Growth and reproduction of laboratory-reared neanurid Collembola using a novel slime mould diet.

ABSTRACT: Although significant progress has been made using insect taxa as model organisms, non-tracheated terrestrial arthropods, such as Collembola, are underrepresented as model species. This underrepresentation reflects the difficulty in maintaining populations of specialist Collembola species in the laboratory. Until now, no species from the family Neanuridae have been successfully reared. Here we use controlled growth experiments to provide explicit evidence that the species Neanura muscorum can be raised under laboratory conditions when its diet is supplemented with slime mould. Significant gains in growth were observed in Collembola given slime mould rather than a standard diet of algae-covered bark. These benefits are further highlighted by the reproductive success of the experimental group

SUBMITTER: Hoskins JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4495557 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature