Abstract
Purpose
Changes in the behavior of earthworms (for example avoidance of a particular substrate) can influence the soil ecosystem. Our aim was to determine whether the earthworms Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris are able to avoid ivermectin (a veterinary endectocide belonging to the avermectins). A standard avoidance test with earthworms was conducted using standardized Lufa 2.3 soil (Speyer, Germany) and sandy soil provided by Cinkarna Celje (Slovenia).
Materials and methods
A two-chamber system of avoidance test as described in ISO guideline 17512-1 (ISO 2008) was applied. We investigated the substrate preference of E. fetida and L. terrestris after 48 h at ivermectin concentrations of 8, 32, 64, and 256 mg kg−1 dry soil.
Results and discussion
No deterrent effects were observed for either species and either soil types. E. fetida in Lufa 2.3 soil was clearly attracted to ivermectin. More than 70% of the earthworms preferred soil with ivermectin concentrations of 8, 64, and 256 mg kg−1. No observed effect concentration and lowest observed effect concentration, 2-day exposure, for effects on the avoidance of both species are >256 mg kg−1 dry soil in two different soils.
Conclusions
High percentage of earthworms in the test soil was observed in the experiment with E. fetida in Lufa 2.3 soil treated with 8, 64, and 256 mg ivermectin kg−1. We can conclude that earthworms, as it was observed in E. fetida in Lufa 2.3 soil treated with ivermectin, may be attracted by some chemicals. The percentage of L. terrestris in soil from Cinkarna Celje treated with ivermectin ranged from 39% to 52% and of E. fetida from 33% to 55%.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency, Grant J4-9277. Our thanks go to Erik Zidar and Katarina Babnik for technical support. Special thanks to Dr. Jörg Römbke who provided numerous scientific advices during our work.
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Torkhani, A.L., Eržen, N.K., Kolar, L. et al. Does ivermectin attract earthworms?. J Soils Sediments 11, 124–128 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-010-0284-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-010-0284-5