As ecosystem engineers, invasive earthworms are one of the main drivers of plant community changes in North American forests previously devoid of earthworms. One explanation for these community changes is the effects of earthworms on the reproduction, recruitment, and development of plant species. However, few studies have investigated functional trait responses of native plants to earthworm invasion to explain the mechanisms underlying community changes. In a mesocosm (Ecotron) experiment, we set up a plant community composed of two herb and two grass species commonly found in northern North American forests under two earthworm treatments (presence vs. absence). We measured earthworm effects on above- and belowground plant biomass and functional traits after 3 months of experiment. Our results showed that earthworm presence did not significantly affect plant community biomass and cover. Furthermore, only four out of the fifteen above- and belowground traits measured were affected by earthworm presence. While some traits, such as the production of ramets, the carbon and nitrogen content of leaves, responded similarly between and within functional groups in the presence or absence of earthworms, we observed opposite responses for other traits, such as height, specific leaf area, and root length within some functional groups in the presence of earthworms. Plant trait responses were thus species-specific, although the two grass species showed a more pronounced response to earthworm presence with changes in their leaf traits than herb species. Overall, earthworms affected some functional traits related to resource uptake abilities of plants and thus could change plant competition outcomes over time, which could be an explanation of plant community changes observed in invaded ecosystems.

Arctic soils contain a large fraction of our planets terrestrial carbon (C) pool. When tundra soils become warmer and permafrost thaws, non-native geoengineering earthworms can enter these soils and ingest organic matter accumulated over long timescales. Previous studies have found that earthworms increase mineralization rates of soil organic matter into carbon dioxide (CO2) when introduced. Yet, this initial mineralization boost seems transient with time and it has been hypothesized that earthworms stimulate the formation of persistent C forms. In this study, I investigated how non-native, geoengineering earthworms affected the relative proportions of seven carbon forms in the O and A1 horizon of tundra soil and if their effect induced a change in pH. I used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to understand what happens to soil carbon compounds in two different tundra vegetation types (heath and meadow), that had been subjected to earthworm treatment for three summers. I found that O-aromatic C increased from 7.22% ± 0.24 (mean ± stderr) in the meadow soil lacking earthworms to 8.98% ± 0.30 in the meadow exposed to earthworms, and that aromatic C increased from 8.71% ± 0.23 to 9.93% ± 0.25. In similar, the result suggested that alkyl C decreased in this vegetation type from 20.43% ± 0.38 to 18.70% ± 0.25 due to earthworm activities. I found no effect on the chemical properties in the heath. I conclude that geoengineering earthworms affect the two vegetation types differently and that earthworms seem to enhance the accumulation of recalcitrant aromatic C forms.

No description available.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit sollten Einsatzmöglichkeiten und -grenzen von kompostierten und durch Agglomeration oder Pelletierung weiter aufbereiteten Bioabfall-Gärresten untersucht werden. Außerdem sollte geprüft werden, ob durch verschiedene Zuschlagstoffe die Eigenschaften der Produkte so verbessert werden können, dass ein marktfähiges Düngeprodukt entsteht. Dazu wurden ein Feldversuch, Gefäß-, Rhizoboxen- und Bodenatmungsversuche, phytotoxikologische Tests und Regenwurm-Vermeidungstests durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse können wie folgt zusammengefasst werden: Die Stickstoffverfügbarkeit von kompostierten Gärprodukten aus Bioabfällen ist gering, der Gehalt an Phosphor und Kalium aber hoch. Langfristig sind so der Aufbau eines Nährstoffdepots im Boden und die Einsparung anderer Dünger möglich. Die Produkte enthalten zudem basisch wirksame Bestandteile, welche die Kalkung teilweise ersetzen können. Komposte und Gärprodukte aus Bioabfällen können zur Steigerung der Humusgehalte im Boden beitragen. Ca. 80 % des enthaltenen Kohlenstoffs liegt in stabilisierter Form vor und kann im Boden sequestriert werden. Problematisch sind hohe Schwermetall- und Störstoffgehalte. Die gesetzlich vorgegebenen Grenzwerte wurden in 50 % der getesteten Chargen überschritten. Phytotoxische Effekte wurden nur in Einzelfällen festgestellt und waren nicht dosisabhängig, sondern traten punktuell auf. Die Aktivität der Mikroorganismen im Boden wurde durch Anwendung der Gärprodukte gefördert. Der Einfluss der Gärprodukte auf Regenwürmer konnte nicht eindeutig bestimmt werden. Eine Einschränkung der Habitatfunktion nach Gärproduktanwendung wurde nicht festgestellt. Die Aufbereitung durch Agglomeration oder Pelletierung ist möglich, ohne dass die wesentlichen positiven Eigenschaften davon beeinträchtigt werden. Durch Beimengung von Zuschlagstoffen können die Düngewirkung und die physikalischen Eigenschaften der Produkte verändert werden. Dies reduziert jedoch auch den Gehalt an stabiler organischer Substanz. / The scope of the present work was to determine the possibilities and limits for the application of composted digestates from biowaste on agricultural land. Furthermore it was tested whether it is possible to enhance the properties of the products by adding different amendments and to thereby create a marketable fertilizer product. A field trial, pot and rhizobox experiments, phytotoxicity tests and avoidance tests with earthworms were carried out. The results can be summarized as follows: The nitrogen availability of composted biowaste digestates is limited but they have high contents of phosphorus and potassium. Repeated application of biowaste digestate can help to establish a stable nutrient pool in the soil save up on other fertilizers. In addition, the products are characterized by basic constituents who can partly replace liming. Composts and fermentation products made from organic waste can contribute significantly to the increase of humus content in the soil. Approx. 80 % of the contained carbon is in stabilized form and can be sequestered in the soil. High concentrations of heavy metals and other contaminants are problematic. The legal limits were exceeded in 50 % of the tested batches. Phytotoxic effects were observed only in isolated cases and were not dose-dependent. The activity of the microorganisms in the soil was significantly promoted by the application of the digestates. The influence of the digestate products on earthworms could not be determined unequivocally. A restriction of the habitat function after digestate application was not detected. Processing by agglomeration or pelletizing to increase transportability and storage stability is possible without impairing the essential positive properties of the digestates. The addition of amendments can be used to adjust the fertilizing and physical properties of the products. This, however, reduces the content of stable organic matter.

Recent declines in returns from primary forest products in New Zealand and projected increases in world food prices have led to the land-use conversion from plantation forest to pastoral farming in many lowland areas. After decades of forest cover the soils are in many cases less than adequate for pastoral farming, as they are acidic, with toxic levels of exchangeable aluminum, and contain low levels of available nitrogen (N), very high carbon (C):N ratio, and are devoid of earthworms and structural integrity. Overcoming the major site limitations of low soil pH and available N was a major priority and a field experiment was established in April 2005 to determine the impact of various rates of lime and N in relation to pasture establishment and production. Concerns about the short and long-term effects of these inputs on biological soil quality gave rise to the present study. The effects of land-use change and establishment inputs were assessed by comparison of selected treatment plots with two adjacent reference sites (long-term pasture and a 60–year Pinus radiata forest) on the same soil type. The effects of lime and N on soil biological quality were investigated under field and controlled environment conditions by determination of: microbial community structure (phospholipid fatty acids - PLFA), microbial biomass (total PLFA), and microbial activity (dehydrogenase activity). Soil physical (percentage water-stable aggregates) and chemical (pH, and total C and N) properties were also determined. Similarly, the effects of earthworm addition on soil biological properties were explored in a short-term glasshouse pot experiment. The role of earthworms as indicators of soil biological quality in the field was assumed by nematodes and these were assessed in field trial plots and the reference sites mentioned above. Land-use change and applications of lime and N contributed to changing the microbial community structure determined by principal component analysis of transformed PLFA data. However, the effect of lime was more pronounced in the field, while N contributed most to changing microbial community structure in the glasshouse. Mean microbial activity in the field increased from 4 µg dwt/hr without lime to 16 and 21 µg dwt/hr where lime was applied at 5 and 10 tons/hectare (t/ha), respectively. Mean microbial activity in the field was markedly higher (7-fold) than in the glasshouse at similar rates of lime. Lime application also increased soil moisture retention in the field, mean gravimetric soil moisture increased from 0.33 in control plots to 0.38 and 0.39 in plots treated with 5 and 10 t/ha lime, respectively. Lime application was associated with greater soil aggregate stability. Soils from test plots treated with 5 and 10 tons/ha lime had 45-50% water-stable aggregates compared to 34% in treatments without lime. After 16 weeks in pots, earthworm treatments increased mean plant dry matter (DM)/pot by at least 19% above the control. The increase was attributed primarily to greater N mineralization in the presence of earthworms. For the duration of the trial the earthworm species tested (Apporectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus, individually or combined) did not affect any of the measured soil microbial properties. However, the survival rate of A. caliginosa was 83% compared to 25% for L. rubellus. The control not receiving any lime or N and plots treated with 10t/ha lime and 200 kgN/ha had similar nematodes species composition, comprising 40% each of bacterial and fungal feeding nematodes. They differed markedly from the reference sites as the forest soil was dominated by plant associated species (38%) and the long-term pasture had 44% plant parasitic nematodes. Accordingly, the soil food web condition inferred from nematode faunal analysis characterized all test plots as basal, stressed and depleted, while the forest soil was categorized as highly structured and fungal dominated. The findings of this thesis demonstrated that land-use change from forest to pasture can have significant impacts on soil biological properties, earthworms can contribute to pasture productivity even in the short term, and nematode faunal analysis is a robust and reliable indicator of soil biological quality.

Recent declines in returns from primary forest products in New Zealand and projected increases in world food prices have led to the land-use conversion from plantation forest to pastoral farming in many lowland areas. After decades of forest cover the soils are in many cases less than adequate for pastoral farming, as they are acidic, with toxic levels of exchangeable aluminum, and contain low levels of available nitrogen (N), very high carbon (C):N ratio, and are devoid of earthworms and structural integrity. Overcoming the major site limitations of low soil pH and available N was a major priority and a field experiment was established in April 2005 to determine the impact of various rates of lime and N in relation to pasture establishment and production. Concerns about the short and long-term effects of these inputs on biological soil quality gave rise to the present study. The effects of land-use change and establishment inputs were assessed by comparison of selected treatment plots with two adjacent reference sites (long-term pasture and a 60–year Pinus radiata forest) on the same soil type. The effects of lime and N on soil biological quality were investigated under field and controlled environment conditions by determination of: microbial community structure (phospholipid fatty acids - PLFA), microbial biomass (total PLFA), and microbial activity (dehydrogenase activity). Soil physical (percentage water-stable aggregates) and chemical (pH, and total C and N) properties were also determined. Similarly, the effects of earthworm addition on soil biological properties were explored in a short-term glasshouse pot experiment. The role of earthworms as indicators of soil biological quality in the field was assumed by nematodes and these were assessed in field trial plots and the reference sites mentioned above. Land-use change and applications of lime and N contributed to changing the microbial community structure determined by principal component analysis of transformed PLFA data. However, the effect of lime was more pronounced in the field, while N contributed most to changing microbial community structure in the glasshouse. Mean microbial activity in the field increased from 4 µg dwt/hr without lime to 16 and 21 µg dwt/hr where lime was applied at 5 and 10 tons/hectare (t/ha), respectively. Mean microbial activity in the field was markedly higher (7-fold) than in the glasshouse at similar rates of lime. Lime application also increased soil moisture retention in the field, mean gravimetric soil moisture increased from 0.33 in control plots to 0.38 and 0.39 in plots treated with 5 and 10 t/ha lime, respectively. Lime application was associated with greater soil aggregate stability. Soils from test plots treated with 5 and 10 tons/ha lime had 45-50% water-stable aggregates compared to 34% in treatments without lime. After 16 weeks in pots, earthworm treatments increased mean plant dry matter (DM)/pot by at least 19% above the control. The increase was attributed primarily to greater N mineralization in the presence of earthworms. For the duration of the trial the earthworm species tested (Apporectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus, individually or combined) did not affect any of the measured soil microbial properties. However, the survival rate of A. caliginosa was 83% compared to 25% for L. rubellus. The control not receiving any lime or N and plots treated with 10t/ha lime and 200 kgN/ha had similar nematodes species composition, comprising 40% each of bacterial and fungal feeding nematodes. They differed markedly from the reference sites as the forest soil was dominated by plant associated species (38%) and the long-term pasture had 44% plant parasitic nematodes. Accordingly, the soil food web condition inferred from nematode faunal analysis characterized all test plots as basal, stressed and depleted, while the forest soil was categorized as highly structured and fungal dominated. The findings of this thesis demonstrated that land-use change from forest to pasture can have significant impacts on soil biological properties, earthworms can contribute to pasture productivity even in the short term, and nematode faunal analysis is a robust and reliable indicator of soil biological quality.

Soil is an important ecosystem and at the same time filter and storage for water. With respect to flood and erosion prevention, it is important to improve water retention and infiltration rates in soils to reduce surface run-off. The aim of the study is to quantify the influence of biogenic macropores on infiltration. The effect of the cropping system and management practices on macropore density and infiltration rate was examined. Soil hydraulic conductivity was determined by soil column experiments and field investigations using a hood infiltrometer and rainfall-simulation experiments. Macropores have a great effect on hydraulic conductivity. A large macropore-density results in high infiltration rates. This relationship is described with the skinfactor, applying the Erosion-2D model to adjust infiltration rates. Conservative agricultural management practices show positive effects on earthworm population and hence macropore density. The beneficial effects of no-tillage include less soil disturbance, greater quantities of crop-residues remaining on the soil surface and increased soil moisture.

\ / Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation biologie animale / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Dans un contexte où les préoccupations environnement-santé sont croissantes à l’échelle globale. Améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes de biodisponibilité et d’(éco)toxicité des polluants métalliques persistants est un enjeu prioritaire, notamment en raison de leur omniprésence observée dans les écosystèmes en relation avec leur compartimentation et spéciation . Le ver de terre est utilisé pour évaluer la qualité des sols ; de plus cet organisme du sol de par ses activités de bioturbation a une influence sur les cycles biogéochimiques. Des tests d’écotoxicité en conditions contrôlées sur vers de terre ont donc été réalisés avec différents sols et espèces de vers. Puis une étude d’impact sur les communautés de vers a été effectuée sur un site pollué présentant un gradient de concentration. L’influence de la bioturbation du ver sur la phytodisponibilité des polluants a été étudiée grâce à des expériences en mésocosmes. Finalement, des mesures de bioaccessibilité des polluants ont été réalisées in vitro sur des sols et végétaux pollués dans différents contextes : friches industrielles, jardins potagers, terrain de sport. L’objectif étant d’étudier le lien entre biodisponibilité pour l’homme, caractéristiques des sols et contexte de pollution. Deux approches complémentaires ont été développées : recherche scientifique liés aux mécanismes et développement d’outils, de procédures pratiques utilisables par les gestionnaires et évaluateurs de risques. L’écotoxicité des métaux et métalloïdes (notés ETM) sur les vers de terre n’est pas simplement régie par leurs concentrations totales, mais dépend fortement des caractéristiques physico-chimiques des sols. Par ailleurs, l’analyse des communautés de ver de terre présentes sur un site contaminé permet d’évaluer la qualité des sols puisqu’on constate un impact sur les l’abondance, la diversité et le taux de juvénile des vers. De plus, la bioturbation du ver de terre augmente significativement la biodisponibilité des ETM pour les plantes potagères telles que la laitue. Finalement, la bioaccessibilité humaine des ETM est régi par de nombreux facteurs liés en particulier au contexte de pollution. Cette fraction bioaccessible des ETM est directement responsable de leur cytotoxicité sur les cellules intestinales. Ces différents résultats ont été complétés par des études mécanistiques (IR, EXAFS, XANES, µ-XRF). / In a context where environmental health concerns are globally increasing. Improve understanding of the mechanisms and bioavailability (eco) toxicity of persistent metals pollutants is a priority, especially because of their observed omnipresence in ecosystems in relation to their compartmentation and speciation. The earthworm is used to assess soil quality; moreover this soil organism through its bioturbation activities affects biogeochemical cycles. Ecotoxicity tests under controlled circumstances on earthworms have been conducted with different soils and worms’ species. Then an impact study on earthworms’ communities was conducted on a polluted site showing a concentration gradient. The influence of earthworms’ bioturbation on phytoavailability of pollutants was studied through experiments in mesocosms and Rhizotest. Finally, in vitro measures of pollutants bioavailability were performed on polluted soils and plants in different contexts: brownfields, gardens, sports field. The objective is to study the link between bioavailability for humans, soil characteristics, context of pollution and toxicity. Two complementary approaches have been developed: scientific research related to the mechanisms and development of tools, practical procedures which could be used by managers and risk assessors. Ecotoxicity of metals and metalloid (denoted ETM) on earthworms is not simply governed by their total concentrations, but strongly depends on the physico-chemical characteristics of soils. Furthermore, analysis of earthworm communities from a contaminated site can evaluate the quality of soil since seen an impact on the abundance, diversity and rate of juvenile worms. In addition, earthworms’ bioturbation significantly increases the bioavailability of ETM for vegetable plants such as lettuce. Finally, the human bioaccessibility of ETM is governed by many factors, in particular the context of pollution. The bioaccessible fraction of ETM is directly responsible for their cytotoxicity on intestinal cells. These results were complemented by mechanistic studies (IR, EXAFS, XANES, μ-XRF).

Soil is an important ecosystem and at the same time filter and storage for water. With respect to flood and erosion prevention, it is important to improve water retention and infiltration rates in soils to reduce surface run-off. The aim of the study is to quantify the influence of biogenic macropores on infiltration. The effect of the cropping system and management practices on macropore density and infiltration rate was examined. Soil hydraulic conductivity was determined by soil column experiments and field investigations using a hood infiltrometer and rainfall-simulation experiments. Macropores have a great effect on hydraulic conductivity. A large macropore-density results in high infiltration rates. This relationship is described with the skinfactor, applying the Erosion-2D model to adjust infiltration rates. Conservative agricultural management practices show positive effects on earthworm population and hence macropore density. The beneficial effects of no-tillage include less soil disturbance, greater quantities of crop-residues remaining on the soil surface and increased soil moisture.:Abkürzungs- und Symbolverzeichnis Tabellenverzeichnis Abbildungsverzeichnis Danksagung Summary 1 Einleitung 1.1 Motivation und Ziel der Arbeit 2 Stand des Wissens 2.1 Grundlagen zum Wasserfluss im Boden 2.1.1 Beschreibung des Infiltrationsprozesses im Boden 2.2 Definition des Begriffes Makropore, deren Entstehung und Einflüsse im Boden 2.2.1 Zusammenhang zwischen Bodenbearbeitung und dem Vorhandensein von Makroporen 2.2.2 Einfluss der Makroporen auf den Wasserfluss und die Infiltration 2.3 Ansätze zur Modellierung des Makroporenflusses 2.3.1 Dual-Porositäts-Modelle 2.3.2 Einfache empirische Schätzverfahren 3 Material und Methoden 3.1 Standorte 3.2 Geländeversuche 3.2.1 Erfassung bodenphysikalischer Parameter 3.2.2 Ermittlung der hydraulischen Leitfähigkeit 3.2.2.1 Haubeninfiltrometermessungen 3.2.2.2 Beregnungsversuche 3.2.3 Erfassung des Makroporensystems 3.3 Säulenversuche 3.3.1 Vorversuche 3.3.2 Experimente mit L. terrestris 3.3.3 Experimente mit künstlichen Makroporen 3.3.4 Experimente ohne Makroporen 3.4 Ableitung des Modellparameters Skinfaktor 4 Ergebnisse 4.1 Ergebnisse der Geländeversuche am Standort Lüttewitz 4.1.1 Bodenphysikalische Parameter 4.1.2 Beregnungsexperimente 4.1.3 Hydraulische Leitfähigkeit 4.1.4 Makroporensystem 4.1.5 Auswertung der Tracerversuche am Standort Lüttewitz 4.2 Ergebnisse der Geländeversuche Standort Oberwinkel 4.2.1 Bodenphysikalische Parameter 4.2.2 Beregnungsexperimente 4.2.3 Makroporensystem 4.2.4 Skinfaktorenermittlung 4.3 Ergebnisse aus den Säulenversuchen 4.3.1 Verteilung der Grabgänge 4.3.2 Messung der hydraulischen Leitfähigkeit 5 Interpretation und Diskussion der Ergebnisse 5.1 Experimente im Gelände 5.1.1 Vergleich der kf-Werte aus Haubeninfiltrometermessung und Beregnung 5.2 Auswertung und Interpretation der Ergebnisse aus den Säulenversuchen 5.3 Vergleich Makroporenkennwerte mit bodenhydrologischen Messgrößen 5.4 Vergleich Makroporenkennwerte mit Modellparametern 5.5 Einfluss der Bewirtschaftung 6 Zusammenfassung Literaturverzeichnis