Relative Abundance and Resistance Traits of Two Collembola Species Under Metal Stress

Abstract

Population differentiation was studied in Onychiurus armatus (Tullb.) and Isotoma notabilis Schaffer from a reference site and two highly polluted (Cu, Zn) sites (long-term and short-term exposed, respectively) in the Gusum area, SE Sweden. Growth, survival and reproduction were followed in a F1 generation of O. armatus reared on a diet of the fungus Verticillium bullosum (W. Gams and Malla) grown on a series of Cu+Zn amended agar plates. Survival and reproduction were observed in a P generation of I. notabilis incubated in soils with enhanced concentrations of Cu and Zn. Metals affected growth rate but not mean maximum length of O. armatatus. The growth rates of both populations decreased significantly with increasing metal concentration