Long-term effects of climate warming on forest soil collembola

Long-term changes in the collembolan community structure were studied in a Scots pine forest in northern Latvia over a period of 11 successive years (1992–2002). Soil Collembola were yearly sampled from three pine forest stands of different age – young (30 to 40 years old), middle-aged (50 to 70 years old) and old (150 to 200 years old). During the study period a statistically significant increase in sums of positive temperatures (>+4°C) was recorded and a gradual decrease in species richness of Collembola was observed in all forest stands. The study showed that sums of positive air temperatures produce statistically significant effects on collembolan populations. Community responses were strongly controlled by both temperature and precipitation. Our results indicated that changes in Collembola communities at different forest sites are not local but rather regional level phenomena.