ISO 23611-3:2007 Soil quality - Sampling of soil invertebrates - Part 3: Sampling and soil extraction of enchytraeids

International Organization for Standardization, Geneva; 2007
This part of ISO 23611 has been drawn up since there is a growing need for the standardization of terrestrial zoological field methods. Such methods, mainly covering the sampling, extraction and handling of soil invertebrates, are needed for the following purposes:
⎯ biological classification of soils including soil quality assessment;
⎯ terrestrial bioindication and long-term monitoring;
⎯ evaluation of the effects of chemicals on soil animals.
Data for these purposes are gained by standardized methods since they can form the basis for far-reaching decisions (e.g. whether a given site should be remediated or not). In fact, the lack of such standardized methods is one of the most important reasons why biological classification concepts in terrestrial (i.e. soil) habitats have so far been relatively rarely used in comparison to aquatic sites.
Originally, the methods described here were developed for taxonomical and ecological studies, investigating the role of enchytraeids in various soil ecosystems. These animals without doubt belong to the most important soil invertebrates in temperate regions (mainly in acidic soils). Their influence on soil functions like litter decomposition and nutrient cycling is well-known. Due to their number which is often very high (and to their population biomass), they are also important in many terrestrial food-webs. Some species have unintentionally been distributed by man in many soils of the world.
Since it is neither possible nor useful to standardize methods for all soil organisms, the most important ones have been selected. [Microbiological parameters are