title: Possibilities of using the German Federal States' permanent soil monitoring program for the monitoring of potential effects of genetically modified organisms (GMO).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMO) into the environment, a monitoring of potential risks is prescribed after their deliberate release or placing on the market. Experience and data of already existing monitoring networks should be included. The present paper summarizes the major findings of a project funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Nutzungsmöglichkeiten der Boden-Dauerbeobachtung der Länder für das Monitoring der Umweltwirkungen gentechnisch veränderter Pflanzen. BfN Skripten, Bonn-Bad Godesberg 369, 2014). The full report in german language can be accessed on http://www.bfn.de and is available as Additional file 1. The aim of the project was to check if it is possible to use the German permanent soil monitoring program (PSM) for the monitoring of GMO. Soil organism communities are highly diverse and relevant with respect to the sustainability of soil functions. They are exposed to GMO material directly by feeding or indirectly through food chain interactions. Other impacts are possible due to their close association to soil particles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PSM program can be considered as representative with regard to different soil types and ecoregions in Germany, but not for all habitat types relevant for soil organisms. Nevertheless, it is suitable as a basic grid for monitoring the potential effects of GMO on soil invertebrates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSM sites should be used to derive reference values, i.e. range of abundance and presence of different relevant species of soil organisms. Based on these references, it is possible to derive threshold values to define the limit of acceptable change or impact. Therefore, a minimum set of sites and minimum set of standardized methods are needed, i.e. characterization of each site, sampling of selected soil organism groups, adequate adaptation of methods for the purpose of monitoring of potential effects of GMO. Finally, and probably most demanding, it is needed to develop a harmonized evaluation concept.
authors.affiliation: gaiac Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment, Kackerstr. 10, 52072 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toschki
authors.affiliation: ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böttgerstr. 2-14, 65439 Flörsheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jänsch
authors.affiliation: RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roß-Nickoll
authors.affiliation: ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böttgerstr. 2-14, 65439 Flörsheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Römbke
authors.affiliation: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), Konstantinstr. 110, 53179 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Züghart
keywords: GMO; PSM sites; Permanent soil monitoring; Soil organisms