Interaction of Invertebrates and Synthetic Polymers in Soil: A Review
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raction of Invertebrates and Synthetic Polymers in Soil: A Review V. D. Leonova, * and A. V. Tiunova aSevertsov
Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071 Russia *e-mail: [email protected] Received March 28, 2020; revised April 18, 2020; accepted May 13, 2020
Abstract—Plastic pollution of the environment (including soil) is one of the world’s great problems; however, little is known about the effect of synthetic polymers on the soil community. This review summarizes the results of experimental research on the effects of plastic on different groups of soil animals (21 studies) and soil animals on plastic in the soil (13 studies). The presence of microplastic in soil has a negative influence on nematodes, collembolans, pot worms, and earthworms. The mechanisms of this influence often involve damage or dysfunction of the digestive system. On the other hand, soil animals can contribute to the mechanical degradation of plastics and stimulate their microbial degradation in soil. Based on the extensive experience in studying the consequences of plastic pollution of marine ecosystems, we discuss the main problems, tasks, and prospects of studies on the interaction between plastic and soil animals. Keywords: macrofauna, mesofauna, ecosystem engineers, detritivores, microplastic, macroplastic, destruction, toxicants DOI: 10.1134/S1067413620060041
The interaction of soil animals with artificial polymers entering the soil is inevitable but as yet poorly studied. This review presents the available data on the effect of plastic on soil animals and effect of pedobionts on plastic entering the soil. Based on rich experience in studying the consequences of plastic pollution
The increasing plastic pollution of the World Ocean and fresh water bodies has long been recognized as an essential threat in the environmental, economic, and social spheres [3–5]. The consequences of plastic pollution of marine ecosystems have been investigated in hundreds of studies [6, 7]. Plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems, including the soil, has also reached alarming proportions [8], but environmental problems related to this have received much less attention [9–11] (Fig. 1). As a rule, plastic in terrestrial ecosystems enters the soil, and its fate is determined by the capacity of the soil for recovery. Organic matter is decomposed in the soil mainly by organisms of the detrital food web, but its abiotic decomposition is also important [12, 13]. Soil animals are an essential part of the detrital food web, which performs important functions, such as the regulation of microorganism activity, mechanical degradation of organic fragments and their transport in the soil profile, and, in some ecosystems, the formation of this profile itself [14–17]. 503
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Environmental pollution with synthetic polymers is one of the major environmental problems. Plastics are ubiquitous in all natural media and affect the planet’s biota and human well-being. Plastic pollution can interact with other glo
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