Physiology of terrestrial isopods

Dietary effects on life history traits in a terrestrial isopod: the importance of evaluating maternal effects and trade-offs

“…That is, diet quality, especially total nitrogen content can significantly affect juvenile survival, and at the same time affect the fitness of the females. Carefoot (1993aCarefoot ( , 1993b did not observe dietary requirements for amino acids in a terrestrial isopod, suggesting a quite remarkable and unique independence for nutrients known to be essential for other animals. Our study demonstrates that the presence of protein in the diet does significantly contribute to higher production of offspring by the mother, which would have profound consequences on female fitness.…”

Dietary effects on life history traits in a terrestrial isopod: the importance of evaluating maternal effects and trade-offs

“…That is, diet quality, especially total nitrogen content can significantly affect juvenile survival, and at the same time affect the fitness of the females. Carefoot (1993aCarefoot ( , 1993b did not observe dietary requirements for amino acids in a terrestrial isopod, suggesting a quite remarkable and unique independence for nutrients known to be essential for other animals. Our study demonstrates that the presence of protein in the diet does significantly contribute to higher production of offspring by the mother, which would have profound consequences on female fitness.…”

Nitrogen recycling in coupled green and brown food webs: Weak effects of herbivory and detritivory when nitrogen passes through soil

“…The negative effect of isopods on plant biomass may have arisen from two mechanisms. First, isopods release 95% of their inorganic nitrogen as ammonia gas rather than recycle it into the inorganic nitrogen pool; and second, they defecate recalcitrant faecal pellets relative to the leaf litter consumed (Carefoot, ; David, ). Numerous mechanisms could explain further why isopods and litter herbivory history negatively impacted plant growth at high goldenrod densities.…”

“…First, isopods release 95% of their inorganic nitrogen as ammonia gas rather than recycle it into the inorganic nitrogen pool; and second, they defecate recalcitrant faecal pellets relative to the leaf litter consumed (Carefoot, 1993;David, 2014 Hence, we were able to develop a predictable understanding of the system in the face of between-treatment variation that would otherwise be interpreted as being idiosyncratic. Specifically, initial extractable soil and plant nitrogen mediated the treatment effects, in addition to a range of other variables (e.g., microbial stoichiometry, earthworm abundance, plant root resources ;Ulyshen et al, 2017).…”

The island rule is not valid in terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea)

“…Moreover, fresh leaf material often constitutes an alternative in their feeding preferences (Zimmer, ). As a consequence, there is a great heterogeneity of natural food sources available for them (Carefoot, ), and probably different levels of adaptation to terrestrial food sources (Zimmer, ). Consequently, food availability is not likely to trigger dwarfism in island isopod species.…”

Dietary effects on life history traits in a terrestrial isopod: the importance of evaluating maternal effects and trade-offs

“…That is, diet quality, especially total nitrogen content can significantly affect juvenile survival, and at the same time affect the fitness of the females. Carefoot (1993aCarefoot ( , 1993b did not observe dietary requirements for amino acids in a terrestrial isopod, suggesting a quite remarkable and unique independence for nutrients known to be essential for other animals. Our study demonstrates that the presence of protein in the diet does significantly contribute to higher production of offspring by the mother, which would have profound consequences on female fitness.…”

Nitrogen recycling in coupled green and brown food webs: Weak effects of herbivory and detritivory when nitrogen passes through soil

“…The negative effect of isopods on plant biomass may have arisen from two mechanisms. First, isopods release 95% of their inorganic nitrogen as ammonia gas rather than recycle it into the inorganic nitrogen pool; and second, they defecate recalcitrant faecal pellets relative to the leaf litter consumed (Carefoot, ; David, ). Numerous mechanisms could explain further why isopods and litter herbivory history negatively impacted plant growth at high goldenrod densities.…”

“…First, isopods release 95% of their inorganic nitrogen as ammonia gas rather than recycle it into the inorganic nitrogen pool; and second, they defecate recalcitrant faecal pellets relative to the leaf litter consumed (Carefoot, 1993;David, 2014 Hence, we were able to develop a predictable understanding of the system in the face of between-treatment variation that would otherwise be interpreted as being idiosyncratic. Specifically, initial extractable soil and plant nitrogen mediated the treatment effects, in addition to a range of other variables (e.g., microbial stoichiometry, earthworm abundance, plant root resources ;Ulyshen et al, 2017).…”

The island rule is not valid in terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea)

“…Moreover, fresh leaf material often constitutes an alternative in their feeding preferences (Zimmer, ). As a consequence, there is a great heterogeneity of natural food sources available for them (Carefoot, ), and probably different levels of adaptation to terrestrial food sources (Zimmer, ). Consequently, food availability is not likely to trigger dwarfism in island isopod species.…”

Dietary effects on life history traits in a terrestrial isopod: the importance of evaluating maternal effects and trade-offs

“…That is, diet quality, especially total nitrogen content can significantly affect juvenile survival, and at the same time affect the fitness of the females. Carefoot (1993aCarefoot ( , 1993b did not observe dietary requirements for amino acids in a terrestrial isopod, suggesting a quite remarkable and unique independence for nutrients known to be essential for other animals. Our study demonstrates that the presence of protein in the diet does significantly contribute to higher production of offspring by the mother, which would have profound consequences on female fitness.…”

Nitrogen recycling in coupled green and brown food webs: Weak effects of herbivory and detritivory when nitrogen passes through soil

“…The negative effect of isopods on plant biomass may have arisen from two mechanisms. First, isopods release 95% of their inorganic nitrogen as ammonia gas rather than recycle it into the inorganic nitrogen pool; and second, they defecate recalcitrant faecal pellets relative to the leaf litter consumed (Carefoot, ; David, ). Numerous mechanisms could explain further why isopods and litter herbivory history negatively impacted plant growth at high goldenrod densities.…”

“…First, isopods release 95% of their inorganic nitrogen as ammonia gas rather than recycle it into the inorganic nitrogen pool; and second, they defecate recalcitrant faecal pellets relative to the leaf litter consumed (Carefoot, 1993;David, 2014 Hence, we were able to develop a predictable understanding of the system in the face of between-treatment variation that would otherwise be interpreted as being idiosyncratic. Specifically, initial extractable soil and plant nitrogen mediated the treatment effects, in addition to a range of other variables (e.g., microbial stoichiometry, earthworm abundance, plant root resources ;Ulyshen et al, 2017).…”

The island rule is not valid in terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea)

“…Moreover, fresh leaf material often constitutes an alternative in their feeding preferences (Zimmer, ). As a consequence, there is a great heterogeneity of natural food sources available for them (Carefoot, ), and probably different levels of adaptation to terrestrial food sources (Zimmer, ). Consequently, food availability is not likely to trigger dwarfism in island isopod species.…”