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Dryad

Effects of litter quality on foraging behaviour and demographic parameters in Folsomia candida (Collembola)

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Aug 03, 2023 version files 22.90 KB

Abstract

Litter quality has long been associated with demographic parameters of Collembola populations. However, little is known about the capacity of Collembola to perceive and seek better litter quality. To address this gap, three complementary laboratory experiments were carried out with the Collembola Folsomia candida. First, populations were fed on three different types of leaf litters (Quercus pubescens, Acer opalus and Prunus avium) and a control (agar-agar-brewer’s yeast mixture) for six weeks to assess their impacts on demography (reproduction rate and population size). Second, the body length of individuals differentially fed with the same four types of resources was measured to assess a functional trait that can potentially affect movement parameters such as prospected area or foraging speed. Third, F. candida isolated individuals were exposed to the same litter quality gradient and placed at increasing distances from the litter (from 1 to 5 cm). For ten minutes, their foraging behaviours were recorded which included their prospected area, foraging speed, perception distance and success in reaching the litter (foraging success). As expected, low-quality litter (i.e., Q. pubescens) contributed to low population growth compared to the control treatment and the high-quality litters (P. avium and A. opalus). In the third experiment, the probability of finding the resource was negatively correlated to the distance but was unrelated to the litter quality and the Collembola body length. When resource was perceived, F. candida was able to switch from non-directional to directional movements, with a large variability in the perception distance from a few millimeters to several centimeters. Taken together, our results indicate that litter quality plays a relevant role on Collembola demographic parameters once the population settles on litter patch, but not on foraging behaviour to select high-quality resources.