title: Seasonal change in the wetting characteristics of the cuticle of the CollembolaCryptopygus clavatus(Schött, 1893).
abstract: The littoral CollembolaCryptopygus clavatusspends the summer submerged, grazing on algae under water, and the winter on dry land. The cuticles of Collembola are, in general, highly water repellent, often superhydrophobic; the cuticle ofC. clavatushas, in contrast, been described as not water repellent. Wetting properties are closely tied to surface structuring, and previous studies of Collembola cuticles have used the pattern of cuticular granules to explain the superhydrophobic properties of these cuticles. The wetting properties of the cuticles ofC. clavatuswere measured on animals acclimated to summer and winter. A significant difference in wetting performance was observed. Animals acclimated to winter conditions showed superhydrophobic non-wetting properties. Animals acclimated to summer conditions were not superhydrophobic, water droplets readily adhered to their cuticles. This large change in wetting behavior of the cuticle could not be explained by changes in the cuticular surface structure, which were very limited. Instead, we suggest a change in the epicuticular wax layer could explain the differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Design and Materials, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Richard Birkelands vei 2b, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Håkon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gundersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Design and Materials, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Richard Birkelands vei 2b, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thaulow
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hans Petter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Leinaas
keywords: Collembola; Cuticle; Seasonal adaptation; Superhydrophobic; Wetting