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Geotaxis in the springtail F olsomia candida
Author(s) -
Boiteau G.,
MacKinley P.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/eea.12195
Subject(s) - springtail , biology , acclimatization , foraging , botany , horticulture , toxicology , ecology , ecotoxicology
Laboratory assays demonstrated the presence of a small positive geotaxis response to a 15° incline by F olsomia candida W illem ( C ollembola: I sotomidae). Negative phototaxis played an additive role to positive geotaxis when the experimental apparatus were exposed to light. The geotactic response was negatively affected by cold acclimation and decreasing surrounding temperature, but unaffected by food deprivation. The reduced mobility of springtails at low temperature did not seem to play a role in the corresponding decreased geotaxis. The low level of geotaxis and its further decrease with exposure to low temperature support an earlier suggestion that F . candida do not respond to cooling temperatures of fall by relocation to warmer deeper soil layers, but remain in the upper soil layers and increase their cold tolerance to continue foraging in the food‐rich upper soil layers.