Adaptation of grassland springtails (Collembola) to dry and hot environmental conditions
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Abstract
Some springtails (Collembola) are known to be tolerant to drought. They adapt to extreme environmental conditions by going into diapause or anhydrobiosis. The purpose of the present study was to assess the desiccation and the heat tolerance of an epedaphic springtail community of a grassland habitat (lawn). Survival at high temperatures with regard to these parameters has also been investigated. Out of the seven collected species (Ceratophysella cavicola, Entomobrya multifasciata, Lepidocyrtus cyaneus, Sminthurinus aureus, Sminthurinus elegans, Sminthurus viridis, and Sphaeridia pumilis) diapause was observed in S. elegans (up to 60 days), S. viridis (90 days), S. pumilis and C. cavicola (246 days). Only C. cavicola showed anhydrobiosis. Sphaeridia pumilis survives extreme heating up to 120 °C.
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