Fluctuations in Natural Populations of Collembola and Acarina

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Abstract
Near Oxford, England, the collembolan Pseudachorutes subcrassus and the Acarina Asca aphidioides, and Hypochthonius pallidulus, inhabit tussocks of Bromus erectus at the rate of from 1062, 256, and 16 individuals respectively to 19,050, 2787 and 3975 respectively during the winter (Nov. to Apr.). Populations of these animals tend to concentrate in tussocks which are separated from one another by 9-12 in. Numbers of subcrassus, pallidulus and, to a lesser extent, aphidioides increased through Dec, then declined and again increased in Feb. to fall off again in March, as shown by extractions by Berlese and Tullgren funnels. Moisture is of great importance for the existence of the fauna and drying or wetting of different regions of tussocks causes migrations of certain species within them.

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