![Effects of ivermectin in dung pats on earthworm (Megascolecidae) populations and pat degradation in Japanese grassland [An article from: Applied Soil Ecology]](https://www.ebooknetworking.net/books/B00/0RR/bigB000RR5XOO.jpg)
Effects of ivermectin in dung pats on earthworm (Megascolecidae) populations and pat degradation in Japanese grassland [An article from: Applied Soil Ecology]
Description
This digital document is a journal article from Applied Soil Ecology, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Description:
The effects of residual ivermectin in dung pats on earthworm activity and dung decomposition in Japanese grassland, where Megascolecidae are the dominant group of dung decomposers, were studied. Artificial cowpats containing 0, 0.1, and 1mgivermectinkg^-^1 dung were prepared and deposited on grassland in October 2003. Pats were collected again for analysis 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after deposition. Earthworms were collected from the soil around pats at a depth of 0-10cm. The Megascolecidae, Pheretima (Amynthas) heteropoda and Pheretima (Amynthas) divergens, together accounted for more than 90 and 99% of earthworm individuals and biomass, respectively. Earthworms aggregated around the pats regardless of the ivermectin treatment. Dung-degradation rate was also unaffected by the ivermectin treatments. Dung decomposition appeared to be due mainly to earthworm activity, as dung beetles were rare at this site. These results suggest that ivermectin may have no adverse effects on Megascolecidae activity and on the degradation of cowpats in pastureland sites where earthworms dominate the dung decomposer community.
Description:
The effects of residual ivermectin in dung pats on earthworm activity and dung decomposition in Japanese grassland, where Megascolecidae are the dominant group of dung decomposers, were studied. Artificial cowpats containing 0, 0.1, and 1mgivermectinkg^-^1 dung were prepared and deposited on grassland in October 2003. Pats were collected again for analysis 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after deposition. Earthworms were collected from the soil around pats at a depth of 0-10cm. The Megascolecidae, Pheretima (Amynthas) heteropoda and Pheretima (Amynthas) divergens, together accounted for more than 90 and 99% of earthworm individuals and biomass, respectively. Earthworms aggregated around the pats regardless of the ivermectin treatment. Dung-degradation rate was also unaffected by the ivermectin treatments. Dung decomposition appeared to be due mainly to earthworm activity, as dung beetles were rare at this site. These results suggest that ivermectin may have no adverse effects on Megascolecidae activity and on the degradation of cowpats in pastureland sites where earthworms dominate the dung decomposer community.
