Collembola in subarctic peatlands

Study Extent

Data were collected in 2008 and 2019 years. Three types of biotops in Norway were sampled. The sampled microhabitats were selected according to field observations of dominant vegetation and presence/absence of permafrost. Biotops were: (1) permafrost-underlain palsa hummocks dominated by evergreen dwarf shrubs; (2) zonal shrub lichen tundra; and (3)adjacent wet microhabitats dominated by sphagnum. In Russia only peatlands were investigated.

Sampling

Springtails were sampled in three peatlands. Soil extraction was used.In addition pitfall traps were used in Norway.

Quality Control

The data were collected and identified to species by specialist from the Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Method steps

1. Five-ten soil samples randomly obtained from differnet types of biotops in Norway with a soil corer of 10 cm in diameter down to the depth of 0-10 cm. In Russia 36 soil samples were taken per plot and the size of them was 25 cm2. The soil samples were transported to the Institute of Biology (IB Komi SC UB RAS), Syktyvkar. Extraction was performed in Tullgren funnel extractors for seven-ten days under 40 Watt bulbs using a 96 % alcohol. The extraction time was sufficient for soil to reach the air-dry condition. Extracted springtails were separated from all other invertebrates and counted under a binocular microscope. They were then slide-mounted on cavity slides and identified to the species level using applicable determination keys (Fjellberg, 1998, 2007; Potapov, 2001, Kaprus et al., 2016). Moreover moisture content was measured.

The research sites consisted of three peatland areas in the noerthern parts of Norway and Russia. The Norway study area is located on sporadic or discontinuous permafrost, and the main study sites in Russia lie at the border of discontinuous and continuous permafrost zones. The mire in Norway has undergone a major thawing of permafrost, and decrease in size and height of palsa hummocks. In Russia the main study sites are situated in the southeastern part of the Bolshezemelskaya tundra in Nenents Autonomous District and Komi Republic (not far from Vorkuta).