What Are the Most Important Factors Influencing Springtail Tetrodontophora bielanensis?

Strahinja Mladenović,Jakub Horák,Jan Materna,Tereza Brestovanská

doi:10.3390/insects12100858

Abstract

Simple SummarySpringtails (Collembola) are organisms which mainly inhabit soil and litter layers but may account for around 25% of the canopy fauna. They can be also found in dead wood, which provides nutrients for these detritivores. The springtail, Tetrodontophora bielanensis, dwells in the litter and upper soil layers. In our research, we were focused on the environmental factors influencing this springtail in forests at the landscape and site level. We found that the springtail was positively influenced by the presence of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and with greater abundance in the south-eastern part of Krkonoše (Czech Republic). The negative influence of bark coverage, the presence of fungi, and the positive influence of an increasing circumference of tree was observed at the site level.The springtail, Tetrodontophora bielanensis, dwells in the litter and upper soil layers. This arthropod mainly inhabits humid litter and soil and prefers a cold climate. We determined the main factors influencing this springtail in forests at the landscape level in Krkonoše and site level in Orlické hory in the Czech Republic. We used passive trunk-tree traps. These traps are highly effective for sampling flightless fauna. We used 128 traps in Krkonoše and 17 traps in Orlické hory. The springtail was significantly positively influenced by the presence of Norway spruce (Picea abies) at the landscape level. Springtails’ abundance was, furthermore, influenced by the spatial distribution of the sampling sites. The negative influence of bark coverage and the presence of fungi, and positive influence of an increasing dimension of trees were significant at the site level. We argue for a more diversified management of mountainous forests with respect to forest history. This appears to be also important for mountainous forests in protected areas.

Highlights

Springtails (Collembola) are considered to be organisms mainly inhabiting soil and litter layers [1]
In Europe, the range of Tetrodontophora bielanensis extends from the southern Carpathians in Romania, through Ukraine, up to the northern mountain ranges in Poland and the Czech Republic [9]
This species plays an important role in decomposition and nutrient cycling [1,10,11] in habitats with dead wood

Summary

Introduction

Springtails (Collembola) are considered to be organisms mainly inhabiting soil and litter layers [1]. The springtail, Tetrodontophora bielanensis (Waga, 1842), inhabits litter and upper soil layers and mainly lives in forests [4]. It is well-known for its chemical defenses and usually climbs on tree trunks in search for food, but only when there is enough moisture [5]. It prefers low temperatures, ideally between 8–11 ◦C [6], and mostly inhabits mountain ranges. This species plays an important role in decomposition and nutrient cycling [1,10,11] in habitats with dead wood

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