Comparative study of the effects of salinity on life-cycle parameters of four soil-dwelling species (Folsomia candida, Enchytraeus doerjesi, Eisenia fetida and Aporrectodea caliginosa)

摘要: Summary We studied the effect of salinity on some life-cycle parameters in collembolan Folsomia candida , enchytraeid Enchytraeus doerjesi and two earthworm species, Eisenia fetida Aporrectodea caliginosa using natural saline soil from Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa. Specimens four species were exposed to soils along a gradient with electrical conductivity (EC) ranging 0.08 1.62 dS m −1 under controlled laboratory conditions for 28 days. The results showed that although survival E. F. was not significantly affected this range, juvenile production at 1.03 dS m higher. For absolute cessation reproduction occurred 1.31 dS m while candida, it higher EC . A. above 0.92 respectively, total mortality 1.31 respectively. Both only produced cocoons control soils. Growth lower (0.52 dS m ) than which growth (1.03 dS m ). Thus, sensitivity these organisms stress, based data increased order: fetida. Further investigation more taxa, may support findings study suggest earthworms could be useful as indicators disturbance other taxa.