Is ornithogenic fertilisation important for collembolan communities in Arctic terrestrial ecosystems?

  • Katarzyna Zmudczyńska-Skarbek University of Gda?sk, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
  • Adrian Zwolicki University of Gda?sk, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
  • Peter Convey British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environmental Research Council
  • Mateusz Barcikowski University of Gda?sk, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
  • Lech Stempniewicz University of Gda?sk, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
Keywords: springtails, seabirds, ornithogenic tundra, Spitsbergen, Bear Island, multivariate analyses

Abstract

In the Arctic, areas close to seabird colonies are often characterized by exceptionally rich vegetation communities linked with the high nutrient subsidies transported by seabirds from the marine environment to the land. These areas also support soil invertebrate communities of which springtails (Collembola) often represent the most abundant and diverse group. Our study focused on springtail community composition in the vicinity of seabird (little auk, great skua and glaucous gull) nesting areas in different parts of Svalbard (Magdalenefjorden, Isfjorden and Bjørnøya), and on their comparison with adjacent areas not impacted by seabirds. Out of a total of 35 springtail species recorded, seven were found only within the ornithogenically influenced sites. Although geographical location was the strongest factor differentiating these springtail communities, ornithogenic influence was also significant regardless of the location. When each location was considered separately, seabirds were responsible for a relatively small but strongly significant proportion (8.6, 5.2 and 3.9%, respectively, for each site) of total springtail community variability. Species whose occurrence was positively correlated with seabird presence were Folsomia coeruleogrisea, Friesea quinquespinosa, Lepidocyrtus lignorum and Oligaphorura groenlandica near Magdalenefjorden, Arrhopalites principalis, Folsomia bisetosella and Protaphorura macfadyeni in Isfjorden, and Folsomia quadrioculata on Bjørnøya.

Keywords
Springtails; seabirds; ornithogenic tundra; Spitsbergen; Bear Island; multivariate analyses.

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Author Biographies

Katarzyna Zmudczyńska-Skarbek, University of Gda?sk, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
Adrian Zwolicki, University of Gda?sk, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology
Published
2015-07-13
How to Cite
Zmudczyńska-Skarbek K., Zwolicki A., Convey P., Barcikowski M., & Stempniewicz L. (2015). Is ornithogenic fertilisation important for collembolan communities in Arctic terrestrial ecosystems?. Polar Research, 34. https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v34.25629
Section
Research/review articles