title: Size-specific mortality patterns in two species of forest floor Collembola.
abstract: Forest floor populations of Orchesella cincta (L) and Tomocerus minor (Lubbock) (Collembola; Entomobryidae) have been sampled over two generations and from length frequency distributions survivorship curves were constructed for each generation. Size-specific mortality rates were computed from size-specific survivorship data. The results reveal an asymmetrically U-shaped mortality pattern, with disproportionally high juvenile mortality. The pattern changes from one generation to the next, in particular the post-hatching mortality. Evidence from behavioural ecological research on a Collembola-specialized ground beetle is cited in favour of the hypothesis that size-specific mortality patterns are moulded by size-specific predation.
authors.affiliation: Biologisch Laboratorium, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, Postbus 7161, NL1007 MC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nico M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Straalen