title: Species composition of a soil invertebrate multi-species test system determines the level of ecotoxicity.
abstract: A soil multi-species, SMS, experimental test system consisting of the natural microbial community, five collembolan species and a predatory mite along with either Enchytraeus crypticus or the earthworm Eisenia fetida were exposed to α-cypermethrin. A comparison of the performance of these two types of SMSs is given to aid the development of a standard test system. E. fetida had a positive effect on the majority of the species, reducing the negative insecticide effect. E. fetida affected the species sensitivity and decreased the degradation of the insecticide due to the organic matter incorporation of earthworm food. After 8 weeks, the EC50 was 0.76 mg kg(-1) for enchytraeids and ranged between 2.7 and 18.9 mg kg(-1) for collembolans, more sensitive than previously observed with single species. Changes observed in the community structure and function illustrates the strength of a multi-species test system as an ecotoxicological tool compared to single species tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark. Electronic address: valentina.sechi@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sechi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Annibale
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maraldo
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Paul Henning
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Krogh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000845:Annelida; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D009835:Oligochaeta; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D011722:Pyrethrins; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C017160:cypermethrin
keywords: Bioturbation; Chemical fate; Collembolan; Earthworm; Enchytraeids; Insecticide; Mesocosm; Microbial community; Species interactions