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Ecotype-Specific Drilosphere Microbiome Reprogramming Influencing Microplastic Impacts on Soil Carbon-Nitrogen
Lei Wang1, Hao Qiu2, Hongyan Ma1
1School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
Environmental Science & Technology
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) accumulate in the soil drilosphere, disrupting nutrient cycling and causing ecotype-specific harm to earthworms. Earthworm functional diversity is crucial for assessing soil health risks from microplastic pollution.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Ecology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- The soil drilosphere is a vital biogeochemical hotspot.
- The role of the drilosphere in microplastic (MP) accumulation and impact is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of polyethylene microplastics (<150 μm) on the drilosphere compartments (gut, burrows, casts) of epigeic *Eisenia fetida* and endogeic *Pheretima guillelmi*.
- To characterize ecotype-specific impacts on earthworm physiology and soil nutrient cycling.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of MP accumulation in bulk soil versus drilosphere compartments.
- Analysis of soil nutrient characteristics (total nitrogen, ammonium).
- Assessment of earthworm physiological stress (immune, oxidative, digestive, metabolic) using transcriptomic and multivariate analyses.
- Microbiome analysis along the soil-drilosphere-gut continuum.
Main Results:
- MPs significantly enriched in the drilosphere, with higher accumulation in the endogeic species (*P. guillelmi*).
- MP exposure disrupted nutrient cycling, reducing total nitrogen (5.0-25.0%) and ammonium (28.5-62.1%).
- Distinct ecotype-specific damage occurred: *E. fetida* showed immune/oxidative stress, while *P. guillelmi* experienced digestive/metabolic impairment.
- MP-induced gut dysbiosis intensified along the soil-drilosphere-gut continuum, linked to external microbiota shifts and internal physiological stress.
Conclusions:
- Ecotype-specific drilosphere microbiome restructuring drives ecosystem-scale impacts of MP pollution.
- Earthworm functional diversity is essential for comprehensive soil health risk assessments related to microplastic contamination.
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