Collembola foraging responses to interacting fungi

1. Temperate woodland Collembola feed predominantly on plant detritus and fungi. They exhibit preferences for different fungi reflecting resource value in terms of Collembola growth and reproduction. 2. Studies of fungal grazing by Collembola have focused on non‐interacting fungi and have used one genetic isolate as representative of an entire fungal species. This study examines the effects of fungal interactions on Collembola behaviour, and elucidates differences arising from the use of genetically distinct fungal isolates. 3.  Folsomia candida were added to microcosms in which paired combinations of the fungi, Hypholoma fasciculare (four isolates), Phallus impudicus , Phanerochetae velutina and Resinicium bicolor (two isolates), were interacting. Collembola movement and mortality was recorded for 26 days. A constant preference for one fungal mycelium over the other was shown by Collembola in 12 of the 36 interactions studied. Lowest Collembola mortality was normally recorded on the preferred mycelium. 4. In 11 of the remaining 24 interactions, Collembola preference switched from one mycelium to the other; the greatest number of dead Collembola was recorded on the final preference. 5. Collembola behaviour on different fungal isolates was broadly similar, although in one species’ combination a change in fungal isolate resulted in a total reversal of Collembola preference. The implications of these results for decomposer food webs are considered.