Eur. J. Entomol. 93 (3): 443-450, 1996
Tolerance of soil-dwelling Collembola to high carbon dioxide concentrations
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The tolerance of soil inhabiting Collembola to high carbon dioxide concentrations has been assessed in two collembolan life-forms: the surface-dwelling species Allacma fusca, Orchesella cincta and Tomocerus flavescens as well as Folsomia candida, a species from deeper soil layers. Behavioural changes within the former group could be observed during short-term exposure (one hour) to 5 and 10% CO2, respectively. In contrary, the limit of the tolerable carbon dioxide concentration of the latter species was only reached at 25% CO2. Long-term tolerances expressed as survival times of the half number of specimens in 10% CO2 ranged from a few hours (A. fusca, T. flavescens) to a few days (O. cincia) and > 6 weeks in the case of F. candida. These variations in tolerance may be a consequence of different environmental conditions arising from the risk of the species to experience hypercarbia. Although the ability of adult F. candida to survive hypercarbic periods is remarkable, chronic exposure to enriched CO2 concentrations increased both the duration of egg development and the juvenile mortality rate.
Keywords: Carbon dioxide, tolerance, soil inhabiting Collembola
Accepted: June 10, 1996; Published: September 30, 1996 Show citation
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