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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Ecophysiological and morphological features of glacier-dwelling Collembola

subject

description

Collembola predominantly live in soil, and on the soil surface and its neighboring strata. Some species also dwell in extreme habitats in the arctic and antarctic regions and in the high alpine zones.1–8 Collembola constitute 14–22% of all arctic insect species,9,10 and in tundra and northern forest regions with snow and frost prevailing for the best part of the year they constitute an essential part of the winter-active fauna.11–15 Snow Collembola are reported to occur in masses also in the temperate climate zones of central Europe with species like Hypogastrura socialis, Isotomurus palustris und Isotoma hiemalis frequently among them.16,17 According to Zettel,18 the surface activity of I. hiemalis probably depends on barometric pressure changes.