ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effect of Soil Polluted with Petroleum-Derived
Substances during Bioremediation
on the Occurrence of Collembola
and Acarina
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Microbiology and Biomonitoring, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland
Submission date: 2019-10-07
Final revision date: 2019-11-13
Acceptance date: 2019-11-15
Online publication date: 2020-03-27
Publication date: 2020-05-12
Corresponding author
Janina Gospodarek
Department of Microbiology and Biomonitoring, University of Agriculture, al. A. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120, Krakow, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(5):3115-3125
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The research aimed at investigating the effect of soil contamination with various petroleum-derived
substances (PDSs, e.g., spent engine oil, diesel fuel, and petrol) on springtail (Collembola) and mite
(Acarina) occurrence over 28 months from the moment of pollution. We also assessed the effect
of the bioremediation process supported by ZB-01 preparation on the process of soil settlement by the
above-mentioned invertebrates. We tried to determine whether the occurrence and activity of these
organisms may be useful as a bioindicator or monitoring tool for assessing PDS presence in the soil and
speed of remediation process (both natural and supported). A combined method, i.e., pitfall trapping and
analysis of soil samples, was used for assessing the presence of Collembola and Acarina. Considering
the investigated PDSs, petrol revealed the shortest (about a year) negative effect on Collembola presence
on the soil surface (measured by pitfall trapping), whereas it was visible for the longest time (2 years) for
diesel fuel. Although initiating a bioremediation process using ZB-01 preparation on soil polluted with
petrol (in the first year) and diesel fuel (in the second) resulted in a significant increase in Collembola
activity on the soil surface, it limited this parameter in soil contaminated with engine oil and in the
control soil (in the second and third years of the experiment). Both diesel fuel and engine oil revealed
a strong negative effect on the occurrence of springtails and mites in soil (soil sample analysis) –
perceptible even after 28 months from the moment of soil pollution. At the same time, a visible positive
response to applied bioremediation supported by biopreparation ZB-01 was registered. Analysis of soil
samples polluted with PDSs for springtail and mite presence may be a potentially useful indicator for
assessing the degree of soil self-cleaning, since a perceptible response was noticed, dependent both on
the PDS and the course of the supported bioremediation process.