The value of two Collembola species as food for a linyphiid spider

Abstract

Abstract Egg production by the cereal spider Erigone atra was used as a fitness parameter for evaluating the food quality of two species of Collembola: Folsomia fimetaria and Isotoma anglicana. Drosophila melanogaster was used as reference prey. We tested the hypothesis that due to differences in food quality, the two Collembola species would affect the reproduction of the spider differently. The quality ranking of the prey types turned out as: I. anglicana > D. melanogaster > F. fimetaria. With F. fimetaria alone, spiders were unable to maintain reproduction. E. atra was more efficient in utilising I. anglicana and D. melanogaster . Thus, daily consumption rates of I. anglicana were lower in spite of higher egg laying rates by E. atra . A mixed diet of F. fimetaria and D. melanogaster resulted in a lower reproductive output than a pure diet of D. melanogaster , indicating a toxic element in F. fimetaria . In the mixed diet F. fimetaria had a negative influence on the consumption capacity of the spider towards D. melanogaster , while D. melanogaster had a positive influence on the consumption capacity towards F. fimetaria . It is concluded that a high abundance of I. anglicana may support a high reproductive output of E. atra , while the presence, of F. fimetaria in fields may reduce the spider's reproductive output.