Comparison of the influence of an artificial and a natural soil on the behaviour of Enchytraeus albidus – laboratory tests

Abstract

Enchytraeids are able to avoid unfavourable environmental conditions, especially contaminated areas. Tests were made in order to compare the toxicity in two different soils: OECD artificial soil and LUFA 2.2 natural standard soil. Enchytraeids were exposed to the soils spiked with the fungicides Benomyl and Carbendazim and the herbicide Phenmedipham. The results indicate that the tested soils induced different effects on the organisms: LUFA 2.2 soil was apparently preferred by the organisms and allowed more accurate effect level concentration calculations.