The Occurrence of Springtails (Collembola) and Spiders (Araneae) as anEffectiveness Indicator of Bioremediation of Soil Contaminated by Petroleum-Derived Substances

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the process of natural bioremediation, and bioremediation supported by ZB-01 microbiological preparation on the occurrence of Collembola and Araneae in conditions of soil contaminated by petroleum-derived substances. The studies were conducted in 2010-2012, in the area of the Experiment Station of the University of Agriculture, near Kraków. In June 2010, the soil surface was contaminated with petrol, diesel fuel and engine oil with amount of 6 000 mg per kg of dry mass of soil. The studies were conducted in two series. The first employed microbiological bioremediation using ZB-01 biopreparation, and the second – without applying this process. The catching of invertebrates was done by using pitfall traps. The results of the experiment show that the representatives of the Entomobryidae and Isotomidae families are suitable for assessing the rate of bioremediation. Epigeic spiders do not react negatively to soil contamination. Biopreparation caused the acceleration of the recolonisation of the soil by representatives of the Isotomidae and Hypogastruidae families. With regard to the spiders, the application of biopreparation eliminated the aforementioned effect of increasing the numbers of the Lycosidae family in the object contaminated with engine oil.