02697nas a2200205   4500008004100000245007200041210006900113300001400182490000700196520204100203653002602244653001102270653001702281653001802298653001502316653001102331100001502342700002202357856011202379       2011                        eng d00aInvertebrate activity under snow in a South-Norwegian spruce forest0 aInvertebrate activity under snow in a SouthNorwegian spruce fore  a187–2090 v833 aThe activity of invertebrates under snow was studied by pitfall traps during two winter seasons in a 
high altitude spruce forest in southern Norway. With a snow layer varying between about 30 and 150 cm 
during the sampling periods, the temperature in the subnivean air space stayed close to 0 degree Celcius.
Traps were emptied and replaced at least once a month during the snow-covered period, from October/November to 
April/May. For phenological purposes, some trapping was also performed just before or after the snow 
period. Most invertebrate groups were identified to species level. Beneath a permanent snow cover, the 
most species-rich groups collected were Collembola (22 species), Acari (22 taxa), spiders (12 species) and 
beetles (13 species). Collembola and Acari (microarthropods) always dominated in numbers. Subnivean 
catches also included Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones, Trichoceridae, Limoniidae, Brachycera, Mecoptera, 
Gastropoda, and Harpacticoidea (Copepoda). Beetle larvae of Cholevidae and Staphylinidae were quite 
common. Traps placed adjacent to natural cavities between stones etc. did not achieve higher catches 
than traps on flat ground with a narrow subnivean space, indicating general subnivean activity over the 
whole forest floor. Many Collembola and Oribatida species were actively feeding under snow, having a 
characteristic gut content of fungal hyphae and spores. Also the gut of Cholevidae larvae (Coleoptera) 
contained fungal hyphae and spores, but mixed with decaying plant material. Since fungal feeders 
perhaps do not need to move much, pitfall trapping may underestimate the extent of subnivean feeding. 
We hypothesize that certain fungi known to decompose litter beneath snow (snow molds) represent a 
valuable food source for winter-active Collembola, Acari and Cholevidae larvae. Some of these may be 
eaten by spiders. Spiders and beetle larvae are among the invertebrates known to be eaten by subnivean 
shrews, so we support the idea of subnivean food chains. 10ainvertebrate activity10aNorway10apitfall trap10aspruce forest10aunder snow10aWinter1 aHågvar, S1 aHågvar, Benestad  uhttps://cholevidae.myspecies.info/en/content/invertebrate-activity-under-snow-south-norwegian-spruce-forest