Screening of cold tolerance in fifteen springtail species

TY - JOUR

T1 - Screening of cold tolerance in fifteen springtail species

AU - Holmstrup, Martin

PY - 2018/10

Y1 - 2018/10

N2 - Springtails (Collembola) are ubiquitous and help ecosystem processes such as the decomposition of dead plant material. Their ability to survive low winter temperatures is an important trait that partly defines their geographic distribution. The cold tolerances of 15 laboratory-reared species of springtails were investigated. Springtails were cold acclimated in the laboratory over two months in order to simulate a seasonal change in temperature during autumn. Springtails were then exposed to decreasing sub-zero temperatures and at the same time simulating the moisture conditions in frozen soil. The cold tolerance of the species reflected well the climate of region of origin. Differential scanning calorimetry of individual springtails showed that melting points of body fluids did not become lower due to long-term cold acclimation (from 20° to 1.5°C). However, both water content and melting point of two arctic species (Hypogastrura viatica and Protaphorura macfadyeni) decreased drastically during exposure to sub-zero temperatures indicating cryoprotective dehydration (CPD). These arctic species survived exposure to − 9 °C for two weeks and − 20 °C for at least one week using CPD. Four other subarctic or cool temperate species also used CPD and survived − 9 °C for weeks, whereas springtails in culture from less cool temperate regions had poor cold tolerance.

AB - Springtails (Collembola) are ubiquitous and help ecosystem processes such as the decomposition of dead plant material. Their ability to survive low winter temperatures is an important trait that partly defines their geographic distribution. The cold tolerances of 15 laboratory-reared species of springtails were investigated. Springtails were cold acclimated in the laboratory over two months in order to simulate a seasonal change in temperature during autumn. Springtails were then exposed to decreasing sub-zero temperatures and at the same time simulating the moisture conditions in frozen soil. The cold tolerance of the species reflected well the climate of region of origin. Differential scanning calorimetry of individual springtails showed that melting points of body fluids did not become lower due to long-term cold acclimation (from 20° to 1.5°C). However, both water content and melting point of two arctic species (Hypogastrura viatica and Protaphorura macfadyeni) decreased drastically during exposure to sub-zero temperatures indicating cryoprotective dehydration (CPD). These arctic species survived exposure to − 9 °C for two weeks and − 20 °C for at least one week using CPD. Four other subarctic or cool temperate species also used CPD and survived − 9 °C for weeks, whereas springtails in culture from less cool temperate regions had poor cold tolerance.

KW - Chill-susceptible

KW - Collembola

KW - Cryoprotective dehydration

KW - Overwintering

KW - Supercooling

KW - ONYCHIURUS-ARCTICUS TULLBERG

KW - SOIL INVERTEBRATES

KW - DROUGHT TOLERANCE

KW - COLLEMBOLA

KW - HARDINESS

KW - SURVIVAL

KW - TEMPERATURES

KW - STRATEGIES

KW - RESISTANCE

KW - DROSOPHILA

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85050874027

U2 - 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.07.017

DO - 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.07.017

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30196888

SN - 0306-4565

VL - 77

SP - 1

EP - 6

JO - Journal of Thermal Biology

JF - Journal of Thermal Biology

ER -