Annual respiration and production estimates for collembolan and psocopteran epiphyte herbivores on larch trees in southern England

ABSTRACT.

• 1 The population and biomass dynamics of the collembolan and psocopteran epiphyte herbivores on larch trees at Ranmore Common, Surrey, were followed from October 1976 to October 1978.
• 2 The effect of temperature and body weight on the metabolic rate of the epiphyte herbivores was determined in the laboratory.
• 3 The metabolic rate of Psocoptera appears little influenced by changes in temperature within the range they normally experience in the field. This‘low Q₁₀ metabolism’is discussed in the light of other studies of species showing a similar phenomenon.
• 4 The collembolan metabolism also shows some temperature compensation.
• 5 The laboratory studies on metabolic rate are combined with field data to give annual respiration and production estimates.
• 6 The data from southern England are compared with published data from northern England sites and their differences discussed.