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Pamminger T, Bottoms M, Cunningham H, Ellis S, Kabouw P, Kimmel S, Loutseti S, Marx MT, Nopper JH, Schimera A, Schulz L, Sharples A, Staab F, Ernst G. Investigating the role of soil mesofauna abundance and biodiversity for organic matter breakdown in arable fields. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:1423-1433. [PMID: 34878731 PMCID: PMC9543280 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Intact soil food webs are pivotal to maintaining essential soil functions, such as carbon recycling, sequestering, and biomass production. Although the functional role of micro- (e.g., bacteria and fungi) and macrofauna (e.g., earthworms) is comparatively well established, the importance of the mesofauna community (e.g., abundance and diversity of Acari and Collembola) in maintaining soil functionality is less clear. We investigated this question in a six-month field experiment in arable soil by actively manipulating mesofauna abundance and biodiversity through the application of two legacy insecticides (lindane and methamidophos) at sufficiently high doses to reduce mesofauna abundance (well above previously registered application rates; 2.5 and 7.5 kg a.s./ha for lindane, and 0.6 and 3 kg a.s./ha for methamidophos) and measure the impact on organic matter degradation. Our results demonstrate that both insecticides had reduced Collembola and Acari abundances by up to 80% over the study's six-month duration. In addition, we observed less pronounced and more complex changes in mesofauna biodiversity over time. These included insecticide-dependent temporal fluctuations (both reduction and increase) for different estimates (indices) of local (alpha)-diversity over time and no lasting impact for most estimates after six months. Even at these exceptionally high field rates, Collembola and Acari diversity was observed to generally recover by six months. In contrast, considering organic matter breakdown, we found no evidence of a treatment-related effect. These results suggest that organic matter breakdown in arable soils is likely driven by other trophic levels (e.g., microorganisms or earthworms) with only a limited influence of the mesofauna community. We discuss these findings with regard to their implications for our current understanding of soil food web function and future European soil risk assessments. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1423-1433. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Pamminger
- BASF SELimburgerhofGermany
- Bayer AG, CropScience DivisionMonheimGermany
| | | | | | - Sian Ellis
- Corteva AgriscienceAbingdonOxfordshireUK
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Robertson GP, Hamilton SK, Barham BL, Dale BE, Izaurralde RC, Jackson RD, Landis DA, Swinton SM, Thelen KD, Tiedje JM. Cellulosic biofuel contributions to a sustainable energy future: Choices and outcomes. Science 2018; 356:356/6345/eaal2324. [PMID: 28663443 DOI: 10.1126/science.aal2324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Cellulosic crops are projected to provide a large fraction of transportation energy needs by mid-century. However, the anticipated land requirements are substantial, which creates a potential for environmental harm if trade-offs are not sufficiently well understood to create appropriately prescriptive policy. Recent empirical findings show that cellulosic bioenergy concerns related to climate mitigation, biodiversity, reactive nitrogen loss, and crop water use can be addressed with appropriate crop, placement, and management choices. In particular, growing native perennial species on marginal lands not currently farmed provides substantial potential for climate mitigation and other benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Philip Robertson
- W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA. .,Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Stephen K Hamilton
- W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA.,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Bradford L Barham
- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Bruce E Dale
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - R Cesar Izaurralde
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.,Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, Temple, TX 76502, USA
| | - Randall D Jackson
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Douglas A Landis
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Scott M Swinton
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kurt D Thelen
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - James M Tiedje
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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