Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The potential of Collembola to act as indicators of landscape stress in Australia

Penelope Greenslade
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Department of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Email: penny.greenslade@anu.edu.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(4) 424-434 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05264
Submitted: 6 September 2005  Accepted: 28 July 2006   Published: 9 March 2007

Abstract

Collembola have been used to assess the ecological status of a range of ecosystems in Australia over the last 35 years. The traits that Collembola possess that make them valuable as ecological indicators are listed. Examples of situations where they have been used to measure impacts in mainly agricultural landscapes are described and the contributions the results have made to management for ecological sustainability are noted. Densities of exotic and native species in a variety of ecosystems are provided and a list of genera with exotic species in Australia is given. A protocol for comprehensively surveying Collembola is described and a critique of different methods given.


Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to John Ireson, Barry Longstaff, Jonathan Majer and anonymous referees for critically reviewing the manuscript and providing helpful suggestions for improvement.


References


Andersen AN (1999) My bioindicator or yours? Making the selection. Journal of Insect Conservation 3, 61–64.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | [Verified 4 February 2007]

Driessen MM, Greenslade P (2004) Effect of season, location and fire on Collembola communities in buttongrass moorlands, Tasmania. Pedobiologia 48, 631–642.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Dunger W, Schulz H-J, Zimdars B, Hohberg K (2004) Changes in collembolan species composition in Eastern German mine sites over fifty years of primary succession. Pedobiologia 48, 503–517.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ekschmitt K (1998) Population assessments of soil fauna: general criteria for the planning of sampling schemes. Applied Soil Ecology 9, 439–445.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ekschmitt K, Stierhof T, Dauber J, Kreimes K, Wolters V (2003) On the quality of soil biodiversity indicators: abiotic and biotic parameters as predictors of soil faunal richness at different spatial scales. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 98, 273–283.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Greenslade J, Greenslade P (1984) Invertebrates and environmental assessment. Environment and Planning 3, 13–15. open url image1

Greenslade P (1978) Collembola. In ‘The physical and biological features of Kunoth Paddock in Central Australia. Technical Paper 4’. (Ed. A Low William) pp. 114–123. (CSIRO Division of Land Research Management: Canberra)

Greenslade P (1992a) Conserving invertebrate diversity in agricultural, forestry and natural ecosystems in Australia. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 40, 297–312.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Greenslade P (1992b) Report on invertebrates of PEL 24, Mabel Creek Station, South Australia. Unpublished report to Conzinc Riotinto Australia.

Greenslade P (1993) Australian native steppe-type landscapes: neglected areas for invertebrate conservation in Australia. In ‘Perspectives on insect conservation’. (Eds KJ Gaston, TR New, MJ Samways) pp. 51–73. (Intercept: Andover, UK)

Greenslade P (1994a) Collembola. In ‘Zoological catalogue of Australia. Vol. 22: Protura, Collembola, Diplura’. (Ed. WWK Houston) pp. 19–138. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Greenslade P (1994b) A comparative study of the use of indicator groups to assess the conservation value of native grassland sites in Victoria, ACT and NSW. I. Collembola. Final report to ACT Nature Conservation Branch. Unpublished report, Canberra.

Greenslade P (1997a) Short-term effects of a prescribed burn on invertebrates grassy woodlands in south-eastern Australia. Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 56, 305–312. open url image1

Greenslade P (1997b) Are Collembola useful as indicators of the conservation value of native grasslands? Pedobiologia 41, 215–220. open url image1

Greenslade P (1997c) The effect of fire on invertebrates in buttongrass moorland in southwest Tasmania. Unpublished report, CSIRO, Canberra.

Greenslade P (1998a) Collembola and other soil invertebrates: 1990. In ‘Pelion Plains–Mt Ossa: wilderness ecosystems baseline studies 1990–1993. Report 98/2’. (Eds MM Driessen, MD Comfort, J Jackson, J Balmer, AMM Richardson, PB McQuillan) pp. 47–56. (Parks and Wildlife Service Wildlife: Hobart)

Greenslade P (1998b) Collembola and other soil invertebrates: 1992. In ‘Pelion Plains–Mt Ossa: wilderness ecosystems baseline studies 1990–1993. Report 98/2’. (Eds MM Driessen, MD Comfort, J Jackson, J Balmer, AMM Richardson, PB McQuillan) pp. 57–65. (Parks and Wildlife Service: Hobart)

Greenslade P (2005) Soil fauna densities on Macquarie Island 1986/7: Australian Antarctic Division Data Centre Metadata. (Australian Antarctic Division: Hobart) Available at http://geodiscover.cgdi.ca/gdp/search?action=entrySummary&entryType=productCollection&entryId=30009&entryLang=en [Verified 15 February 2007]

Greenslade P, Driessen M (1999) The effect of fire on epigaeic arthropods in buttongrass moorland in Tasmania. In ‘The other 99%: the conservation and biodiversity of invertebrates’. (Eds W Ponder, D Lunney) pp. 82–89. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Mosman, NSW)

Greenslade P, Greenslade PJM (1971) The use of baits and preservatives in pitfall traps. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 10, 253–260. open url image1

Greenslade P, Greenslade PJM (1977) Effects of vehicles on arthropods inhabiting the soil surface. In ‘The southern Coorong and Lower Younghusband Peninsula of South Australia’. (Eds DD Gilbertson, MR Foale) pp. 93–98. (The Nature Conservation Society of South Australia: Adelaide)

Greenslade P, Greenslade PJM (1987) Ecological strategies in Collembola: a new approach to the use of terrestrial invertebrates in environmental assessment. In ‘Soil fauna and soil fertility: proceedings of the 9th international colloquium on soil zoology’. (Ed. BR Striganova) pp. 245–252. (Academy of Sciences of the USSR: Moscow)

Greenslade P, Ireson JE (1986) Collembola of the southern Australian culture steppe and urban environments: a review of their pest status and key to identification. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 25, 273–292. open url image1

Greenslade P, Majer JD (1980) Collembola of rehabilitated mine sites in Western Australia. In ‘Soil biology as related to land use practices: proceedings of the 7th international colloquium of soil zoology’. (Ed. DL Dindal) pp. 397–408. (Environmental Protection Agency: Washington DC)

Greenslade P, Majer JD (1993) Recolonisation by Collembola of rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 18, 385–394.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Greenslade P, Mott JJ (1982) Collembola and other soil and surface fauna of native and improved pastures at Katherine, Northern Territory. In ‘Proceedings of the 3rd Australasian conference on grassland invertebrate ecology’. (Ed. KE Lee) pp. 299–307. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Greenslade P, Mott JJ (1983) Effect of fire on invertebrates in an Australian tropical grassland. In ‘New trends in soil biology: proceedings of the 8th international colloquium on soil zoology’. (Eds P Lebrun, HM André, A de Medts, C Grégoire-Wibo, G Wauthy) pp. 635–637. (Louvain, Belgium)

Greenslade P, Smith D (1994) Soil faunal responses to restoration by mulching of degraded semi-arid soils at Lake Mere, New South Wales. In ‘Soil biota: management in sustainable farming systems’. (Ed. CE Pankhurst) pp. 67–69. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Greenslade P, Sutrisno (1994) Epimetrura rostrata sp. n. E. mirabilis Schott, and the status of the genus Epimetrura (Collembola: Entomobryidae). Annales Zoologica Fennica 195, 52–57. open url image1

Greenslade P, Greenslade PJM, Macquillan MJ (1971) Preliminary observations on effects of organophosphorus insecticides on surface fauna of pastures. In ‘Australian conference in soil biology abstracts’. pp. 5–6. (CSIRO Soils Division: Urrbrae, SA)

Greenslade P, Smith D, Floyd R (1996) Short term effects of a fire on invertebrates in coastal heathland on the Beecroft Peninsula: a contribution to the fire management plan for the area. Unpublished final report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.

Greenslade PJM (1983) Adversity selection and the habitat templet. American Naturalist 122(3), 352–365.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Heisler C (1995) Collembola and Gamasina: bioindicators for soil compaction. Acta Zoologica Fennica 196, 229–231. open url image1

Holt JA (1985) Acarina and Collembola in the litter and soil of three north Queensland rainforests. Australian Journal of Ecology 10, 57–65.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hooper GHS, Carruthers GF, Walker PW (2000) Impact of aerially applied fenitrothion on the epigeal invertebrate fauna of arid grasslands. Australian Plague Locust Commission Research Reports 2000, 1–50. open url image1

Hopkin SP (1997) ‘Biology of the Springtails (Insecta: Collembola).’ (Oxford University Press: Oxford)

Howard G, Greenslade P (1985) Soil and litter arthropods from pine plantations in South Australia. In ‘Soil and litter invertebrates of some Australian Mediterranean-type ecosystems. School of Biology Bulletin 12’. (Eds P Greenslade, JD Majer) pp. 37–38. (Western Australian Institute of Technology: Perth)

Hutson BR, Kirkby CA (1985) Populations of Collembola and Acarina in litter and soil of South Australian forests and the effect of a wildfire. In ‘Soil and litter invertebrates of some Australian Mediterranean-type ecosystems. School of Biology Bulletin 12’. (Eds P Greenslade, JD Majer) pp. 34–36. (Western Australian Institute of Technology: Perth)

Ireson JE (1993) Activity and pest status of surface-active Collembola in Tasmanian field crops and pastures. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 32, 155–167. open url image1

King KL, Hutchinson KJ (1992) Microarthropods and nutrient transfer from pasture litter. In ‘Proceedings of the 6th Australian agronomy conference’. (Eds KJ Hutchinson, PJ Vickery) pp. 362–365. (University of New England: Armidale, NSW)

King KL, Hutchinson KJ, Greenslade P (1976) The effects of sheep numbers on associations of Collembola in sown pastures. Journal of Applied Ecology 13, 731–739.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

King KL, Greenslade P, Hutchinson KJ (1985) Collembolan associations in natural versus improved pastures of the New England Tableland, N.S.W.: distribution of native and introduced species. Australian Journal of Ecology 10, 421–427.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Longstaff BC, Greenslade PJM, Colloff M, Reid I, Hart P, Packer I (1997) The impact of soil tillage practice on soil fauna in the NSW wheat belt. Research Paper No. 97, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.

Majer JD (1983) Ants: bio-indicators of minesite rehabilitation, land-use and land conservation Environmental Management 7(4), 375–383.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Majer JD, Recher HF, Ganesh S (2000) Diversity patterns of eucalypt canopy arthropods in eastern and western Australia Ecological Entomology 25, 295–306.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Majer JD, Brennan EC, Bisevac L (2002) Terrestrial invertebrates. In ‘Handbook of ecological restoration’. (Eds AJ Davy, MR Perrow) pp. 279–299. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)

McGeoch MA (1998) The selection, testing and application of terrestrial insects as bioindicators. Biological Reviews 73, 181–201.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Neville PJ, Yen AL (2007) Standardising terrestrial invertebrate biomonitoring techniques across natural and agricultural systems. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 384–391.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

New TR (2007) Are predatory arthropods useful as indicators in Australian agroecosystems? Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 450–454.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Oliver I, Haller B, Garden D, Rodgers D, Greenslade P, Johnston B (2003) Biodiversity conservation in grasslands under variable nutrient input: 2003. NSW Biodiversity Strategy. NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Water Resources, Armidale, NSW. 109 pp.

Oliver I, Garden D, Greenslade P, Haller B, Rodgers D, Seeman O, Johnston B (2005) Effects of fertilisers and grazing on the arthropod communities of a native grassland in south-eastern Australia. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 109, 323–334.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Oliver I, Pearce S, Greenslade PJM, Britton DR (2006) The contribution of scattered paddock trees to terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity conservation. Austral Ecology 31, 1–12.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Osler I, van Vliet GHR, Gauci CS, Abbott LK (2000) Changes in free living soil nematode and micro-arthopod communities under a canola–wheat–lupin rotation in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 38, 47–59.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Pearce S (1998) The influence of isolated trees in agro-ecosystems on invertebrate biodiversity. Honours Thesis, Macquarie University, Sydney.

Perner J (2003) Sample size and quality of indication: a case study using ground-dwelling arthropods as indicators in agricultural ecosystems. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 98, 125–132.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Plowman KP (1979) Litter and soil fauna of two Australian sub-tropical forests. Australian Journal of Ecology 4, 87–104.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ponge JF, Gillet S, Dubs F, Fedoroff E, Haese L, Sousa JP, Lavelle P (2003) Collembolan communities as bioindicators of land use intensification Soil Biology & Biochemistry 35, 813–826.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Postle AC (1988) Density and seasonality of soil and litter invertebrates in Western Australian jarrah forests. In ‘Mediterranean-type ecosystems: a data source book’. (Ed. RL Specht) pp. 198–99. (W. Junk: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)

Rusek J (2000) Soil invertebrate species diversity in natural and disturbed environments. In ‘Invertebrates as webmasters in ecosystems’. (Eds DC Coleman, PF Hendrix) pp. 233–252. (CABI: New York)

Rusek J (2004) Collembola succession on deposits from a chemical factory Pedobiologia 48, 519–525.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Sands R, Greacen EL, Gerard CJ (1979) Compaction of sandy soils in radiata pine forests. I. A penetrometer study. Australian Journal of Soil Research 17, 101–113.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Southwood TRE (1966) ‘Ecological methods.’ (Methuen & Co. Ltd: London) 391 pp.

Southwood TRE (1977) Habitat, the templet for ecological strategies? Journal of Animal Ecology 46, 337–365. open url image1

Tongway DJ, Smith EL (1989) Soil surface features as indicators of rangeland site productivity. Australian Rangeland Journal 11, 15–20.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Vaughan GT, Greenslade PJM (1998) Sensitive bioassays for risk assessment of contaminated soil. Investigation Report CET/IR 55. Environmental Research Trust Final Report. CSIRO Division of Coal and Energy Technology. Centre for Advanced Analytical Chemistry, Lucas Heights, NSW.

York A (1999) Long-term effects of frequent low-intensity burning on the abundance of litter-dwelling invertebrates in coastal blackbutt forests of southeastern Australia. Journal of Insect Conservation 3, 191–199.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1