The long-term dynamics of collembola populations in forest and meadow ecosystems

The population dynamics of soil-dwelling collembolans in a spruce forest (Piceetum oxalidostun) and a dry meadow with spruce plantations was analyzed based on the eight-year samplings in Moscow oblast. The fluctuations of population density in most species are less than 10 fold. The seasonal dynamics of surface-dwelling species is more constant in a number of peaks and their times as compared to that in hemi- and eudaphic species. The relationship between the density peaks and definite seasons is characterized only as a tendency. Two types are revealed in the size structure of populations: "left-side" type with the predominance of small immature individuals and "symmetric" one with the prevalence of medium-size individuals. A synchronization of reproduction in the species studied is possible only under the effect of external climatic factors. The seasonal dynamics of the density in most abundant species is related to temperature and precipitation (to a lesser extent). For some species of Collembola, their mean density may be predicted for the next year, using the mean temperature and/or sum of precipitation in the current year. In the forest, a density-dependent regulation of collembolan population is probable. Collembolan populations do not respond to overgrowing of the meadow with spruce trees at least in the beginning of this process.