Long-term cold tolerance in Arctic invertebrates: recovery after 4 years at below -20%C

Soil samples were collected from a High Arctic Cassiope heath site on Svalb ard (West Spitsbergen) in midwinter 1995 and transferred directly to -22%C. Survival was unexpectedly high in Collembola (Hypogastrura tullbergi and F olsomia quadrioculata) and Nematoda, but there was also isolated survival i n two species of mites (Diapterobates notatus and Ameronothrus lineatus) an d one enchytraeid (Henlea perpusilla). The unexpectedly extreme cold tolera nce has implications for the range of polar habitats available for soil fau na to colonise and for migration between isolated regions.