Are enchytraeid worms (Oligochaeta) sensitive indicators of ammonia-N impacts on an ombrotrophic bog?

Abstract

Enchytraeid worms (Oligochaeta) are the dominant mesofauna in wet acidic habitats. They have key roles in biogeochemical cycling, and can be used as biological indicators. Here we report the response of these worms to in situ ammonia-N (NH 3-N) deposition on an ombrotrophic bog. Three years of NH 3-N fumigation from an automated release system has created a gradient of NH 3-N concentrations downwind of the release pipe ranging from 83 μg m −3 (near source) to 4.5 μg m −3 NH 3-N (60 m from release pipe); the ambient NH 3-N concentration is 0.56 μg m −3 NH 3-N. Peat pH and mineral N content have increased near the ammonia release pipe. We hypothesised that enhanced N deposition at the site would have improved litter quality and thus, enchytraeid distribution would be increased along the transect compared to ambient. However, neither litter quality nor enchytraeid abundance and diversity were affected by NH 3-N despite increases in peat pH and mineral N. This suggests that three years of ammonia fumigation was not enough time for plant matter exposed to ammonia to become incorporated into the peat litter layer. Enchytraeids appear not to be sensitive indicators of NH 3 fumigation because there was no effect below-ground of peat chemistry on litter quality.