG zones and land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use changes are among the main factors shaping diversity patterns of soil fauna in European ecosystems. However, current knowledge on soil fauna biodiversity levels across land use types to establish baseline values with monitoring purposes are still lacking. Also, only few initiatives have been including functional components of soil fauna on biodiversity monitoring, despite the noticeable link between soil organisms and aboveground ecosystem services. Here, we analyzed the differences of collembolan taxonomic and functional diversity across an European transect with sites comprising different land use types (forests, grasslands and arable lands) and characteristics in terms of habitat conditions and soil properties. No clear relation was found between collembolan species richness and the site typology established in this study. However, community traits of life-forms responded to the gradient of site properties and indicated different land use types based on the higher proportion of eu-edaphic species in forested sites, in comparison to grasslands and arable lands. Among the environmental variables, pH was the main soil parameter influencing both collembolan richness and community weighted mean of life-forms, and was negatively correlated to both biodiversity components. The effects of pH may also reflect the influence of land use history and management practices in different European ecosystems and more suitable traits related to pH preferences, and tolerance should be further investigated for collembolan species. Our results suggest that functional diversity may provide a clearer picture on soil fauna diversity changes across different land use types and site properties. So components of functional diversity based on community traits should be included in the ‘indicator shopping basket’ of soil biodiversity monitoring studies across European ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are regulated in Europe and this process includes an environmental risk assessment (ERA) for non-target arthropods (NTA). Traditionally a non-spatial or field trial assessment is used. In this study we exemplify the introduction of a spatial context to the ERA as well as suggest a way in which the results of complex models, necessary for proper inclusion of spatial aspects in the ERA, can be presented and evaluated easily using abundance and occupancy ratios (AOR). We used an agent-based simulation system and an existing model for a widespread carabid beetle ( Bembidion lampros ), to evaluate the impact of a fictitious highly-toxic pesticide on population density and the distribution of beetles in time and space. Landscape structure and field margin management were evaluated by comparing scenario-based ERAs for the beetle. Source-sink dynamics led to an off-crop impact even when no pesticide was present off-crop. In addition, the impacts increased with multi-year application of the pesticide whereas current ERA considers only maximally one year. These results further indicated a complex interaction between landscape structure and pesticide effect in time, both in-crop and off-crop, indicating the need for NTA ERA to be conducted at landscape- and multi-season temporal-scales. Use of AOR indices to compare ERA outputs facilitated easy comparison of scenarios, allowing simultaneous evaluation of impacts and planning of mitigation measures. The landscape and population ERA approach also demonstrates that there is a potential to change from regulation of a pesticide in isolation, towards the consideration of pesticide management at landscape scales and provision of biodiversity benefits via inclusion and testing of mitigation measures in authorisation procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromate can be considered a potent environmental contaminant and consequently, an understanding of chromate availability and toxicity to soil biology is essential for effective ecological assessment of metal impact in soils. This study shows the response of two bacterial bioreporters, pCHRGFP1 Escherichia coli and pCHRGFP2 Ochrobactrum tritici , to increasing concentrations of chromate in two different soils. The bioreporters, carrying the regulatory gene chrB transcriptionally fused to the gfp reporter system, exhibited different features. In both, the fluorescence signal and the chromate concentration could be linearly correlated but E . coli biosensor functioned within the range of 0.5–2 μM and O . tritici biosensor within 2–10 μM chromate. The bioreporters were validated through comparative measurements using the chemical chromate methods of diphenylcarbazide and ionic chromatography. The bacterial sensors were used for the estimation of bioavailable fraction of chromate in a natural soil and OECD artificial soil, both spiked with chromate in increasing concentrations of 0–120 mg Cr(VI) kg −1 of soil. OECD soil showed a faster chromate decrease comparing to the natural soil. The toxicity of soils amended with chromate was also evaluated by ecotoxicological tests through collembolan reproduction tests using Folsomia candida as test organism. Significant correlations were found between collembolans reproduction and chromate concentration in soil (lower at high chromate concentrations) measured by biosensors. Data obtained showed that the biosensors tested are sensitive to chromate presence in soil and may constitute a rapid and efficient method to measure chromate availability in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cypermethrin is a pyrethroid widely used in agriculture and in control of animal ectoparasites, being effective against a large number of insects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of cypermethrin on soil fauna using reproduction and behavior ecotoxicological tests with the springtail Folsomia candida. The surface layer of a soil characteristic of the western region of the Santa Catarina State, classified as Typic Dystrupept, was used as test substrate. The treatments on both tests consisted of five concentrations of cypermethrin (0, 7.5, 15.0, 22.5, and 30.0 mg kg − 1 ) corresponding to 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 g m −2 , respectively. This range was chosen according to technical instruction for the use of this product in broilers beds (that are used afterwards as organic fertilizer in soil) that recommends 15 mg kg −1 (3.0 g m −2 ). The results obtained with tests for F. candida showed toxicity at all doses tested, following a dose-related response resulting in reduction in survival rate (LC 50 of 18.41 mg kg −1 , equivalent to 3.8 g m −2 ), in the number of juveniles (EC 50 of 15.05 mg kg −1 , corresponding to 3.01 g m −2 ), and an increase in avoidance response (AC 50 of 29 mg kg −1 , corresponding to 5.8 g m −2 ). Although more studies are needed focusing on the fate of cypermethrin in soil when the poultry beds are used as fertilizer and how it may affect soil fauna, data obtained in this study, by showing effects within the range of the doses that are recommended implies that caution and possible mitigation measures should be taken when using this compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide demand on bionematicides is in a growing trend, fueled by environmental concerns with potential negative impacts of synthetic products on ecosystems and non-target organisms, as well as by the need to provide solutions to organic farming management. As such, the main goal of the present study was to evaluate the impact of 1,4-naphthoquinone (NTQ), a nematicidal compound found in natural products such as walnut husk, on soil microbial community (non-target organisms), and determine ecotoxicological indicators in order to follow and quantify the effect of this compound. The effects on diversity and metabolic state of the microbial community were evaluated using a Phospholipid-derived Fatty Acid analysis (PLFA) method. Tests were conducted on a natural uncontaminated soil spiked with a range of NTQ concentrations (up to 768 mg/kg), as well as comparable control solutions containing solubilization enhancer Triton X-100 (TX100). NTQ impacted the soil microbial community, causing significant changes on global PLFA profile at 12 mg/kg, and significant changes on taxonomic biomarker balance at 96 mg/kg. TX100 also caused a significant effect on the global profile, but only at 192 mg/kg NTQ-equivalent. The modifications brought by either compounds were distinct, as different indicators were affected. The effects of NTQ on microbial community were quantifiable for several indicators by calculating half maximal effective concentrations (EC50). The method used proved to be suitable for the assessment of NTQ ecotoxicity in soils. • PLFA was a suitable ecotoxicological tool to evaluate 1,4-naphthoquinone impact. • PLFA was also able to discriminate the effects of solubilizer Triton X-100. • Coherent and statistically relevant parameters such as EC50 were obtained. • Results are comparable to literature, for organisms of higher trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a new complementary approach combining the use of the natural soil microarthropod community and conventional test methods was used. The effects of soil contamination with the insecticide carbofuran on two geographically distinct microarthropod communities (Mediterranean and Tropical) were evaluated in their soils of origin under controlled laboratory conditions. After contamination of two agricultural soils from Portugal and Brazil, a gradient of concentrations was prepared. Soil cores were taken from the respective uncontaminated surrounding areas and the mesofauna of three cores was extracted directly to the test soil. After extracting the microarthropod communities to the test soil, these were incubated under laboratory conditions for 4 weeks, after which the mesofauna was extracted again. The organisms were assorted into higher taxonomic groups and Acari and Collembola were respectively assorted into order/sub-order/cohort and family. Collembolans were still classified according to morphological traits and used as a case-study of trait based risk assessment (TERA; Baird et al., 2008 ) of pesticides. The exposure to insecticide contamination caused the impoverishment of the taxonomic diversity in both communities. Significant shifts in the microarthropod community structure in the different carbofuran treatments were found for both soils, although effects were more pronounced in the assay performed with the soil from Brazil. Collembolans were the most affected group with a strong decline in their abundance. A dose–response relationship was observed, showing a consistent decline on the relative abundance of Isotomidae, closely followed by an increase of Entomobryidae. Contrastingly, Acari (especially Oribatida) tended to increase their numbers with higher concentrations. Trait based analysis of Collembola data suggested that a shift in the functional composition of the communities occurred due to carbofuran soil contamination and that species adapted to deeper soil layers were more vulnerable to insecticide toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Terrestrial ecotoxicity of three pesticides evaluated using natural soil. [•] Collembolans more sensitive to ethoprophos with EC50 of 27μga.i.kg−1. [•] Chlorothalonil showed high toxicity to collembolans with EC50 of 31.1mga.i.kg−1. [•] Fungicide azoxystrobin more toxic to earthworms with EC50 of 42mga.i.kg−1. [•] More than one species should be tested as mandatory in the pesticide ERA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The indiscriminate and excessive use of pesticides poses serious risks to humans and the environment, including soil biota. Ecotoxicological tests are useful to indicate the extent to which these chemicals are harmful and how and where their effects occur. Some of these tests were standardized by ISO (International Organization for Standartization) using the earthworm species Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei, both native to temperate climates. However, these species may be of lower relevance for soil ecotoxicological studies since they live in the litter and feed on fresh organic matter. The species Pontoscolex corethrurus, native to tropical regions, may be an alternative for more relevant ecotoxicological tests as it is an endogeic geophagous species. However, little is known of its sensitivity to pesticides. Therefore, avoidance and mortality tests were performed using E. andrei and P. corethrurus and three pesticides commonly used in Brazilian agriculture: carbendazim, carbofuran and glyphosate. The tests were conducted in tropical artificial soil (TAS). For carbendazim, the median avoidance concentration (AC50) was 76.1 and 65.8mga.i.kg−1 and the median lethal concentration (LC50) 19.7 and 15.3mga.i.kg−1 for E. andrei and P. corethrurus, respectively. For carbofuran, the AC50 was 9.7 and 7.3mga.i.kg−1 and LC50 13.5 and 9.3mga.i.kg−1 for E. andrei and P. corethrurus, respectively. Concentrations applied in the field of these two pesticides have toxic effects on both species. Glyphosate showed no toxic effects for either species even at the highest concentration tested (47mga.i.kg−1), although they displayed avoidance behavior at this concentration. The sensitivity of P. corethrurus appears to be similar to the standard species for the pesticides evaluated reinforcing the notion that E. andrei is a good test species. Nevertheless, further studies should be undertaken using other contaminants to confirm the similar sensitivity of both species and the relevance of E. andrei in ecotoxicological tests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ecotoxicological laboratory tests (lower-tier tests) are fundamental tools for assessing the toxicity of pesticides to soil organisms. In this study, using these tests under tropical conditions, we quantified the impact of the insecticides imidacloprid, fipronil, and thiametoxam, and the fungicides captan and carboxin+thiram, all of which are used in the chemical treatment of crop seeds, on the survival, reproduction, and behavior of Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta). With the exception of imidacloprid, none of the pesticides tested caused mortality in E. andrei in artificial soils. The LC50 of imidacloprid was estimated as 25.53mg active ingredient kg−1 of dry soil. Earthworm reproduction rates were reduced by imidacloprid (EC50 =4.07mgkg−1), fipronil (EC20 =23.16mgkg−1), carboxin+thiram (EC50 =56.38mgkg−1), captan (EC50 =334.84mgkg−1), and thiametoxam (EC50 =791.99mgkg−1). Avoidance behavior was observed in the presence of imidacloprid (AC50 =0.11mgkg−1), captan (AC50 =33.54mgkg−1), carboxin+thiram (AC50 =60.32mgkg−1), and thiametoxam (AC50 =>20mgkg−1). Earthworms showed a preference for soils with the insecticide fipronil. Imidacloprid was the most toxic of the substances tested for E. andrei. The avoidance test was the most sensitive test for most pesticides studied, but results varied between pesticides. These results offer new insights on the toxicity of pesticides used to treat seeds in tropical regions. However, they should be complemented with higher-tier tests in order to reduce the uncertainties in risk assessment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Microbial and biochemical indicators of soil health were used to assess the ecological conditions and biological activity of soils contaminated with metals at a lead smelter plant and surrounding area in northeast Brazil. Soil respiration, microbial biomass of C and N, acid phosphatase, asparaginase, and density of ammonifying and ammonium-oxidizing microorganisms were positively correlated with soil organic carbon and/or water content, but showed negative correlations with metal contents in soil. Nitrification rate and metabolic quotient (qCO2) were positively correlated with metal contamination, suggesting favorable conditions for N loss and microbial stress, respectively. No significant correlations were found between metal concentrations in soil and dehydrogenase activity or ammonification rate, considering water content and soil organic carbon as covariables. Soil respiration, microbial biomasses of C and N, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, asparaginase activities, and ammonifying microorganisms were positively correlated with percentage vegetation cover, while nitrification and ammonification rates were negatively correlated with this parameter. In general, soil respiration, microbial biomass of C and N, acid phosphatase, asparaginase, density of ammonifying and ammonium oxidizing microorganisms, nitrification rate and qCO2 indicated high ecological risk for soil functions mediated by microorganisms (concerning to C and nutrient cycling) due to deposition of tailing contaminated with metals, even 17 years after the smelter activities had stopped. Besides direct effect of metal toxicity on microbial biomass and activity, there are indirect effects related to changes in vegetation cover, soil organic carbon, pH, and nutrient availability, and consequently changes in the soil microclimate and physical–chemical properties that may lead to losses of habitat function for soil microorganisms and the key processes they play. However, a multivariate decomposition of variance indicated that vegetation cover explained only 3.1%, whereas metals explained 26.9% of the variation associated to the microbial/biochemical indicators, showing a stronger effect of metals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Despite the high array of potential applications of cobalt oxide nanomaterial (nano-Co 3 O 4), data regarding its toxicity to soil biota is limited, compromising the capability of predicting the risks of this metal oxide nanomaterial (MO-NM). In a previous study the predicted no effect concentration of nano-Co 3 O 4 to soil (PNEC soil) was estimated to be 5.3 mg kg−1 soil dw. Given limitations in available data, this threshold was obtained through the application of assessment factors, which are known to overestimate the risks, by being a deterministic and highly protective approach. Thus, this PNEC soil value could be refined if there were more ecotoxicological data. Aiming to contribute to fill this lack of data, this work intended to assess the impact of nano-Co 3 O 4 on soil microorganisms, by measuring soil enzymes activity (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatases, arylsulphatase, CM-cellulase, urease), the nitrogen mineralization, the soil microbial biomass carbon and the soil basal respiration at a range of concentrations up to 1000 mg of nano-Co 3 O 4 kg−1 soil dw. The results showed that the arylsulphatase (87.8–296.3 mg kg−1soil dw), the acid phosphatase (87.8–1000 mg kg−1soil dw) and the soil basal respiration at the lowest concentration tested (87.8 mg kg−1) were significantly affected by the nano-Co 3 O 4 exposure. Conversely, significant stimulatory effects were observed in enzymes activity related to carbon (296.3–666.7 mg kg−1soil dw) and nitrogen cycling (87.8–296.3 and 1000 mg kg−1soil dw) and basal respiration (131.7–197.5 and 666.7–1000 mg kg−1soil dw). Microbial biomass carbon was not significantly affected in any test treatment but showed a tendency to increase with increasing nano-Co 3 O 4 concentration. Multiple mechanisms may be involved in the interaction of this NM with soil enzymes and soil microbial cells. The data obtained did not allow any adjustment to the previous PNEC soil value by taking into account the soil microbial community, because the results obtained point for effects at concentrations lower than the range tested in this study (87.8 mg nano-Co 3 O 4 kg−1soil dw) in terrestrial environment. • Toxicity of nano-Co 3 O 4 on soil microbial community was assessed. • Impact on soil S and P cycling was evident from 87.8 mg of nano-Co 3 O 4 kg−1 soil dw. • The potential of nano-Co 3 O 4 to affect soil microbial parameters was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is a critical element to agriculture, consequently global phosphate rock demand will remain rising to feed a growing world population. The beneficiation of phosphorous ore gives rise to several tons of a waste by-product [phosphogypsum (PG)] which valorisation is limited, within other reasons, by the risks posed to environment and human health. Although threatening, the accumulation in stacks is the only procedure so far practiced by several countries as a means to get rid of this industrial externality. As part of a NATO Science for Peace Project (SfP 983311) this study describes the application of an environmental risk assessment (ERA) framework, to assess the risks posed by a PG stack to the surrounding soils, in Sfax, Republic of Tunisia. The ERA followed a weight of evidence approach, supported by two lines of evidence (LoE): the chemical (ChemLoE) and the ecotoxicological (EcotoxLoE). Integrated risks point for risk values greater than 0.5 in soils collected in PG stack surrounding area. Soil salinization, has likely contributed to the exacerbation of risks, as well as to the lack of consistency between both LoEs. This study highlights the need of rethinking the weight given to each LoE in ERA, in areas where soil salinization is a reality. Image 1 • Tier 1 of risk assessment framework may include only two lines of evidence (LoE). • Soil salinity accounted for the lack of coherence between LoE. • Different weights given to each LoE may overcome the confounding effect of salinity. Depending on possible confounding factors the weight of different lines of evidence that account for a risk assessment framework must be balanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]