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Ring-Testing and Field-Validation of a Terrestrial Model Ecosystem (TME) – An Instrument for Testing Potentially Harmful Substances: Conceptual Approach and Study Design

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Abstract

During spring and summer 1999 a ring-test and field-validation study with an open, intact Terrestrial Model Ecosystem (TME) was conducted at four different European sites (Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Bangor, U.K.; Coimbra, Portugal; Flörsheim, Germany). The objective of the study was to establish a standardised method which allows the impact of chemical stressors on terrestrial compartments at ecosystem level to be investigated and possible uses of such data in existing Environmental Risk Assessments (ERAs) for chemicals to be evaluated. This issue of Ecotoxicology presents in a series of papers the results of the TME ring-test and field-validation study. Additionally, results derived from an open-homogeneous terrestrial microcosm (Integrated Soil Microcosm, ISM) are included in this series as a separate paper. In this first paper of the series background information on the planning and organisation of the study are given. The conceptual approach and the design of the study with TMEs are briefly outlined, based on the scientific discussion on the use of terrestrial microcosms in ecology and applied environmental sciences during the last 25 years. Further, some suggestions are presented on the selection of measurement endpoints to quantify structural and functional aspects of terrestrial ecosystems. Finally, the main results of the TME-study are summarised and conclusions are drawn on the technical feasibility of TMEs, their comparability with field studies and the potential use of TMEs in ERA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böettgerstr. 2-14, D-65439, Flöersheim am Main, Germany

    Thomas Knacker, Hans-Joachim Schallnaß & Bernhard Förster

  2. Institute of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Cornelis A.M. van Gestel

  3. School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Bangor, Gwynedd, University of Wales, LL57 2UW, Wales, UK

    Susan E. Jones

  4. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Amadeu M.V.M. Soares

  5. Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Clive A. Edwards

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  1. Thomas Knacker
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  2. Cornelis A.M. van Gestel
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  3. Susan E. Jones
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Correspondence to Thomas Knacker.

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Knacker, T., van Gestel, C.A., Jones, S.E. et al. Ring-Testing and Field-Validation of a Terrestrial Model Ecosystem (TME) – An Instrument for Testing Potentially Harmful Substances: Conceptual Approach and Study Design. Ecotoxicology 13, 9–27 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ECTX.0000012402.38786.01

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