Effects of pentachlorophenol and biotic interactions on soil fauna and decomposition in humus soil.

In a laboratory experiment, effects of chemical stress (pentachlorophenol, PCP, at concentrations of 0, 50, and 500 mg/kg) and biotic interactions (nematodes in the presence or absence of collembolas and enchytraeids) on the community structure of soil animals and decomposition processes were studied. PCP was strongly adsorbed to humus that contained 65% organic matter. Numbers of fungal-feeding nematodes decreased significantly at the highest PCP concentration, while no effects were found in bacterial feeders. There were differences in the numbers of nematodes between different animal combinations, but at the highest PCP concentration, collembolas and enchytraeids had no effect on them. Numbers of collembola Willemia anophtalma were lowered at the highest PCP concentration, although PCP was not acutely toxic at this concentration. The highest PCP concentration was acutely toxic to enchytraeids, and for an unknown reason all of them died in the main experiment. Both ATP content of the soil and soil respiration were reduced at the highest PCP concentration, while no differences were found between animal treatments. Amounts of NH4-N and PO4-P in the soil increased with increasing PCP concentration. It was concluded that in the presence of simple animal communities, harmful chemicals like PCP regulate the community structure of soil animals as well as decomposition and nutrient mobilization.