The effects of mancozeb and lindane on the soil microfauna of a spruce forest: A field study using a completely randomized block design

Summary

The effects of mancozeb (fungicide) and lindane (insecticide) were investigated in active soil ciliates, testaceans, rotifers, and nematodes. The effects were evaluated 1, 7, 15, 40, 65, and 90 days after application of a standard and a high (10x) dose. Individual numbers were estimated with a direct counting method. Mancozeb, even at the high dose, had no pronounced acute or long-term effects on absolute numbers of the taxa investigated. The number of ciliate species, which decreased 1 day after treatment with the normal dose (0.05 <P < 0.1), soon recovered. However, the community structure of ciliate species was still slightly altered after 90 days. Testaceans were not reduced before day 15 at the higher dose or before day 40 at the normal one (0.05 <P < 0.1). A normal dose of lindane caused acute toxicity in ciliates and rotifers (P < 0.05) but the latter soon recovered. The number and community structure of ciliate species were still distinctly altered after 90 days (0.05 <P <0.1), indicating the critical influence of lindane. Testaceans were reduced only after day 15, and nematodes only on day 40 (0.05 <P < 0.1). At the high dose of lindane severe long-term effects occurred in soil moisture, total rotifers (P < 0.05), total nematodes (0.05 <P <0.1), and in the structure of the ciliate community. Generally, there were marked differences in the effect of the normal and the high dose of lindane but not with mancozeb. Ciliates showed very pronounced changes after the pesticide applications, indicating their usefulness for testing biocides under field conditions. Testaceans were more resistant than ciliates.