Monoterpenes is one of the largest class of natural products, found in almost all plants and in many animals. The characteristic smell of pine is the monoterpenes α-pinen and β-pinen. Monoterpenes have a variety of important biochemical, physiological and ecological functions. They defend many species of plants, animals and microorganisms against predators, pathogens and competitors, but for the majority of monoterpenes, the biological role is still unknown.
About 33% of the Earth's land area is covered with forest, with pine as the most dominant forest species. Below pine trees, the monoterpene α-pinen is found in high concentrations in soil and there are so far no knowledge of its effect on soil animals.
In this project, we investigate the effect of α-pinen on drought tolerance in the springtail P. fimata.
