Toxicity of nickel to a soil-dwelling springtail, Folsomia fimetaria (Collembola: Isotomidae).

Exposure of the collembolan Folsomia fimetaria L. to nickel via soil caused significant mortality and reduced growth and reproductive output. Nickel may be present in elevated concentrations due to anthropogenic discharge. Although collembolans are very numerous and important organisms in the soil ecosystem, the effect of nickel has not previously been studied on these organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of high soil nickel concentrations on the collembolan F. fimetaria following a 3-week exposure in a loamy sand spiked with nickel up to 1000 mg Ni/kg. A 10% decrease in adult female numbers at 427 mg Ni/kg and at 645 mg Ni/kg for adult male numbers was observed for nickel-spiked soil. Juvenile numbers were reduced at 701 mg Ni/kg following a 3-week exposure. The corresponding EC50 values were 786 mg Ni/kg for females, 922 mg Ni/kg for males, and 859 mg Ni/kg for juveniles. The reproductive output seems to be the most sensitive parameter being reduced at soil nickel concentrations above 173 mg Ni/kg (EC10). Adult growth was not affected by soil nickel concentrations up to 1000 mg Ni/kg, but juvenile growth was reduced at concentrations above 480 mg Ni/kg (EC10). Copyright 1999 Academic Press.