Abstract
Pollution of soils with heavy metals is particularly dangerous to living organisms. Invertebrates are sensitive to changes in soil conditions, and, therefore, may be considered invaluable indicators of soil disruptions. This study has been undertaken to determine heavy metal content in the in soil and extracted soil fauna in two types of forest habitats of Niepolomice Forest and to establish their impact on pedofauna– their density, diversity and trophic structure. The investigated sites varied in the soil or humus type, and the composition of forest stand and ground cover. The analysis of the pH value showed that the studied soils had acidic (pH 4.45-4.85). Small differences were observed in the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickiel, zinc and copper) in soil humid forest and fresh mixed forest. It results from the studies that the heavy metal content did not exceed the standards set out for the soils of Poland . The bioconcentration factor shows that both saprophytes and predatory invertebrates collected the largest amounts of zinc and smaller amounts of cadmium, and the remaining metals were collected in the following order: Cu> Ni> Pb. The results obtained show that the tested heavy metals could have an impact on the density and diversity of meso-and macrofauna. Probably soil fauna affected by other factors (soil moisture, organic matter content, type of humus) .
Highlights
Soil is the key element of geoecosystem, an entity characterized by specific physical, chemical and biological properties which have developed as a result of long-term impact of natural soil-formation processes as well as agricultural and non-agricultural human activities (Haslmayr et al 2016)
Invertebrates are sensitive to changes in soil conditions, and, may be considered invaluable indicators of soil disruptions (Butovsky 2011, Santorufo et al 2012)
The aim of this study was to determine the content of the heavy metals Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn and Cu in the soil of selected habitats of Niepołomice Forest and the fauna inhabiting them, and to determine the effect of these metals on the density, diversity and trophic structure of the fauna studied
Summary
Soil is the key element of geoecosystem, an entity characterized by specific physical, chemical and biological properties which have developed as a result of long-term impact of natural soil-formation processes as well as agricultural and non-agricultural human activities (Haslmayr et al 2016). Chemical pollution of the environment, attributable to economic and technological activities of humans, results in various deformations of natural circulation of trace elements in the environment (Gorlach and Gambuś 1991). Pollution of soils with heavy metals is dangerous to living organisms (Laskowski et al 1995, Skwaryło-Bednarz 2006). Correct assessment of soil pollution with heavy metals and the threats resulting there from is very important to the environment, and, to living organisms. The presence of trace metals in the soil and plants is an environmental indicator (El-Falakay et al 1991). That is why there is a need to systematically monitor their content in environmental components
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