Gamma radiation effects on Collembola

Pitfall traps were used to collect surface-active Collembola at intervals of 10-100 m from a gamma radiation source on Long Island, N.Y., during the summer of 1968. Thirty-two species of Collembola were collected along the radiation transect. Community diversities were similar at all intervals except 10 m. Collembola appeared resistant to gamma radiation; only chronic, very high gamma radiation exposure seriously affected population levels and community diversity of surface Collembola.