Life-history theory predicts that pollutants can be selective agents which mould life-history patterns. Pollution-mediated decreased adult survival and reproductive success was expected to induce earlier maturation and an increased reproductive allocation per clutch. Divergence of life-history patterns in relation to metal exposure was studied in reference and metal-tolerant natural populations of the springtail species Orchesella cincta. Mortality, growth and reproduction were analysed in laboratory generation animals originating from six sites. The dose-effect relationship for mortality was similar for all populations, except for the control and the lowest exposure concentration. For animals from highly polluted sites, control mortality was higher than mortality in the low exposed group. Inter-population differences with regard to growth and reproduction were studied using two cadmium exposure levels. Body growth was analysed using Von Bertalanffy' s growth model. Inter-population differences for asymptotic weight and growth rate were small. Asymptotic weight depended on sex and treatment, growth rate also depended on population. Inter-population differences were highest for post-hatching body weight. Juvenile body weight was highest and least affected by cadmium in animals from metal-contaminated sites. Female weight at first reproduction depended on population and exposure. Age at first reproduction was lowest in the most exposed populations. Clutch size differences were not found, but realized fertility was higher in exposed populations, since more clutches per female were produced. It is concluded that life-history patterns in 0. cincta differ between populations which have experienced a different duration and intensity of metal exposure. As the differences were found in laboratory generation animals, there is evidence for genetic differences between populations.
