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Leaf litter species preference in the pill bug ( Armadillidium sp . )

Leaf litter species preference in the pill bug ( Armadillidium sp . ). Emily Byrne Kevin Isherwood Greg McGuire Jonathan O’Keefe. The pill bug, Armadillidium sp. Widespread terrestrial crustacean Susceptible to desiccation Physiological adaptations Behavioural adaptations

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Leaf litter species preference in the pill bug ( Armadillidium sp . )

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  1. Leaf litter species preference in the pill bug (Armadillidium sp.) Emily Byrne Kevin Isherwood Greg McGuire Jonathan O’Keefe

  2. The pill bug, Armadillidium sp. • Widespread terrestrial crustacean • Susceptible to desiccation • Physiological adaptations • Behavioural adaptations • Respiratory mechanisms

  3. Habitat preference • Flexible diet comprised primarily of decaying matter • Moist, dark environments • Decaying > fresh leaf litter

  4. Species- specific leaf litter • High quality litter> low quality litter • Panlasiui (2011) • Oak, Quercusagrifolia, > Blue Gum, Eucalyptus globulus • Tuck & Hassall (2003) • Dicotyledon litter > grass litter • Morisawa et al. (2002) • Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica – natural repellant

  5. Current study • Investigate if the pill bug, Armadillidiumsp. has a preference for local leaf litter species • Hypothesis: individuals will prefer broad-leaf species

  6. Experiment 1: Leaf litter species preference • 3 trials • Wet leaves • Dark environment Quercusrubens Picearubens 20 pill bugs Thujaoccidentalis Acersaccharum

  7. Experiment 2: Effects of moisture and humidity • Spruce dried in oven • Maple dunked in well water 20 pill bugs

  8. Discussion • Hypothesis: preference for broad leaf species • Drying of leaves potentially a major contributor

  9. Discussion • Cloudsley-Thompson & Constantinou 1987 • Presence of a thigmokinetic response • Takeda 1980 • Possible aggregation pheromones

  10. Questions?

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