The effect of pH and calcium on copper availability to the springtail Folsomia candida in simplified soil solutions

The effect of pH and calcium on copper bioavailability to the springtail Folsomia candida was determined by assessing uptake kinetics upon copper exposure for 15 days in simplified soil solutions. A slight bioaccumulation of copper was observed in all treatments and controls. The effect of exposure concentration and calcium level on copper accumulation was not significant. Although pH and time slightly but significantly affected copper concentrations in the body, copper uptake rates were not significantly different from zero. This suggests that copper uptake in F. candida exposed to sub-lethal copper concentrations in soil pore water is not affected by pH and calcium.