SIMULATION OF DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION OF COLLEMBOLA SAMPLED FROMSYNCHRONIZED CULTURES

A mathematical simulation model (Axelsen et al., 1997) was used to sim ulate the outcome of reproduction experiments with the collembolan Fol somia fimetaria L. The animals are taken from synchronous cultures, an d the model was used to assess the impact both of two different ways o f selecting the individuals for the experiments and the variation in t he reproduction due to different synchronisation widths and maximum ag es in the synchronous cultures. Based on the simulations it is recomme nded to establish a standardised procedure for the selection of test a nimals from the cultures. The width of synchronisation and the maximum age in the synchronous culture was not found to affect the results co nsiderably. However, the age was important because the variation on th e reproductive output was found to depend on a fixed sex ratio from re plicate to replicate. This can be obtained when the experimental anima ls originate from cultures with an age where the animals can be sexed safely due to morphological differences.