Impacts of climate change – simulated flooding and drought events – on terrestrial invertebrates (Enchytraeids and Collembolans)

Abstract

● Impacts of soil moisture levels from 10% to 100% on two soil invertebrates.

● E. crypticus and F. candida survived at extreme scenarios (10% and 100%).

● For both species, reproduction was severely reduced in extreme scenarios.

● Higher adaptative phenotypic plasticity for F. candida compared to E. crypticus .

Knowledge on impacts of climate change on soil invertebrate communities is scarce. Amongst the biggest challenges are the increase in temperature and arid regions, while at the same time, in other parts of the planet, extreme precipitation events and flooding occur. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impacts of drought and flooding in soil invertebrates. Enchytraeus crypticus and Folsomia candida, model ecotoxicology test-species (OECD) were used to assess performance (survival, reproduction, size) in LUFA 2.2 soil moistened to 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% of the soil water holding capacity (WHC). Overall, both species had high tolerance for drought and flooding scenarios, with survival threshold for E. crypticus being between 10% and 90% moisture and for F. candida being between 10% and 100% moisture. Reproduction decreased from moisture ≤30% and >70% moisture. In drought there was a decrease on adults’ size, for both species from ≤30% moisture. The morphological adaptations observed support evidence of adaptative phenotypic plasticity for both species, but highest for F. candida. A redistribution of soil invertebrate species can be expected to occur, this under the present and future climate change scenarios, with new and more tolerant species to prevail in different habitats. This will impact not only soil biodiversity structure, but also its function.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

climate change / soil moisture / phenotypic plasticity / biodiversity / ecosystem services

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