Winter adaptations of the leaf litter

and soil arthropod Collembola

OR: Are these guys living amongst us?
Jeff McClenahan
March, 2006

Winter Ecology Spring 2006

Mountain Research Station University of Colorado,
Boulder

What are Collembola, and why the

heck do we care?
Primitive, wingless, non-insect Hexapods
Leaf litter decomposers
Diets composed of fungi and algae*

*Verhoef et al., 1988

Components of winter ecology we

have seen

Adaptations to cold
Evidence of biotic soil activity
Below-snow temperatures that support life
The Antarctic is cold

Winter active species Ceratophsella

sigillata*
Temperature dependent dormancy during summer
Main growing season is winter
Uses antifreeze molecules in algae: polyols

*Zettel, 2000

Glycerol production in
Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni*
Produced via hydrolysis of triaclglycerols
Able to enter the glycolytic pathway with help of ATP
High concentration in October and lower in January
(Antarctic)
Measured super cooling point (SCP) as low as -38 degrees
C

*Sinclair and Sjursen, 2001

Partial desiccation in Onychiurus

articus*
Long periods of -2.5 degrees C, resulting in reduced water
content
Lowered SCP from -6.1 to -15.5 degrees C
Gained normal body weight within 24 hours when water
was available

*Worland, 1996

Brief look at the process of ecdysis

Unexpected role of ecdysis in

Tullbergia antarctica*
Ametabolous ecdysis: sheds cuticle throughout life, even
after adulthood
Sheds cuticle as a means to rid themselves of ice

*Worland, 2005

What does this all mean?

Arthropods where we dont expect them?

9000 named species

Inhabit high elevations and high latitudes
Evidence suggests that these winter systems are dynamic
Alpine tundra?
Sub-alpine forests?

Cited references

Sinclair BJ and Sjursen H. 2001. Cold tolerance of the Antarctic springtail Gomphiocephalus
hodgsoni. Antarctic Science 13:271-279
Worland MR. 1996. The relationship between water content and cold tolerance in the arctic
collembolan Onychiurus arcticus. European Journal of Entomology 93:341-348
Worland MR. 2004. Factors that influence freezing in the sub-Antarctic springtail Tullbergia
antarctica. Journal of Insect Physiology 51:881-894
Verhoef HA, Prast JE, Verweij RA. 1988. Relative importance of Fungi and Algae in the diet
and nitrogen nutrition of Orchesella cincta and Tomocerus minor. Functional Ecology
2:195-201
Zettel J. 2000. Alpine Collembola-adaptations and strategies for survival in harsh conditions.
Zoology-Analysis of Complex Systems 102:73-89