Draft summary

This document specifies a method for sampling and handling earthworms from field soils as a prerequisite for using these animals as bioindicators (e.g. to assess the quality of a soil as a habitat for organisms). This document applies to all terrestrial biotopes in which earthworms occur. The sampling design of field studies in general is given in ISO 18400-101 and guidance on the determination of effects of pollutants on earthworms in field situations is given in ISO 11268-311 This Standard will be replaced by an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) document (either a Test Guideline or Guidance Document) currently under development (OECD project no. 2.47 ‘New Test Guideline on Determination of Effects on Earthworms in Field Studies’).. These aspects can vary according to the national requirements or the climatic/regional conditions of the site to be sampled. This document is not applicable for semi-terrestrial soils (i.e. soils that are partly aquatic like bogs, beaches, marshes, stream margins, etc.) and it can be difficult to use under extreme climatic or geographical conditions (e.g. in high mountains). Methods for other soil organism groups, such as micro-arthropods and enchytraeids (mesofauna), are covered in other parts of ISO 23611.