title: Glyphosate herbicide affects belowground interactions between earthworms and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in a model ecosystem.
abstract: Herbicides containing glyphosate are widely used in agriculture and private gardens, however, surprisingly little is known on potential side effects on non-target soil organisms. In a greenhouse experiment with white clover we investigated, to what extent a globally-used glyphosate herbicide affects interactions between essential soil organisms such as earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We found that herbicides significantly decreased root mycorrhization, soil AMF spore biomass, vesicles and propagules. Herbicide application and earthworms increased soil hyphal biomass and tended to reduce soil water infiltration after a simulated heavy rainfall. Herbicide application in interaction with AMF led to slightly heavier but less active earthworms. Leaching of glyphosate after a simulated rainfall was substantial and altered by earthworms and AMF. These sizeable changes provide impetus for more general attention to side-effects of glyphosate-based herbicides on key soil organisms and their associated ecosystem services.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor Mendel Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Johann G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Zaller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor Mendel Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heigl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Ecology Group, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruess
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor Mendel Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grabmaier
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D005998:Glycine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000187:drug effects*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000097797:Glyphosate
chemical_list: D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D012987:Soil; D000097797:Glyphosate