Abstract
Soils host highly diverse organism communities organized in complex food webs that strongly contribute to biological soil functions. However, it is a problem to evaluate these contributions because there are only few methods available which directly address soil functioning and ecosystem services. In fact, there are just two functional methods, which are useful for assessing quantitavely the activity of soil organisms, especially invertebrates. Both are related to organic matter decomposition (and thus nutrient cycling): the litter-bag-test in which mass loss of organic material is measured, but takes a long time, and the bait-lamina test, which is used to measure soil invertebrates’ feeding activity and its vertical distribution in situ. Both methods are internationally standardized. Currently, the use of the bait-lamina test seems to increase, mainly because it has been recommended for regulatory applications. The experiences with the bait-lamina test as described in the literature including the paper of Musso et al. (2014) are a good basis for improvements to be recommended, such as performing a preliminary test for the identification of the most appropriate study duration, using a standard bait material (i.e. to facilitate the comparison of data sets from different studies), and optimizing the “classic” study design in order to increase the statistical power of the test.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bispo A, Cluzeau D, Creamer R, Dombos M, Graefe U, Krogh PH, Sousa JP, Peres G, Rutgers M, Winding A, Römbke J (2009) Indicators for monitoring soil biodiversity. Integr Environ Assess Manag 5:717–719
Bouché MB (1977) Stratéegies lombriciennes. In: Lohm, U. & Persson, T. (Eds.): Soil organisms as components of ecosystems. Ecol Bull NFR 25:122–132
Briones MJI (2014) Soil fauna and soil functions: a jigsaw puzzle. Front Environ Sci. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2014, 00007
Brussaard L, Pulleman MM, Oue’draogo E, Mandod A, Six J (2007) Soil fauna and soil function in the fabric of the food web. Pedobiologia 50:447–462
De Bello F, Lavorel S, Dıaz S, Harrington R, Cornelissen JHC, Bardgett RD, Berg MP, Cipriotti P, Feld CK, Hering D, Martins da Silva P, Potts SG, Sandin L, Sousa JP, Storkey J, Wardle DA, Harrison PA (2010) Towards an assessment of multiple ecosystem processes and services via functional traits. Biol Conserv 19:2873–2893
EFSA (2010) Scientific opinion on the importance of the soil litter layer in agricultural areas on the importance of the soil litter layer in agricultural areas. EFSA J 8:1625. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1625
Eisenhauer N, Wirsch D, Cesarz S, Craven D, Dietrich P, Friese J, Helm J, Hines J, Schellenberg M, Scherreiks P, Schwarz B, Uhe C, Wagner K, Steinauer K (2014) Organic textile dye improves the visual assessment of the bait-lamina test. Appl Soil Ecol 82:78–81
Faber JH, Creamer RE, Mulder C, Römbke J, Rutgers M, Sousa JP, Stone D, Griffiths BS (2013) The practicalities and pitfalls of establishing a policy-relevant and cost-effective soil biological monitoring scheme. Integr Environ Assess Manag 9:276–284
Förster B, Boxall A, Jensen J, Moser T, Pope L, Römbke J (2011) Fate and effects of ivermectin on soil invertebrates in terrestrial model ecosystems. Ecotoxicology 20:234–245
Hamel C, Schellenberg MP, Hanson K, Wang H (2007) Evaluation of the “bait-lamina test” to assess soil microfauna feeding activity in mixed grassland. Appl Soil Ecol 36:199–204
Helling B, Pfeif G, Larink O (1998) A comparison of feeding activity of collembolan and enchytraeid in laboratory studies using the bait-lamina test. Appl Soil Ecol 7:202–212
Irmler U (1998) Spatial heterogeneity of biotic activity in the soil of a beech wood and consequences for the application of the bait lamina-test. Pedobiologia 42:102–108
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) (2014) Soil quality — Method for testing effects of soil contaminants on the feeding activity of soil dwelling organisms — Bait-lamina test. ISO/CD 18311. Geneva, Switzerland
Kampmann T (1994) Entwicklung eines standardisierten Labortests mit Köderstreifen für ökotoxikologische Prüfungen: erste Vorversuche. Braunschw Naturkdl Schr 4:681–686
Lavelle P, Bignell D, Lepage M (1997) Soil function in a changing world: the role of invertebrate ecosystem engineers. Eur J Soil Biol 33:159–193
Mulder C, Boit A, Bonkowski M, De Ruiter PC, Mancinelli G, Van der Heijden MGA, Van Wijnen HJ, Vonk JA, Rutgers M (2011) A belowground perspective on Dutch agroecosystems: how soil organisms interact to support ecosystem services. Adv Ecol Res 44:277–357
Musso C, Miranda HS, Soares AMVM, Loureiro S (2014) Biological activity in Cerrado soils: Evaluation of vegetation, fire and seasonality effects using the “bait-lamina test”. Plant and Soil, this issue
OECD (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development) (2006) OECD Series on Testing and Assessment No. 56. Guidance document on the breakdown of organic matter in litterbags. ENV/JM/MONO 23. Paris, France
Ritz K, Black HIJ, Campbell CD, Harris JA, Wood C (2009) Selecting biological indicators for monitoring soils: a framework for balancing scientific and technical opinion to assist policy development. Ecol Indicat 9:1212–1221
Römbke J, Heimbach F, Hoy S, Kula C, Scott-Fordsmand J, Sousa P, Stephenson G, Weeks J (eds) (2003) Effects of plant protection products on functional endpoints in soil (EPFES Lisboa 2002). SETAC Publ, Pensacola, p 92
Römbke J, Höfer H, Garcia MVB, Martius C (2006) Feeding activities of soil organisms at four different forest sites in Amazonia using the bait lamina method. J Trop Ecol 22:313–320
Simpson JE, Slade E, Riutta T, Taylor ME (2012) Factors affecting soil fauna feeding activity in a fragmented lowland temperate deciduous woodland. PLoS One 7(1):e29616. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029616
Stockdale EA, Watson CA (2012) Managing soil biota to deliver ecosystem services. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 100. 141 pp
Turbé A, De Toni A, Benito P, Lavelle P, Lavelle P, Ruiz N, Van der Putten WH, Labouze E, Mudgal S (2010) Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers. Bio Intelligence Service, IRD, and NIOO, Report for European Commission (DG Environment)
Van Gestel CAM, Kruidenier M, Berg MP (2003) Suitability of wheat straw decomposition, cotton strip degradation and bait-lamina feeding tests to determine soil invertebrate activity. Biol Fert Soils 37:115–123
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Römbke, J. The feeding activity of invertebrates as a functional indicator in soil. Plant Soil 383, 43–46 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2195-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2195-5