Rüdiger Schmelz - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Rüdiger Schmelz
2015 was the United Nations International Year of Soils and, for the first time, soils and the li... more 2015 was the United Nations International Year of Soils and, for the first time, soils and the life within them were in the spotlight globally. An international group of experts and scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), in close collaboration with colleagues from the Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, have produced the first ever Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas. Soils are vital for human survival and underpin many sectors of our economy. It is estimated that 99% of the world’s food comes from the terrestrial environment. But soils are also home to over a quarter of global biodiversity. Millions of soil-dwelling organisms promote essential ecosystem services – from plant growth to food production. They support biodiversity, benefit human health, promote the regulation of nutrient cycles that in turn influence climate, and represent an unexplored capital of natural sources. Our knowledge of ...
Applied Soil Ecology, 2014
In the framework of the German-Brazilian project SOLOBIOMA ('Soil biota and biogeochemistry i... more In the framework of the German-Brazilian project SOLOBIOMA ('Soil biota and biogeochemistry in the Southern Atlantic rainforests of Brazil'), soil invertebrates were sampled in different regeneration stages of forest: pastures, young, medium and advanced secondary forests as well as old-growth forests. Thirty-nine study sites were located in two private nature reserves situated in neighbouring regions of the southern Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) in Paraná, Brazil. All sites were characterized in terms of climate, history of use (age), vegetation, and soil properties. Here we report on the species diversity of pot worms (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae) in these sites, sampled with ISO standard methods. At each site ten soil cores of 5.7 cm diameter were taken once between 2003 and 2008, wet extracted and all pot worms identified alive soon after sampling. Most of the 61 species found in this study were new to science. The enchytraeid fauna of the region is dominated by specie...
Zoosymposia
The discovery of a large and flourishing population of Phreodrilidae in terrestrial peatlands in ... more The discovery of a large and flourishing population of Phreodrilidae in terrestrial peatlands in northwest Ireland was surprising on two counts: these oligochaete worms are usually aquatic and most of the species occur in the Southern Hemisphere. The phreodrilids were discovered in a project that targeted Enchytraeidae, therefore methods adapted to the investigation of enchytraeids could be applied, including the study of living animals and properly fixed whole mounts. DNA sequencing was also performed. All worms identified here belong to one species, new to science, and placed in the genus Astacopsidrilus, because of the ventral position of the spermathecal pores and the opening of the female funnels inside the spermathecal vestibule. Astacopsidrilus hibernicus sp. nov. is mainly distinguished by thick segmental cushions of epidermal gland cells on the dorsal side of the posterior body half. Male sexual organs and spermathecae are comparatively small and without the often-observed ...
Zootaxa
Among terrestrial enchytraeid oligochaetes, species of the genus Achaeta are conspicuous by their... more Among terrestrial enchytraeid oligochaetes, species of the genus Achaeta are conspicuous by their complete absence of chaetae. Knowledge of Achaeta species in South America is scarce, only four species were known so far. Here we describe three more species of Achaeta from South America, A. hanagarthi, A. paranensis and A. singularis spp. nov., and we provide revised and type-based redescriptions of A. neotropica Č ernosvitov, 1937 and A. piti Bittencourt, 1974. The species were found in the framework of the German-Brazilian project " SOLOBIOMA, Soil biota and biogeochemistry in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil", which monitors forest regeneration on previously degraded areas by comparing successional stages from pastures to old-growth forests. Species descriptions are based on observations of specimens in vivo and as stained whole mounts; special attention is given to variations among specimens. The three new species are ascribed to a single author (Schmelz). They lack py...
Zootaxa
Seven new species of terrestrial Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) are described from soils of the sout... more Seven new species of terrestrial Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) are described from soils of the southern Brazilian Atlantic rain forest. They were found in the framework of the German-Brazilian project SOLOBIOMA, which studied rain forest recovery. Specimens were investigated in vivo and as stained whole mounts. Three species belong to a new genus, named Xetadrilus. Xetadrilus is similar to Guaranidrilus Č ernosvitov, 1937 and Tupidrilus Righi, 1974; it differs in the absence of lateral chaetae from segment VIII on and in peculiar structures of the prostomium: ganglia, inner papillae, and a frontal epithelial recess. Further peculiarities are small body size, absence of oesophageal appendages, and a variable pattern of pharyngeal glands. The three species are named X. maacki, X. aphanus, and X. fabryi. Three further nominal species are transferred to Xetadrilus: Marionina pituca Righi, 1974, Marionina righiana Xie & Rota, 2001, and Stercutus ugandensis Bell, 1954. The other four new sp...
Zootaxa, Jan 21, 2018
Enchytraeus polatdemiri sp. nov. (Enchytaeidae, Oligochaeta) was discovered in the framework of a... more Enchytraeus polatdemiri sp. nov. (Enchytaeidae, Oligochaeta) was discovered in the framework of a sampling campaign of the benthic invertebrate fauna of the hyperalkaline Lake Van in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, the third-largest closed lake and the largest soda lake on Earth. It was the only oligochaete species found in all samples. DNA sequencing included a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and a fragment of the nuclear histone 3 (H3) gene. For comparison, specimens from laboratory cultures of E. albidus Henle, 1837, a widespread and morphologically similar species, were sequenced as well. The new species differs from E. albidus in comparatively small body size, 2 or 3 chaetae per bundle, saddle-shaped clitellum, absence of a copulatory field between the male pores and vasa deferentia usually not extending beyond the clitellum. The individual gene trees of COI and H3, as well as the combined phylogenetic analysis of both trees, recovered Enchytr...
Zootaxa
A new species of the oligochaete genus Pristina (Naididae) is described from Central Amazonian so... more A new species of the oligochaete genus Pristina (Naididae) is described from Central Amazonian soil and litter samples. Investigations were carried out on living and preserved material, with emphasis on characters of the soft-bodied anatomy as seen in living specimens, including the sexual organs. Regarding the chaetal pattern, Pristina trifida is almost indistinguishable from the syntopic P. silvicola Collado & Schmelz, 2000. Conspicuous differences exist, however, in the presence of a stomach with intracellular canals, in the location of the first nephridium in segment IX, and in details of the male reproductive system such as a large prostate gland and a widening of the distal part of the vas deferens. The new species resembles also a group of taxonomically problematic species, P. sima, P. minuta, and P. osborni, whose synonymy has been assumed by several authors. Pristina trifida differs from this group mainly by smaller needle and ventral chaetae and by equally long teeth in th...
Frontiers in Environmental Science
Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) are often considered to be typical forestliving organisms, ... more Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) are often considered to be typical forestliving organisms, but they are regularly found in agroecosystems of the temperate regions of the world. Although less known than their larger relatives, the earthworms, these saprophagous organisms play similar roles in agricultural soils (but at a smaller scale), e.g., influencing soil structure and organic matter dynamics via microbial communities, and having a central place in soil food webs. Their diversity is rarely studied or often underestimated due to difficulties in distinguishing the species. New genetic techniques reveal that even in anthropogenically highly influenced soils, more than 10 species per site can be found. Because of their close contact with the soil pore water, a high ingestion rate and a thin cuticle, they often react very sensitively to a broad range of pesticides. Firstly we provide a short overview of the diversity and abundance of enchytraeid communities in agroecosystems. Afterwards, we explore the available data on enchytraeid sensitivity toward pesticides at different levels of biological organization, focusing on pesticides used in (mainly) European agroecosystems. Starting with non-standardized studies on the effects of pesticides on the sub-individual level, we compile the results of standard laboratory tests performed following OECD and ISO guidelines as well as those of higher-tier studies (i.e., semi-field and field tests). The number of comparable test data is still limited, because tests with enchytraeids are not a regulatory requirement in the European Union. While focusing on the effects of pesticides, attention is also given to their interactions with environmental stressors (e.g., climate change). In conclusion, we recommend to increase the use of enchytraeids in pesticide risk assessment because of their diversity and functional importance as well as their increasingly simplified use in (mostly standardized) tests at all levels of biological organization.
The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature
The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature
Applied Soil Ecology
ABSTRACT
Environmental research, May 1, 2017
Soil provides many ecosystem services that are essential to maintain its quality and healthy deve... more Soil provides many ecosystem services that are essential to maintain its quality and healthy development of the flora, fauna and human well-being. Environmental mercury levels may harm the survival and diversity of the soil fauna. In this respect, efforts have been made to establish limit values of mercury (Hg) in soils to terrestrial fauna. Soil organisms such as earthworms and enchytraeids have intimate contact with trace metals in soil by their oral and dermal routes, reflecting the potentially adverse effects of this contaminant. The main goal of this study was to obtain Hg critical concentrations under normal and extreme conditions of moisture in tropical soils to Enchytraeus crypticus to order to assess if climate change may potentiate their acute and chronic toxicity effects. Tropical soils were sampled from of two Forest Conservation Units of the Rio de Janeiro State - Brazil, which has been contaminated by Hg atmospheric depositions. Worms were exposed to three moisture con...
The Science of the total environment, Aug 18, 2016
Biosolids have well-documented crop and soil benefits similar to other sources of organic amendme... more Biosolids have well-documented crop and soil benefits similar to other sources of organic amendment, but there is environmental concern due to biosolids-associated pollutants. The present study investigated two field sites that had received biosolids at commercial-scale rates in parallel to associated field sections which were managed similarly but without receiving biosolids (controls). The investigated endpoints were abundance and diversity of soil organisms (nematodes, enchytraeids and earthworms) and soil fauna feeding activity as measured by the bait lamina assay. Repeated sampling of one of the field sites following the only biosolids application demonstrated an enrichment effect typical for organic amendments, which was mostly exhausted after 44months. After an initial suppression, the proportion of free-living plant-parasitic nematodes tended to increase in the biosolids-amended soil over time. Yet, none of the endpoints at this site indicated significant negative effects re...
Ecotoxicology (London, England), Jan 7, 2015
Today's ecosystems are influenced by different factors that could evolve into stressors. Effe... more Today's ecosystems are influenced by different factors that could evolve into stressors. Effects of pesticides, especially in agricultural areas, may interact with environmental factors, such as soil moisture fluctuation caused by global climate change. In this contribution, two semi-field studies conducted in Germany and Portugal with terrestrial model ecosystems are presented. Their aim was to assess the effects of the fungicide pyrimethanil under different soil moisture levels on Enchytraeidae. In Portugal a no observed effect concentration design was chosen, using two concentration levels: the maximum application rate (MAR) according to the safe use registration within the European Union and five times the MAR (1.82 and 9.09 mg/kg dry soil, respectively). Both concentrations did neither affect the total enchytraeid abundance nor single populations. In Germany an ECx design (effect concentration) was conducted, using 11 concentrations. In general, 14 EC50 values for different...
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2015
One objective in organic farming is to sustain the quality of the soil resource. Because enchytra... more One objective in organic farming is to sustain the quality of the soil resource. Because enchytraeids are an important soil faunal component, they stand as bioindicators of soil quality. We tested this candidature in a field experiment on loamy sand soil with 1- and 4-year old grass-clover leys subject to contrasting management regimes (cutting, slurry injection, grazing). Enchytraeid density, biomass and species composition was determined in 0–18 cm soil sampled in October, and again in March and May before and after slurry application, respectively. For soils retrieved in October, ley age had no consistent impact on enchytraeid density and biomass. Injection of slurry significantly affected the enchytraeid community at one sampling only but tended to sustain higher enchytraeid abundance in 1-year old leys throughout the year. One persistent feature was a larger enchytraeid community in the autumn than in the spring, regardless of management regime. Compared with leys used for cutting, grazed leys had consistently lower enchytraeid density and biomass. This was ascribed to soil compaction induced by heifer trampling. The number of species ranged from 11 to 18 in the autumn and from 7 to 13 in the spring with no distinct relation to management. Simpson's index of diversity did not differ among sampling dates and management regimes, including ley age. Although the enchytraeid community to some extent reflected differences in management regime, the patchy distribution and management induced interactions among soil physical, chemical and biological properties suggest that enchytraeid abundance is not a feasible stand-alone indicator of management impacts on soil quality in temporary grass-clover leys but may candidate as one of several biological key parameters in more comprehensive soil quality assessment schemes.
2015 was the United Nations International Year of Soils and, for the first time, soils and the li... more 2015 was the United Nations International Year of Soils and, for the first time, soils and the life within them were in the spotlight globally. An international group of experts and scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), in close collaboration with colleagues from the Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, have produced the first ever Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas. Soils are vital for human survival and underpin many sectors of our economy. It is estimated that 99% of the world’s food comes from the terrestrial environment. But soils are also home to over a quarter of global biodiversity. Millions of soil-dwelling organisms promote essential ecosystem services – from plant growth to food production. They support biodiversity, benefit human health, promote the regulation of nutrient cycles that in turn influence climate, and represent an unexplored capital of natural sources. Our knowledge of ...
Applied Soil Ecology, 2014
In the framework of the German-Brazilian project SOLOBIOMA ('Soil biota and biogeochemistry i... more In the framework of the German-Brazilian project SOLOBIOMA ('Soil biota and biogeochemistry in the Southern Atlantic rainforests of Brazil'), soil invertebrates were sampled in different regeneration stages of forest: pastures, young, medium and advanced secondary forests as well as old-growth forests. Thirty-nine study sites were located in two private nature reserves situated in neighbouring regions of the southern Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) in Paraná, Brazil. All sites were characterized in terms of climate, history of use (age), vegetation, and soil properties. Here we report on the species diversity of pot worms (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae) in these sites, sampled with ISO standard methods. At each site ten soil cores of 5.7 cm diameter were taken once between 2003 and 2008, wet extracted and all pot worms identified alive soon after sampling. Most of the 61 species found in this study were new to science. The enchytraeid fauna of the region is dominated by specie...
Zoosymposia
The discovery of a large and flourishing population of Phreodrilidae in terrestrial peatlands in ... more The discovery of a large and flourishing population of Phreodrilidae in terrestrial peatlands in northwest Ireland was surprising on two counts: these oligochaete worms are usually aquatic and most of the species occur in the Southern Hemisphere. The phreodrilids were discovered in a project that targeted Enchytraeidae, therefore methods adapted to the investigation of enchytraeids could be applied, including the study of living animals and properly fixed whole mounts. DNA sequencing was also performed. All worms identified here belong to one species, new to science, and placed in the genus Astacopsidrilus, because of the ventral position of the spermathecal pores and the opening of the female funnels inside the spermathecal vestibule. Astacopsidrilus hibernicus sp. nov. is mainly distinguished by thick segmental cushions of epidermal gland cells on the dorsal side of the posterior body half. Male sexual organs and spermathecae are comparatively small and without the often-observed ...
Zootaxa
Among terrestrial enchytraeid oligochaetes, species of the genus Achaeta are conspicuous by their... more Among terrestrial enchytraeid oligochaetes, species of the genus Achaeta are conspicuous by their complete absence of chaetae. Knowledge of Achaeta species in South America is scarce, only four species were known so far. Here we describe three more species of Achaeta from South America, A. hanagarthi, A. paranensis and A. singularis spp. nov., and we provide revised and type-based redescriptions of A. neotropica Č ernosvitov, 1937 and A. piti Bittencourt, 1974. The species were found in the framework of the German-Brazilian project " SOLOBIOMA, Soil biota and biogeochemistry in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil", which monitors forest regeneration on previously degraded areas by comparing successional stages from pastures to old-growth forests. Species descriptions are based on observations of specimens in vivo and as stained whole mounts; special attention is given to variations among specimens. The three new species are ascribed to a single author (Schmelz). They lack py...
Zootaxa
Seven new species of terrestrial Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) are described from soils of the sout... more Seven new species of terrestrial Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) are described from soils of the southern Brazilian Atlantic rain forest. They were found in the framework of the German-Brazilian project SOLOBIOMA, which studied rain forest recovery. Specimens were investigated in vivo and as stained whole mounts. Three species belong to a new genus, named Xetadrilus. Xetadrilus is similar to Guaranidrilus Č ernosvitov, 1937 and Tupidrilus Righi, 1974; it differs in the absence of lateral chaetae from segment VIII on and in peculiar structures of the prostomium: ganglia, inner papillae, and a frontal epithelial recess. Further peculiarities are small body size, absence of oesophageal appendages, and a variable pattern of pharyngeal glands. The three species are named X. maacki, X. aphanus, and X. fabryi. Three further nominal species are transferred to Xetadrilus: Marionina pituca Righi, 1974, Marionina righiana Xie & Rota, 2001, and Stercutus ugandensis Bell, 1954. The other four new sp...
Zootaxa, Jan 21, 2018
Enchytraeus polatdemiri sp. nov. (Enchytaeidae, Oligochaeta) was discovered in the framework of a... more Enchytraeus polatdemiri sp. nov. (Enchytaeidae, Oligochaeta) was discovered in the framework of a sampling campaign of the benthic invertebrate fauna of the hyperalkaline Lake Van in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, the third-largest closed lake and the largest soda lake on Earth. It was the only oligochaete species found in all samples. DNA sequencing included a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and a fragment of the nuclear histone 3 (H3) gene. For comparison, specimens from laboratory cultures of E. albidus Henle, 1837, a widespread and morphologically similar species, were sequenced as well. The new species differs from E. albidus in comparatively small body size, 2 or 3 chaetae per bundle, saddle-shaped clitellum, absence of a copulatory field between the male pores and vasa deferentia usually not extending beyond the clitellum. The individual gene trees of COI and H3, as well as the combined phylogenetic analysis of both trees, recovered Enchytr...
Zootaxa
A new species of the oligochaete genus Pristina (Naididae) is described from Central Amazonian so... more A new species of the oligochaete genus Pristina (Naididae) is described from Central Amazonian soil and litter samples. Investigations were carried out on living and preserved material, with emphasis on characters of the soft-bodied anatomy as seen in living specimens, including the sexual organs. Regarding the chaetal pattern, Pristina trifida is almost indistinguishable from the syntopic P. silvicola Collado & Schmelz, 2000. Conspicuous differences exist, however, in the presence of a stomach with intracellular canals, in the location of the first nephridium in segment IX, and in details of the male reproductive system such as a large prostate gland and a widening of the distal part of the vas deferens. The new species resembles also a group of taxonomically problematic species, P. sima, P. minuta, and P. osborni, whose synonymy has been assumed by several authors. Pristina trifida differs from this group mainly by smaller needle and ventral chaetae and by equally long teeth in th...
Frontiers in Environmental Science
Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) are often considered to be typical forestliving organisms, ... more Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) are often considered to be typical forestliving organisms, but they are regularly found in agroecosystems of the temperate regions of the world. Although less known than their larger relatives, the earthworms, these saprophagous organisms play similar roles in agricultural soils (but at a smaller scale), e.g., influencing soil structure and organic matter dynamics via microbial communities, and having a central place in soil food webs. Their diversity is rarely studied or often underestimated due to difficulties in distinguishing the species. New genetic techniques reveal that even in anthropogenically highly influenced soils, more than 10 species per site can be found. Because of their close contact with the soil pore water, a high ingestion rate and a thin cuticle, they often react very sensitively to a broad range of pesticides. Firstly we provide a short overview of the diversity and abundance of enchytraeid communities in agroecosystems. Afterwards, we explore the available data on enchytraeid sensitivity toward pesticides at different levels of biological organization, focusing on pesticides used in (mainly) European agroecosystems. Starting with non-standardized studies on the effects of pesticides on the sub-individual level, we compile the results of standard laboratory tests performed following OECD and ISO guidelines as well as those of higher-tier studies (i.e., semi-field and field tests). The number of comparable test data is still limited, because tests with enchytraeids are not a regulatory requirement in the European Union. While focusing on the effects of pesticides, attention is also given to their interactions with environmental stressors (e.g., climate change). In conclusion, we recommend to increase the use of enchytraeids in pesticide risk assessment because of their diversity and functional importance as well as their increasingly simplified use in (mostly standardized) tests at all levels of biological organization.
The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature
The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature
Applied Soil Ecology
ABSTRACT
Environmental research, May 1, 2017
Soil provides many ecosystem services that are essential to maintain its quality and healthy deve... more Soil provides many ecosystem services that are essential to maintain its quality and healthy development of the flora, fauna and human well-being. Environmental mercury levels may harm the survival and diversity of the soil fauna. In this respect, efforts have been made to establish limit values of mercury (Hg) in soils to terrestrial fauna. Soil organisms such as earthworms and enchytraeids have intimate contact with trace metals in soil by their oral and dermal routes, reflecting the potentially adverse effects of this contaminant. The main goal of this study was to obtain Hg critical concentrations under normal and extreme conditions of moisture in tropical soils to Enchytraeus crypticus to order to assess if climate change may potentiate their acute and chronic toxicity effects. Tropical soils were sampled from of two Forest Conservation Units of the Rio de Janeiro State - Brazil, which has been contaminated by Hg atmospheric depositions. Worms were exposed to three moisture con...
The Science of the total environment, Aug 18, 2016
Biosolids have well-documented crop and soil benefits similar to other sources of organic amendme... more Biosolids have well-documented crop and soil benefits similar to other sources of organic amendment, but there is environmental concern due to biosolids-associated pollutants. The present study investigated two field sites that had received biosolids at commercial-scale rates in parallel to associated field sections which were managed similarly but without receiving biosolids (controls). The investigated endpoints were abundance and diversity of soil organisms (nematodes, enchytraeids and earthworms) and soil fauna feeding activity as measured by the bait lamina assay. Repeated sampling of one of the field sites following the only biosolids application demonstrated an enrichment effect typical for organic amendments, which was mostly exhausted after 44months. After an initial suppression, the proportion of free-living plant-parasitic nematodes tended to increase in the biosolids-amended soil over time. Yet, none of the endpoints at this site indicated significant negative effects re...
Ecotoxicology (London, England), Jan 7, 2015
Today's ecosystems are influenced by different factors that could evolve into stressors. Effe... more Today's ecosystems are influenced by different factors that could evolve into stressors. Effects of pesticides, especially in agricultural areas, may interact with environmental factors, such as soil moisture fluctuation caused by global climate change. In this contribution, two semi-field studies conducted in Germany and Portugal with terrestrial model ecosystems are presented. Their aim was to assess the effects of the fungicide pyrimethanil under different soil moisture levels on Enchytraeidae. In Portugal a no observed effect concentration design was chosen, using two concentration levels: the maximum application rate (MAR) according to the safe use registration within the European Union and five times the MAR (1.82 and 9.09 mg/kg dry soil, respectively). Both concentrations did neither affect the total enchytraeid abundance nor single populations. In Germany an ECx design (effect concentration) was conducted, using 11 concentrations. In general, 14 EC50 values for different...
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2015
One objective in organic farming is to sustain the quality of the soil resource. Because enchytra... more One objective in organic farming is to sustain the quality of the soil resource. Because enchytraeids are an important soil faunal component, they stand as bioindicators of soil quality. We tested this candidature in a field experiment on loamy sand soil with 1- and 4-year old grass-clover leys subject to contrasting management regimes (cutting, slurry injection, grazing). Enchytraeid density, biomass and species composition was determined in 0–18 cm soil sampled in October, and again in March and May before and after slurry application, respectively. For soils retrieved in October, ley age had no consistent impact on enchytraeid density and biomass. Injection of slurry significantly affected the enchytraeid community at one sampling only but tended to sustain higher enchytraeid abundance in 1-year old leys throughout the year. One persistent feature was a larger enchytraeid community in the autumn than in the spring, regardless of management regime. Compared with leys used for cutting, grazed leys had consistently lower enchytraeid density and biomass. This was ascribed to soil compaction induced by heifer trampling. The number of species ranged from 11 to 18 in the autumn and from 7 to 13 in the spring with no distinct relation to management. Simpson's index of diversity did not differ among sampling dates and management regimes, including ley age. Although the enchytraeid community to some extent reflected differences in management regime, the patchy distribution and management induced interactions among soil physical, chemical and biological properties suggest that enchytraeid abundance is not a feasible stand-alone indicator of management impacts on soil quality in temporary grass-clover leys but may candidate as one of several biological key parameters in more comprehensive soil quality assessment schemes.