Ardestani, Masoud M.

Research interests

I am working on the relationship between the bioavailability metals to soil invertebrates and their chemical speciation in soil. My research focuses on the toxicity and uptake of metals in soil invertebrates related to the route of exposure and availability in the soil, and also includes aspects of uptake mechanisms and kinetics and the fate of the metals inside the organisms.

Selected Publications

Research project

Uptake and effects of metals in soil invertebrates in relation to substrate properties, routes of exposure, internal concentrations and physiology

Soil pore water is the most important route of exposure to metals for soil invertebrates. Speciation of metals in the pore water will affect their uptake, with the free metal ion being the most relevant. Other elements may interfere with the uptake process, which has been described in the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) developed for metal toxicity to aquatic organisms. The principles underlying the BLM may also be applicable to soil organisms. But many uncertainties exist, which hamper development of a BLM for soil organisms. Soil and porewater properties and the physiology of test organism may affect uptake, distribution and the consequent effects of metals. This project aims at the following aspects:
Unravelling the route of exposure of soil invertebrates?
Which part of the total metal content in soil is available for uptake?
Which factors determine metal uptake in soil invertebrates?
Which factors determine toxicity of metals being taken up?
Can uptake be linked to metal speciation and are principles of a BLM applicable to soil invertebrates?

Experiments using Folsomia candida involve exposures in water and soil with different pH and cation concentrations, determining effects on survival and reproduction, uptake (kinetics) and internal distribution of metals in the Collembola. 



Participants: Masoud M. Ardestani, Kees van Gestel, Rudo Verweij, Nico van Straalen