Die Wachstumskosten vonPorcellio scaber (Crustacea,Isopoda)

The assimilation of food inPorcellio scaber, considered over the entire life cycle, follows a two-phase function with a turning point at a body weight of about 3 mg. It is assumed that an important factor in this relationship is the efficiency of digestion, which should depend on the surface/volume ratio of the mid-gut and on the speed with which food is passed through the intestine. Calculation of these values reveals a size-dependent drop in efficiency of digestion roughly following the “surface rule”. The drop in efficiency of digestion may pose to the system a problem of information retrieval since inefficient digestion increases the “noise” level against which specific “signals” have to be selected — that is, specific molecules have to be absorbed and used in syntheses of cell constitutents. In order to offset decreasing efficiency of digestion, the system would have to increase redundancy, e. g. by assimilating progressively more food and thus, inevitably, increasing “cost” of some kind. The young larvae ofP. scaber, up to a body weight of 3 mg, do, in fact increase the amount of food assimilated in proportion to the calculated increase in redundancy. At about this critical size a switch in metabolism seems to take place, and weight specific assimilation of food decreases despite the continuously dropping efficiency of digestion. The actual use that the organism makes of the food ingested is represented by the ratio assimilation/cost of redundancy. Calculation of this ratio over the whole life cycle shows it to parallel neatly the curve for the monthly growth rate of the species.     

Foraminiferan (Protozoa) epizoites on deep-water arcturids (Crustacea,Isopoda)

Foraminiferan (Protozoa) epizoites were examined on two deep-water isopods, Neastacilla sp. and Pleuroprion hystrix (Valvifera, Arcturidae), from the north Atlantic Ocean and the Nordic Seas. Most foraminiferans belonged to genus Cibicides and occurred on 27% of Neastacilla and 23% of Pleuroprion hystrix. The pattern of foraminiferan epibiosis was similar in both species, with a concentration on the dorsal body and on the posterior pereopods. The arcturids showed an increase in number of foraminiferans with increased body size, suggesting that available time span for settling on the younger stages (mancas) was relatively short. There was a trend towards larger numbers of foraminiferans occurring on larger arcturid species, suggesting that available space is the factor that determines the total number of foraminiferans for epibenthic arcturid isopod species.     

The setae of Eurydice pulchra (Crustacea: Isopoda)

The setal armature of Eurydice pulchra Leach is described using an ordinary optical microscope. On the basis of size, setae are divided into macrotrichs and microtrichs. Macrotrichs are further classified according to structural similarities into four groups. Only two types of microtrichs have been recognized. The distribution of the different setae on both adults and juveniles is described and where possible an attempt is made to relate morphology and distribution to function.  

Summary:

The setal armature of E. pulchra has been divided into macrotrichs, varying in length from 0·025 to 0·4 mm, and microtrichs varying in length from 2 to 10 μm. The macrotrichs have been classified into groups based on structural similarities and 17 distinct types have been recognized. Each differ in length, degree of chitinization and modification of the shaft wall. The distribution of the macrotrichs has been described and particular types have been shown to occur in distinct positions on the body. Many of the macrotrichs are peculiar to one position on the body.
Two types of microtrichs have been described, a single type approximately 10 μm in length and a smaller type 2 μm in length. The latter occurs in short crescentic rows principally on the pleopods and oostegites. All setal types occurring in the adult have been shown to be present in the newly emerged juvenile although the number developed is very much less. Similar setal types are present in males and females. An attempt has been made to relate the morphology and distribution of both macrotrichs and microtrichs to possible functions.     

Biology and population dynamics of Porcellionides sexfasciatus (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea)

The biology and the population dynamics of Porcellionides sexfasciatus Budde-Lund (1879) were studied on a field and carried out at Garat Naam (Kasserine, Tunisia) from July 1996 to June 1998. The reproduction exhibited a seasonal pattern extending from February/March to October/November. The juveniles appeared in the population from April to November. Size frequency distributions were analysed and 14 cohorts were recognised during the sampling period. Six cohorts were identified at the first sampling and eight new ones on the other samplings. Among these latter cohorts, three were tracked till they disappeared. Minimum average length of new cohorts ranged from 3.07 +/- 0.35 mm to 3.47 +/- 0.2 mm. Maximum average length of cohorts was 10.42 mm. P. sexfasciatus is a semi-annual species (females producing two or three broods per year), with iteroparous and amphogenes females (females reproducing twice or more in their life and producing both males and females), and bivoltine life cycle (two generations per year). The females are able to produce two broods, in the laboratory, without new mating. Fecundity and fertility, corresponding to the number of eggs or embryos per brood, appeared positively correlated with females' size. Although oscillating throughout the year, the sex ratio was often in equilibrium.     

GATA repeats in the genome of Asellus aquaticus (Crustacea,Isopoda)

A 500 bp fragment of Drosophila genomic DNA containing 37 copies of the tetranucleotide GATA was used to probe, by Southern DNA blotting and in situ hybridization, two natural populations of the isopod crustacean Asellus aquaticus collected from the Sarno and Tiber rivers. This species does not have a recognizable sex chromosome pair. In a number of males from the Sarno population chromomycin A₃ staining reveals a heteromorphic chromosome pair. The heterochromosome has two blocks of heterochromatin. After digestion of genomic DNA with six restriction endonucleases and hybridization with the GATA probe, the two populations exhibit different fragment length patterns. No sex-linked pattern was observed in either population. In situ hybridization to chromosomes of males and females from the Sarno population does not reveal any sex-specific pattern of labelling and indicates a scattered distribution of GATA sequences on most chromosomes with some areas of preferential concentration. The heterochromatic arcas of the male heterochromosome are not labelled.by E.R. Schmidt     

Reproduction, growth and bionomics of Dynamene bidentata (Crustacea: Isopoda)

Laboratory and field investigations show that there are five distinct marsupial stages and eight post-marsupial stages in the development of the isopod Dynamene bidentata (Adams). Extensive sexual dimorphism is apparent, beginning at stage 6, and females undergo extensive tissue reduction at the moult to the eighth stage. Young stages inhabit and feed on intertidal algae, and the non-feeding adults (stage 7 and 8 females, and stage 8 males) shelter in crevices or empty barnacle tests. Average brood numbers are fairly high (c. 90) and the average marsupial mortality rate is about 36%. Release of young takes place in May/June, after which the females die, and a resident population of males remains in the crevices to be joined by newly maturing females and males from August onwards each year. The occurrence of two breeding seasons in males, but not in females, explains how the sex ratio of males to females as they leave the algal habitat (1:9) is about half the ratio of males to females in the reproductive habitat (1:4).     

Morphology and evolution of respiratory structures in the pleopod exopodites of terrestrial Isopoda (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

The morphology of the respiratory structures located in the pleopod exopodites of terrestrial Isopoda is described for representative species of different genera. Special emphasis is set on the evolution of these lungs in the context of phylogenetic relationships as revealed by other morphological characters. In the most primitive species of the Oniscidea, and still of subordinate taxa of the Crinocheta, respiration takes place in the thin ventral integument of the exopodites. The evolution of dorsal respiratory fields with a weakly wrinkled surface occurred at least six times within the Crinocheta. In five of these cases, a further development can be observed. The evolution of a partly covered respiratory field with strongly wrinkled surface may have taken place six times. It is assumed that completely internalized lungs with spiracles surrounded by a water‐repellent surface microsculpture, evolved at least six times independently within the Oniscidea: in the Tylidae, Actaecia, Aphiloscia, the Eubelidae, the Armadillidae and in a taxon probably comprising Porcellionidae plus Armadillidiidae.     

Ovoviviparity in the genus Excirolana (Crustacea: Isopoda)

Studies on the intertidal sand-beach isopod, Excirolana chiltoni , have shown the species to be ovoviviparous. Large yolk-filled eggs are deposited into paired uteri of the female where they remain throughout gestation. Intrauterine development progresses through five stages and terminates upon birth of the manca which is morphologically similar to the adult but lacks the eighth pair of thoracic legs. The oostegites while present are much reduced and form a genital operculum rather than a brood pouch as they do in the majority of free living isopods. Six other species of Excirolana examined in the course of this investigation show evidence of internal incubation. Ovoviviparity thus appears to be characteristic of the entire genus, members of which live on exposed sand beaches throughout tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. Internal retention of embryonic stages provides protection against a number of environmental stresses peculiar to this sort of habitat.     

Toxicity of heavy metals to Asellus aquaticus (L.) (Crustacea,Isopoda)

Effects of heavy metals on the isopod Asellus aquaticus (L.) are studied by static toxicity tests. Results demonstrate that the species is sensitive to Cd⁺², Cr⁺⁶, Cu⁺², Fe⁺³, Hg⁺², Ni⁺² Pb⁺² and Zn⁺², but the toxicity of each metal is different. Differences are also found between adults and between adults and juveniles. The comparative analysis of all data on the toxicity has been performed on the concentrations of metal ions and not on metal compound concentrations.Criteria for establishing water quality in order to guarantee protection of the environment are discussed.     

Male Choice and Male-male Competition in Idotea baitica (Crustacea,Isopoda)

Sexual selection in mate-guarding Crustacea may involve several processes: male choice, male-male competition, and female choice. To evaluate the relative importance of the different processes in mate choice of the aquatic isopod I. baitica we studied 1) the mate-choice criteria of males, 2) effects of sex ratio on the outcome of the mating contest, and 3) the role of size in male-male interactions. When given a choice between a small and a large female, males most often chose the one that matured earlier for parturial ecdysis. Maturity was a more important choice criterion than female size, but these also correlated positively. Large males had a mating advantage in both male- and female-biased sex ratios; pairing was size-assortative only in the male-biased ratio where guarding was also longer. If an extra male was placed with a precopulatory pair, 30 % take-overs occurred, large males surpassing. Present and earlier work suggests that male size is an asset in both intra- and intersexual interactions. There is little or no direct phenotypic sexual selection on female size: sexual selection for large males presumably contributes to the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in I. baitica.     

Phenetic analysis of populations of Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833) (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

The cosmopolitan species, Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833), exhibited a geographical variation of its morphological features and its reproduction pattern. In fact, some Tunisian populations had a seasonal reproductive period and other ones showed a reproductive activity. A phenetic analysis has been performed to compare populations belonging to P. pruinosus from different geographical localities. For this, nineteen quantitative characters in 800 specimens of P. pruinosus issued from nine populations located in the North, the Centre, and the South of Tunisia, and one population from Athens (Greece) were studied. These populations were characterized by different reproductive behaviours. The populations of Tabarka, Korba, and Tamerza showed reproductive activity, whereas those of Garat Naam, Raccada, Sahline, Gafsa, Rdayef, Gabès, and Athens exhibited a seasonal reproductive period. The variability of the first three axes of the principal components analysis (PCA) and their significance showed an intraspecific variability structure. The graphical representation of the population's dispersion generated by the two first axes (63.55% of the total variability) revealed a great heterogeneity among females of the different populations of P. pruinosus. The Garat Naam population was set apart from the other ones by its cephalic width and length and also by its apophysis length. Furthermore, cephalic and uropod length separated the Garat Naam and Tabarka populations. The dendrogram, based on Euclidean coordinates, confirms an isolation of the populations of Tabarka and Garat Naam, exhibiting respectively reproductive activity and seasonal reproduction. However, the other populations do not show any relationship with the reproduction behaviour. They were clustered in two groups. The first one is represented by the populations of the Southeast and the West of Tunisia. The second pooled the populations of the Northeast and the Centre of Tunisia with the population of Athens (Greece). Phenetic analysis of Tunisian populations exhibits an important heterogeneity, which is worth noting. Thus, we need to complete and deepen this study by genetic analysis and crossbreeding tests in order to define the taxonomic status of these populations.     

Morphologie und Funktion des Wasserleitungssystems der terrestrischen Isopoden (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscoidea)

Zusammenfassung 1. Das Wasserleitungssystem der Oniscoidea wird einer Strukturanalyse unterzogen. Die Teilstrukturen des Systems werden dargestellt. Es wird gezeigt, daß das System seinen Anfang an der Harnöffnung des Cephalothorax nimmt, wo es den aus den Maxillarnephridien stammenden Harn aufnimmt und durch ventrale und dorsale Leitungsstrukturen zum Pleoventralraum leitet. Aus diesem wird der Harn durch den Anus wieder aufgenommen und vom Rectum resorbiert.2. In der Strukturanalyse wird gezeigt, daß innerhalb der Oniscoidea zwei Typen des Wasserleitungssystems unterschieden werden können: der Porcellio-Typ und der Ligia-Typ. Bei grundsätzlicher Gleichheit beider Typen bestehen folgende Unterschiede: der Ligia-Typ hat an den 6. und 7. Pereiopoden Leitungsstrukturen, mit denen Wasser aufgesaugt wird. Im Wasserleitungssystem des Ligia-Typs fließt Harn und Wasser, in dem des Porcellio-Typs nur Harn.3. Da die entwicklungsgeschichtlichen Extreme Ligia und Hemilepistus ein Wasserleitungssystem haben, bei 45 weiteren Arten verschiedener Familien keine Assel ohne ein solches System gefunden werden konnte, muß geschlossen werden, daß dieses System konstitutiv für alle Landasseln ist. Alle untersuchten Arten lassen sich einem der beiden System-Typen zuordnen.4. Die vorgefundenen Strukturen werden auf ihre Funktion hin interpretiert. Es wird die Hypothese vertreten, daß das Wasserleitungssystem ein geschlossenes (Porcellio-Typ), multifunktionales System, vor allem aber integraler Bestandteil des Exkretionssystems ist. Das bei der Ammoniotelie auch terrestrischer Isopoden anfallende NH₃ wird im Harn aus dem Körper entfernt. Aus dem Harn entweicht das NH₃ wegen der enormen Oberflächenvergrößerung der Harnflüssigkeit beim Durchfluß durch die Leitungsstrukturen des Wasserleitungssystems. Der Harn selber wird nach Durchfließen des Pleoventralraumes durch die Endopodite und durch den Anus in den Körper wieder aufgenommen.Der Nachteil der Ammoniotelie, der hohe Wasserbedarf, wird so aufgehoben und der Vorteil, die Energieersparnis, gewahrt. Darüber hinaus gehört das System zu den Funktionskreisen Respiration und Thermoregulation und hat außerdem Funktionen bei der Wasserleitung sowie bei der Feuchthaltung und Reinigung des Integuments.5. Das Wasserleitungssystem wird als im Tierreich einzigartiger Weg erwiesen, die physiologischen Probleme des Landganges zu bewältigen.

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Morphology and function of the water conducting system in terrestrial isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscoidea)

Summary In terrestrial isopods there are two types of a water conducting system. The porcellio-type is a recycling system. Out of the maxillar-nephridium urine is secreted, which spreads through the ventral and dorsal structures of the water conducting system. It is then directed along the pleopods and is reabsorbed in the gut. Within this system only urine runs. The ligiatype is an open system. Here urine runs as well as water, which is absorbed by the sixth and seventh pereiopods.In all the species investigated incl. Ligia and Hemilepistus a water conducting system has been found. Apparently this system is constitutive for all terrestrial isopods. Concerning function (hypothesis): the water conducting system is multifunctional, but above all serving excretion. Isopods, also terrestrial isopods, are ammoniotelic. While the urine is spreading through the conducting structures ammonia is vapourizing off the increased surface. A special permeability of the integument needs not be assumed. After the urine having passed the anus, it is reabsorbed in the gut. The disadvantage of the ammoniotelism, the great demand of water, is avoided, the advantage, the economizing of energy, is preserved.Additionally the water conducting system allows an active thermoregulation to a certain extent. Furthermore it has functions in respiration, conducting of water and keeping the integument humid and clean.

     

Relationships within the Munnopsidae (Crustacea, Isopoda, Asellota) based on three genes

The Munnopsidae are a diverse group of asellote isopods that are an important component of deep‐sea fauna. Morphologically‐based phylogenetic inference attempts have proven to be of limited use due to the ecological and morphological diversity within the clade. Monophyly of the family is well‐established but relationships within the group remain unresolved. This project is the first molecularly‐based effort focused specifically on resolving phylogenetic relationships within the Munnopsidae. Partial 28S and COI and complete 18S genes were sequenced for 28 asellotes, 15 additional taxa were included from which only one or two of the three target sequences could be obtained, and 18S sequences for five additional taxa were available from GenBank. Sequences were analysed both as individual genes and in combination using Bayesian and maximum parsimony approaches. Each gene provided a phylogenetic signal that could be identified in the combined analyses, with 18S analyses providing the most resolution of phylogenetic relationships. The available representatives of subfamilies Munnopsinae and Ilyarachninae were monophyletic, as was the genus Munneurycope. Relationships within the subfamily Munnopsinae were well‐resolved by thorough taxon sampling, several new species were placed, and the need for taxonomic revision of Munnopsis/Munnopsoides was supported. These analyses supported putative Eurycope paraphyly and emphasized the need for careful revision of this highly variable genus. Tytthocope was sister to Munnopsurus. Syneurycope was suggested as the sister group to the ilyarachnines. Combined analyses provided increased support for clades suggested in at least two individual gene analyses and for clades not strongly contradicted by individual analyses. Further work is required to fully resolve the munnopsid phylogeny and should consist of increased taxon sampling for the complete 18S sequence and possibly identification of at least one slowly evolving, nuclear protein‐coding gene to resolve the basal polytomy and enable placement of the root.     

Description of the postmarsupial manca stages of Armadillidium granulatum (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea)

The development of the postmarsupial manca stages of Armadillidium granulatum Brandt, 1833 was studied in detail by morphological analysis. Ovigerous females were reared separately under controlled conditions, allowing us to follow the stages of development from release from the marsupium until the appearance of the first juvenile stage, identified by the full development of the seventh pair of pereopods. Each newborn was followed to record the subsequent moults that identify the three postmarsupial manca stages. Manca stage M I had a mean duration of 6 h, manca stage M II 15 days, and manca stage M III 32 days. The cephalothorax width was measured to provide a growth measure for each stage. The mean values of the cephalothorax width were: 0.512 mm (± 0.083 SD) for M I, 0.677 mm (± 0.058 SD) for M II and 1.194 mm (± 0.079 SD) for M III. The morphological modifications in the three postmarsupial manca stages were described, the body parts illustrated, and SEM images taken. The distinguishing characteristics among mancas were discussed, and comparisons made with manca stages of other terrestrial isopod species.     

Epibionts of Asellus aquaticus(L.) (Crustacea, Isopoda): an SEM study

1. This study presents a qualitative and quantitative survey of epibionts infesting two populations of the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus (L.). Using scanning electron microscopy, the prevalence, mean intensity, abundance, spatial preferences and distribution of organisms on various external surfaces were ascertained.
2. A diverse community, consisting primarily of protozoa and rotifers, utilised A. aquaticus as a substrate organism. Every individual A. aquaticus supported some form of epizoic life. Peritrich species comprised 89.2% of all epibionts. Carchesium polypinum, Pseudocarchesium aselli, Pseudocarchesium asellicola, Pseudocarchesium simulans and Opercularia hebes dominated the epifauna.
3. Highest epibiont burdens occurred on the mouthparts, the first few ventral segments and the gills and largely comprised the above peritrich species. Most epibionts exhibited some degree of site preference on the host. A distinct gill epifauna existed. Apart from Acineta tuberosa and Vorticella rotunda , which had equal prevalences on dorsal and ventral surfaces in one culture, most species largely avoided the dorsal surface.
4. Epibionts exhibited varying degrees of adaptation to life on a living substrate. They ranged from facultative species such as A. tuberosa , which are capable of colonising abiotic substrata, to Gymnodinoides aselli whose life cycle relies on interaction with A. aquaticus . Highly specialised species tended to exhibit the most pronounced and consistent site restriction.
5. Asellus aquaticus offers a highly tractable system for further study of substrate species–epibiont relationships.     

Postembryonic eye growth in the seashore isopod Ligia exotica (Crustacea,Isopoda)

The eye of Ligia exotica is of the apposition type and has open rhabdoms. The facets are hexagonal, and the dioptric apparatus consists of a flat cornea and a spherical crystalline cone placed in the center of two large cone cells. Each ommatidium has seven regular retinula cells and one eccentric cell; a basement membrane forms the proximal boundary of the retina. With increases in body size from 0.6 to almost 4.0 cm, facet numbers and ommatidial diameters increased from 800 to 1500 and 35 microm to 100 microm, respectively; eye length and width grew from 1.2 to 3.2 and 0.9 to 2.5 mm, respectively; and length of dioptric apparatus and width of retinal layer changed from 70 microm to 180 microm and about 70 microm to 120 microm. Visual angles and interommatidial angles of centrally located ommatidia remained constant at about 30 and 6.9 degrees, respectively. An almost perfect linear relationship was found when eye length was plotted against the product between the square root of the total number of ommatidia and the ommatidial diameter. No difference between males and females was observed in any of the relationships, but the results suggest that, compared with smaller specimens, larger ones possess increased absolute sensitivity in single ommatidia, increased sensitivity to point sources, and overall larger angular visual fields for the eye in its totality. This means that larger individuals of L. exotica (which are also faster) have an advantage over smaller individuals at night, but that smaller individuals may cope better with bright lights. Vision in L. exotica seems useful not only in detecting potential danger, but also in locating and approaching cliffs from a distance of 2-4 m when swimming in seawater.