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 m ay be present in elevated concentrations due to anthropogenic discharge. Al though collembolans are very numerous and important organisms in the soil e cosystem, the effect of nickel has not previously been studied on these org anisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of high soil nickel concentrations on the collembolan F, fimetaria following a 3-we ek exposure in a loamy sand spiked with nickel up to 1000 mg Ni/kg, A 10% d ecrease in adult female numbers at 427 mg Ni/kg and at 645 mg Ni/kg for adu lt 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 N i/kg for juveniles. The reproductive output seems to be the most sensitive parameter being reduced at soil nickel concentrations above 173 mg Ni/kg (E C10), Adult growth was not affected by soil nickel concentrations up to 100 0 mg Ni/kg, but juvenile growth was reduced at concentrations above 480 mg Ni/kg (EC10), (C) 1999 Academic Press.