Modelling the time–temperature relationship in cold injury and effect of high-temperature interruptions on survival in a chill-sensitive collembolan

1. Temperature- and time-dependent mortalities were studied and modelled in insects exposed in regimes with constant and alternating temperatures. In these experiments, freezing was not a cause of death.
2. Survival rates at a range of constant low temperatures (– 5 to + 1 °C) and for different exposure periods (1–14 days) were measured in the summer acclimated springtail Orchesella cincta .
3. Daily interruptions of the cold exposure with short intervals at high temperature reduced mortality or slowed the increase of mortality. This effect was stronger at higher temperature (19 vs 5 and 12 °C) and increased with the duration of the interruption (0·25–2 h).
4. The injury was reversible when the cold exposure was limited to 2 days.
5. Survival in desiccated animals (14% water loss) was reduced.
6. It is suggested that the mortality of summer acclimated springtails is caused by a complex metabolic disorder and membrane changes at low temperatures.