Sublethal Sensitivity Index as an Ecotoxicity Parameter Measuring Energy Allocation under Toxicant Stress: Application to Cadmium in Soil Arthropods

Toxicity of Nickel to a Soil-Dwelling Springtail,Folsomia fimetaria(Collembola: Isotomidae)

“…The dierence in sensitivity between reproduction and mortality of a factor of two to three was similar to that observed for the earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to nickel under similar conditions (Scott-Fordsmand et al, 1998). Similar, or slightly higher, dierences in sensitivity between these two end points have been observed for the eect of other metals on springtails (Crommentuijn et al, 1993(Crommentuijn et al, , 1995aJepson et al, 1996). Larger dierences, up to a factor of 20, between mortality and reproduction have been recorded for copper and cadmium (van Gestel and van Diepen, 1997).…”

Continuous Monitoring of Folsomia candida (Insecta: Collembola) in a Metal Exposure Test

“…EC values found in Experiment 1, in which F. candida were exposed to Cd-contaminated yeast, were almost four times higher than EC values for F. candida in Cd-contaminated soil (Table 5). Crommentuijn et al (1995) also found e!ective concentration values to be higher for food rather than soil exposure.…”

“…Hence parameters such as growth, oviposition, and hatching times cannot be monitored (Scott-Fordsmand et al, 1997). Only two studies have exposed F. candida to metals in yeast, with Cd and Zn being tested individually (Crommentuijn et al, 1995;1997b;Smit, 1997, respectively).…”

Influence of Temperature on the Regulation and Toxicity of Zinc inFolsomia candida(Collembola)

“…Where a decrease in temperature led to an increase in sensitivity based on sublethal parameters like growth and reproduction, animals were less sensitive at lower temperatures when mortality was regarded as a test parameter. Crommentuijn et al (1995) proposed the use of a Sublethal Sensitivity Index (SSI), defined as the ratio between the lethal and sublethal effect concentration, as a tool to evaluate species specific population-level effects of toxicant stress. High SSIs indicate a priority of survival over reproduction after toxic stress, whereas a low SSI indicates that the animal continues to reproduce until death.…”