Soil compression influences the avoidance behavior of Allonychiurus kimi (Collembola) to cadmium and copper

The behavior of soil organisms inhabiting soil pore spaces can be influenced by soil compression, which can affect their avoidance behavior to pollutants. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of soil compression on the avoidance behavior of Allonychiurus kimi (Collembola) to heavy metals cadmium and copper. Initially, to assess the applicability of the avoidance test guideline of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed for Folsomia candida, we investigated the avoidance behavior of A. kimi to cadmium and copper in an artificial soil with a loose structure (bulk density of 0.25 g cm-3), the porous texture of which was sufficiently loose to enable A. kimi to move between pore spaces. The effect of soil compression on the avoidance behavior of A. kimi to both metals was evaluated in compressed soil (bulk density of 0.64 g cm-3) with a uniformly compressed soil surface, and avoidance behavior was investigated at 24-h intervals over a 120-h period. Given that A. kimi is unable to burrow into compressed soil, the compressed soil test can minimize the effects of differences in soil factors, such as soil porosity and bulk density, on the behavior of this collembolan. In the artificial soil, a statistically significant avoidance behavior of A. kimi was observed at cadmium and copper concentrations greater than 50 and 200 mg kg-1, respectively, thereby indicating the applicability of the ISO avoidance test guidelines for A. kimi. When compared at the same exposure time point, the avoidance response to both metals in compressed soil was less sensitive than that in uncompressed soil. In addition, we observed differences in the effects of metals on avoidance response in the compressed soil over time, with the effect of cadmium increasing with time and the effect of copper showing the opposite trend. Overall, we found that soil compression can affect the avoidance behavior of A. kimi to cadmium and copper, and we discussed the advantages and limitations of using compressed soil for assessments of pollutant toxicity.