Lumbricids species diversity and heavy metal amounts in lumbricids on soil monitoring sites in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)

Abstract

This paper will contribute to an evaluation of soil monitoring sites. Abundance, biomass and species diversity of lumbricids was evaluated on 68 differently used sites (fields, grassland, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, mine spoil). Eight of the 68 studied soil monitoring sites showed increased amounts of heavy metals. Apart from the assessment of the abundance, of the biomass and the species diversity, the heavy metal accumulation in lumbricids was measured and evaluated. Earthworms are ideal bioindicators for heavy metals in the soil. Additional soil properties (organic matter content, pH, heavy metals) were measured that could explain differences in the bioavailability of the metal burdens of polluted sites. Metal concentrations in lumbricids showed considerable variation between land use type and the individual lumbricid species.

Keywords:

• Biodiversity
• lumbricid population
• pH-ranges
• soil organic carbon
• heavy metal accumulation

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to the staff of the Department for Soil Conservation in the State Agency for Environmental Protection of Saxony-Anhalt, especially to Mr U. Gutteck, for the financial support of the research project and the long-term good cooperation. I would like to thank Dr H. Tanneberg (estimation of the heavy metal contents) and Mrs H. Brezina (measurement of the humus contents) at the Institute for Soil Science and Plant Nutrition for the experimental support.