Temperature-time relationship in collembolan response to chemical exposure.
Effects of temperature on chemical toxicity to a collembolan, Folsomia candida, in relation to time were studied in this experiment. Field soil was used as a test substrate. Collembolans were incubated at three different temperatures (+13, +16, and +19 degrees C) and in two different dimethoate concentrations (1 and 3 mg/kg), clean soil serving as the control. Four destructive samplings were done at 2-week intervals. Dimethoate degradation was also analyzed. Dimethoate 1 mg/kg had a slight effect on both adult growth and reproduction, whereas 3 mg/kg was fatal to F. candida in the soil used. Toxic effects tended to last longer at low temperature than at high temperature, but the differences were not extensive. Temperature was negatively correlated with adult growth but positively correlated with reproduction. The dimethoate degradation rate was similar at all temperatures but differed with the concentration.