Abstract
The effects of Collembola (Folsomia candida Willem) on nutrient cycling, microbial biomass, and soil respiration were studied using intact soil microcosms. Intact soil microcosms (dia. 10.6cm and depth 15cm) were taken from pine forest soil, and were divided into four treatments : the unmanipulated control and three Collembolan manipulations in which microcosms were defaunated by deep-freezing, and then F. candida were introduced at three densities (0, 50, 100 per microcosm). The microcosms were incubated on forest floor with a roof. At 3- to 4-week intervals the microcosms were irrigated with deionized water for analyses of nutrients (Na^+, K^+, NH_4^+, Ca^<2+>, Mg^<2+>, Cl^-, NO_3^-, SO_4^<2->) in the leachate. Soil respiration was measured using an infrared gas analyser. After 13 and 34 weeks of exposure, microcosms were destructively sampled. Collembola did not significantly affect microbial biomass C, N, and P nor soil respiration. Because the experiment was started in winter, nutrient leaching increased from spring to summer with increasing microbial activity. At the end of the experiment, leached nitrate from microcosms was significantly different between the 0 and 50 Collembolan treatments. Total established Collembolan biomass was under 4% of the soil microbial biomass in the microcosms, while manipulation of Collembola affected soil nitrogen dynamics at high microbial and collembolan activity.
