Effects of dinoseb on energy reserves in the soil arthropod Folsomia candida

This study evaluated the usefulness of energy reserves as an early warning system in Folsomia candida when exposed to the pesticide dinoseb. After different exposure times, survival, reproduction, growth (weight and length), lipid and protein content of the organisms were determined. After six days of exposure at 15-30microg of dinoseb/g dry soil, the weight, lipid, and protein content of the exposed organisms were higher than the controls. This stimulation seems to indicate that Collembola adopt a strategy of increasing their growth in order to improve their reproduction. This hypothesis was confirmed by the number of eggs laid which was greater in exposed organisms. After 21 days, all measured parameters decreased. The results show that after having produced an effort to increase growth and reproduction, lethality increases. The selected energy reserves are not more sensitive than the classically measured parameters such as reproduction, but can be more predictive for a pollutant stress encountered by the organisms.