Culturing techniques, distribution and abundance and SEM analysis of separate instars or moults of the springtail Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni at Cape Bird

The separtation of instars or moults is essential to a life history study of an invertebrate. A reliable method of differentiating instars of the small black collembolan or springtail, Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni, was investigated. Approximately 800 collembola were collected in the moss patches found on a hill at Cape Bird. The specimens were fixed and viewed under a scanning electron microscope. The mouthparts and internal head skeleton were analysed for differentiating characters. The distribution and abundance of the springtail was investigated by counting individuals in a series of 25 x 25cm quadrats along a transect across a melt. At each sampling point, the top 2.5cm, the 2.5cm to 5cm layer and the 5cm layer were sampled separately. The water content of each sample and temperature was also determined and the ten largest stones had their greatest length measured. Culturing techniques were attempted also.