Data for: The deep-burrowing earthworm Lumbricus terrestris ingests and transports microplastic fibres of a wide length range in soils

The dataset contains data that has been collected and processed in a laboratory based transport study of microplastic (MP) fibres by deep-burrowing earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris). The experiments included were 1) a transport study assessing the time-dependent redistribution of microplastic fibres by earthworms in soil columns (E1), 2) a study to assess which microplastic fibre lengths were ingested by earthworms (E2). For E1, MP fibres were mixed into the top 2 cm of a 30 cm thick soil column, earthworms added and the MP fibre redistribution measured after 2 and 4 weeks. The depth-dependent distribution of MP fibre mass was measured using the metal-dope of added MP fibres and MP fibre length by optical microscopy. The control treatment for E1 was with MP fibres but without earthworms. For E2, MP fibres were mixed homogeneously with all of the soil and then packed to 30 cm thick soil columns, earthworms added and collected after 2 weeks; then the earthworms were depurated in petri dishes and the earthworm casts collected, dried and analysed for MP fibre lengths. The control treatment for E2 was with earthworms but without MP fibres. MP fibre lengths were determined with optical microscopy. For more detail see the associated publication.