Model organism
The model organism is the soil arthropod Folsomia candida(Collembola, Isotomidae). F. candida was reared in petri dishes
at room temperature (c. 19℃), with dry yeast provided as a food
resource. Although F. candida can survive in drought conditions
for short periods by temporarily changing their physiological response
(Fountain and Hopkin 2005), humidity is essential to their lifecycle
(Waagner et al. 2011). Laboratory studies have shown that both the
survival rate and egg production of F. candida was decreased when
air humidity reduced from 100 to 96% RH (Hilligsoe and Holmstrup 2003,
Waagner et al. 2011). F. candida eggs are more sensitive to
drought and will perish if relative humidity below 98.7% (Holmstrup
2019).