Family identity of the sub-social desert terrestrial isopod Hemilepistus reaumurii

Ayari, Anas; Richard, Freddie-Jeanne; Souty‐Grosset, Catherine; Nasri–Ammar, Karima

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.06.012

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Isopods remain belowground from November to February. They then leave their natal burrows, form pairs and establish new family burrows [32,33]. Foraging activity peaks in the hot and dry summer months, where isopods forage aboveground for plant litter and BSC during a short time window of 1–2 h after dawn [34].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Burrowing detritivores regulate nutrient cycling in a desert ecosystem

2019

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Nutrient cycling in most terrestrial ecosystems is controlled by moisture-dependent decomposer activity. In arid ecosystems, plant litter cycling exceeds rates predicted based on precipitation amounts, suggesting that additional factors are involved. Attempts to reveal these factors have focused on abiotic degradation, soil–litter mixing and alternative moisture sources. Our aim was to explore an additional hypothesis that macro-detritivores control litter cycling in deserts. We quantified the role different organisms play in clearing plant detritus from the desert surface, using litter baskets with different mesh sizes that allow selective entry of micro-, meso- or macrofauna. We also measured soil nutrient concentrations in increasing distances from the burrows of a highly abundant macro-detritivore, the desert isopod Hemilepistus reaumuri. Macro-detritivores controlled the clearing of plant litter in our field site. The highest rates of litter removal were measured during the hot and dry summer when isopod activity peaks and microbial activity is minimal. We also found substantial enrichment of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous near isopod burrows. We conclude that burrowing macro-detritivores are important regulators of litter cycling in this arid ecosystem, providing a plausible general mechanism that explains the unexpectedly high rates of plant litter cycling in deserts.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Burrowing detritivores regulate nutrient cycling in a desert ecosystem

2019

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“…The two months of June and July could be considered as the active period of the offspring for H. reaumurii. From August to November, the body size of juveniles increased whereas a high percentage of mortality of adults was noted (Ayari et al, 2016b). To sum up, our third hypothesis that the body size of active individuals would change with months is verified.…”

Section: Monthly Variation In the Body Size Of Active H Reaumurii Inmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Monthly variation in the surface activity of H. reaumurii individuals between sexes revealed that both males and females were more active in March. In fact, March represented the dispersal period (Shachak and Yair, 1984;Nasri et al, 1996;Ayari et al, 2016b), during which males and females leave their families and disperse in order to find a new burrow and a partner. This crucial period of life cycle could explain the high intensity of surface activity during this month.…”

Section: Monthly and Hourly Variations Of The Surface Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our results also revealed a seasonal shift in the activity pattern, from a unimodal pattern to a bimodal pattern. Natal dispersion, for considerable distances (Ayari et al, 2016b), started in mid-February with only one low activity peak (unimodal pattern). In March and April, H. reaumurii had a 10-11 h of surface activity with several types, including foraging, searching, digging, maintaining and defending burrows, monogamous pair formation, etc.…”

Section: Monthly and Hourly Variations Of The Surface Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The reproduction period that began in May was characterized by the presence of the reproductive females. These females realized only one brood per life cycle (Ayari et al, 2016b). Therefore, a lot of energy was spent during March-May which may explain the gradual decrease of the body size of active H. reaumurii individuals.…”

Section: Monthly Variation In the Body Size Of Active H Reaumurii Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hourly and monthly variations in the surface activity patterns of Hemilepistus reaumurii in arid environments of Tunisia

et al. 2018

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Life in desert ecosystems drives animals to adapt their surface locomotor activity according to environmental conditions. In this study, the hourly and monthly variations in the surface activity patterns of the terrestrial crustacean Hemilepistus reaumurii were investigated. The surface activity of H. reaumurii at the population scale was observed by collecting the hourly active individuals from the sunrise to the sunset of the studied day in each month of 2013 in the Bchachma locality, Tunisia. The collected active individuals were put in perspex boxes (on which we labeled the hourly time interval in which the individuals were collected) in the field and then transported to the laboratory for analysis. Individuals were counted, sexed, and measured in the laboratory. Despite desert conditions in the studied site, H. reaumurii was characterized by a diurnal surface activity, showing a bimodal pattern during the warm months (i.e., May to October). However, it exhibited a unimodal surface activity pattern in the cold months (i.e., February, March, and November). The surface activity was significantly correlated with sunrise and sunset. Moreover, a significant quadratic effect of temperature on the surface activity of H. reaumurii was observed. Furthermore, the study showed that the most important surface activity was recorded in March. The daily exploitation of the temporal niches was significantly different as a function of months. The body size of males was larger than that of females, and the body size of active individuals changed with months. All these behavioural changes in the surface activity represent an adaptive strategy of life in the arid environment.

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