Earthworms Coordinate Soil Biota to Improve Multiple Ecosystem Functions

Liu, Ting; Chen, Xiaoyun; Gong, Xin; Lubbers, Ingrid M.; Jiang, Yangyang; Feng, Wang; Li, Xianping; Whalen, Joann K.; Bonkowski, Michael; Griffiths, Bryan S.; Hu, Feng; Liu, Manqiang

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.045

Cited by 106 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Such studies conducted on both terrestrial (e.g. kangaroo rats [66], earthworms [67]) and aquatic organisms (e.g. carp [68], crayfish [69]) have proven their value in studying the ecosystem engineer concept.…”

Section: (C) Consequences On Trophic and Non-trophic Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Above- and below-ground effects of an ecosystem engineer ant in Mediterranean dry grasslands

et al. 2020

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Within a local assemblage, ecosystem engineers can have major impacts on population dynamics, community composition and ecosystem functions by transforming or creating new habitats. They act as an ecological filter altering community composition through a set of environmental variables. The impact of ants on their environment has been widely studied, but their multi-component effects (both trophic and non-trophic) have been rarely addressed. We investigated the roles of Messor barbarus , one of the commonest harvester ant species in south-western European Mediterranean grasslands. We analysed soil physico-chemical parameters, above-ground vegetation (e.g. species richness, plant community, micro-local heterogeneity, plant biomass) and above- and below-ground fauna (macrofauna, Collembola, Acari and nematodes). A clear and strong local impact of M. barbarus on soil, vegetation and fauna compartments emerges. The environmental filter is altered by modifications to soil physico-chemical properties, and the biotic filter by changes to plant communities and altered above- and below-ground fauna abundance, occurrence and community structure. The engineering activity of M. barbarus affects not only these separate ecosystem components but also the trophic and non-trophic relationships between them. By altering ecological filters at a local scale, M. barbarus creates habitat heterogeneity that may in turn increase ecological niches in these highly diverse ecosystems.

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Section: (C) Consequences On Trophic and Non-trophic Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Above- and below-ground effects of an ecosystem engineer ant in Mediterranean dry grasslands

et al. 2020

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“…But, both S21 and SE gave the higher weight than S, which could be due to the activities of both earthworms and microorganisms involved in the two treatments (SE and S21). Numerous studies on the interactions between earthworms and soils' microbial communities have demonstrated the beneficial role of earthworms on pedogenesis and soil quality and its implications on the increase in plant biomass (Jacquiod et al, 2020;Liu et al, 2019;Rodriguez-Campos et al, 2014). Recently, Guhra et al (2020) observed a preferential adsorption of the organic carbon and organic phosphorus compounds in the earthworms' mucus on soil minerals which could enrich the newly-formed organo-mineral associations with biogenic nutrient elements.…”

Section: Vegetative Growth Parameters Of Phaseolus Vulgaris Lmentioning

confidence: 99%

The vermicomposting for agricultural valorization of sludge from Algerian wastewater treatment plant: impact on growth of snap bean Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Belmeskine

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Dilmi

et al. 2020

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In the present study, vermicomposting of sewage sludges and their application in agriculture have been investigated. The impact of Eisenia fetida earthworms on the stabilization of these sludges during 7, 14 and 21 days was assessed. The final product was applied as soil amendment (set-1) to evaluate the effects on vegetative parameters (Chlorophyll, carotenoid, number of nodules, leaf weight, and plant height) of Phaseolus vulgaris.L bean. In the second test (set-2), the amendment was made with raw sludge. In the third test (set-3), the worms were added to the raw sludge at the time of spreading and left during the whole period of beans growth. In order to identify and better understand the behavior and role of worms with regard to sludge, their growth (weight and length), some pathogens and physico-chemical parameters were assessed during the vermicomposting. Results showed significant increase of earthworm weight of 10.62, 23.89 and 35.72 % after 7, 14 and 21 days of sludge vermicomposting, respectively, which explain their acclimatization . The vermicomposting caused a decrease of feacal coliforms number and organic matter (OM), an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and stabilization in pH. Furthermore, significant differences were obtained for all plants vegetative parameters in soil amended with vermicomposts, compared to the control (unamended soil). Indeed, a significant increase of the chlorophyll level (a, b) was noted in the beans having undergone sludge spreading. However, worm-stabilized sludge for 7 days (set-1) showed the highest chlorophyll a and b levels about 16.1 and 24.64 μg/g, respectively, against 10.13 and 4.38 μg/g in the control. For the carotenoid, a significant decrease was observed compared to the control. Our experiments have also showed that the application of vermicomposted sludge significantly increases the number of nodules, leaf weight and plant height of Phaseolus Vulgaris L . snap beans .

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“…Earthworms (Lumbricidae) constitute the majority of soil faunal biomass in many temperate agroecosystems with up to 1000 individuals and 300 g of biomass in each square metre of land [34,35]. They modulate agroecosystem function by affecting nutrient cycling and decomposing organic material [36,37], recovering soil carbon pools after disturbance [38], maintaining soil microbial diversity [39,40], controlling plant pathogens [41][42][43], influencing water infiltration, and interacting with above ground organisms [44][45][46][47]. Thus, any herbicide-induced effect on earthworm activity will impact these ecosystem functions and influence water infiltration, and the binding and leaching of glyphosate [48].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of glyphosate-based herbicides and their active ingredients on earthworms, water infiltration and glyphosate leaching are influenced by soil properties

et al. 2021

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Background Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are among the most often used pesticides. The hundreds of GBHs used worldwide consist of the active ingredient (AI) glyphosate in form of different salts, possibly other AIs, and various mostly undisclosed co-formulants. Pesticide risk assessments are commonly performed using single AIs or GBHs at standard soil conditions without vegetation. In a greenhouse experiment, we established a weed population with common amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) to examine the effects of three GBHs (Roundup LB Plus, Roundup PowerFlex, Touchdown Quattro) and their corresponding AIs (salts of glyphosate isopropylammonium, potassium, diammonium) on the activity and physiological biomarkers (glutathione S-transferase, GST; acetylcholine esterase, AChE) of an ecologically relevant earthworm species (Lumbricus terrestris). GBHs and AIs were applied at recommended doses; hand weeding served as control. Experiments were established with two soil types differing in organic matter content (SOM; 3.0% vs. 4.1%) and other properties. Results Earthworm activity (casting and movement activity) decreased after application of glyphosate formulations or active ingredients compared to hand weeding. We found no consistent pattern that formulations had either higher or lower effects on earthworm activity than their active ingredients; rather, differences were substance-specific. Earthworm activity was little affected by soil organic matter levels. Biomarkers remained unaffected by weed control types; GST but not AChE was decreased under high SOM. Water infiltration after a simulated heavy rainfall was interactively affected by weed control types and SOM. Leachate amount was higher after application of formulations than active ingredients and was higher under low SOM. Glyphosate concentrations in soil and leachate were strongly affected by application of formulations or active ingredients and varied with SOM (significant weed control type x SOM interaction). Conclusions We found that both commercial formulations and pure active ingredients can influence earthworms with consequences on important soil functions. Glyphosate products showed increased, reduced or similar effects than pure glyphosate on particular soil functions; soil properties can substantially alter this. Especially at lower SOM, heavy rainfalls could lead to more glyphosate leaching into water bodies. A full disclosure of co-formulants would be necessary to further decipher their specific contributions to these inconsistent effects.

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Earthworms Coordinate Soil Biota to Improve Multiple Ecosystem Functions

Abstract: Highlights d Earthworms enhanced multifunctionality by indirect rather than direct effects d Earthworms shifted functional composition toward bacterialdominated community d Multifunctionality was unrelated to changes in soil biodiversity, structure, and pH

Cited by 106 publications

References 70 publications

Above- and below-ground effects of an ecosystem engineer ant in Mediterranean dry grasslands

Above- and below-ground effects of an ecosystem engineer ant in Mediterranean dry grasslands

The vermicomposting for agricultural valorization of sludge from Algerian wastewater treatment plant: impact on growth of snap bean Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Effects of glyphosate-based herbicides and their active ingredients on earthworms, water infiltration and glyphosate leaching are influenced by soil properties

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