Enchytraeid worms retard polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation in a coniferous forest soil.

Louise Amanda Uffindell, P. Ineson, Andrew Alexander Meharg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study the fate of naphthalene, fluorene and pyrene were investigated in the presence and absence of enchytraeid worms. Microcosms were used, which enabled the full fate of C-14-labelled PAHs to be followed. Between 60 and 70 % of naphthalene was either mineralised or volatilised, whereas over 90 % of the fluorene and pyrene was retained within the soil. Mineralisation and volatilisation of naphthalene was lower in the presence of enchytraeid worms. The hypothesis that microbial mineralisation of naphthalene was limited by enchytraeids because they reduce nutrient availability, and hence limit microbial carbon turnover in these nutrient poor soils, was tested. Ammonia concentrations increased and phosphorus concentrations decreased in all microcosms over the 56 d experimental period. The soil nutrient chemistry was only altered slightly by enchytraeid worms, and did not appear to be the cause of retardation of naphthalene mineralisation. The results suggest that microbial availability and volatilisation of naphthalene is altered as it passes through enchytraeid worms due to organic material encapsulation. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-34
Number of pages7
JournalSoil Biology and Biochemistry
Volume37
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Keywords

  • naphthalene
  • fluorene
  • pyrene
  • enchytraeid
  • C-14
  • COGNETTIA-SPHAGNETORUM
  • ORGANIC-MATTER
  • UPLAND SOILS
  • OLIGOCHAETA
  • GROWTH
  • BIODEGRADATION
  • ANIMALS
  • CARBON
  • BIOAVAILABILITY
  • MINERALIZATION

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