A Long Term Study of the Enchytraeid (Oligochaeta) Fauna of a Mixed Coniferous Forest and the Effects of Urea Fertilization

Effects of long-term nutrient fertilisation and irrigation on the microarthropod community in a boreal Norway spruce stand

“…Negative effects of solid fertilisers on soil fauna abundances often occur shortly after large fertiliser applications (Lohm et al, 1977;Behan et al, 1978;Abrahamsen and Thompson, 1979;Huhta et al, 1983Huhta et al, , 1986. However, when fertilisation has stopped, a recovery of faunal abundances, or even an increase, has often been seen (Behan et al, 1978;Abrahamsen and Thompson, 1979;Huhta et al, 1983).…”

“…However, when fertilisation has stopped, a recovery of faunal abundances, or even an increase, has often been seen (Behan et al, 1978;Abrahamsen and Thompson, 1979;Huhta et al, 1983). Several studies have shown clear relationships between mesofauna and pH (Hutson, 1978;Hågvar and Abrahamsen, 1980;Hågvar and Amundsen, 1981;Huhta et al, 1983;Huhta, 1984) and decreases following large applications of fertilisers, often urea, have partly been attributed to pH effects.…”

“…At present, there is a lack of knowledge about how intensive forest cultivation will affect soil fauna communities. Many studies have been conducted on the effects of forest fertilisation on soil fauna (e.g., Lohm et al, 1977;Behan et al, 1978;Abrahamsen and Thompson, 1979;Huhta et al, 1983;Sohlenius and Wasilewska, 1984;Koskenniemi and Huhta, 1986;Vilkamaa and Huhta, 1986). On a short time-scale, negative effects of fertilisation on soil fauna have often been seen.…”

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

“…For example, in the first European Union document describing tests to be performed for pesticides (Commission of the European Communities, 1991), only tests with microorganisms, plants and earthworms were listed. Already 20 years earlier, the huge taxonomic and ecological complexity of soil organism communities became more and more obvious, best visible in the outcome of long-term research projects on the influence of acid rain on forest soils (e.g., Abrahamsen and Thompson, 1979;Bengtsson and Rundgren, 1982;Standen, 1984;Chalupský, 1989). Both high numbers and central ecological roles supported the idea to use enchytraeids in standard ecotoxicological tests.…”

Potential Approaches to Developing Lichen-Based Critical Loads and Levels for Nitrogen, Sulfur and Metal-Containing Atmospheric Pollutants in North America

“…The abundance of Nematoda, Oligochaeta and microarthropodes, especially Collembola, had increased in some studies, but decreased in others after application of high doses of nitrogen fertilizers (>150 kg N ha -1 yr -1 ) (Abrahamsen and Thompson, 1979;Huhta et al, 1983;Vilkamaa and Huhta, 1986). A one-time application of 100 kg N ha -1 yr -1 (as NH 4 NO 3 ) in the Fontères state forest in Eastern Brittany, France, produced an effect on soil microorganisms which was still significant after 23 years.…”