Woodlouse Information
Investigating the Habitat of Common Rough Woodlice
Introduction
There are many species of Woodlice found around the world and because of their abundance they provide good material for an ecological investigation into their preferred habitat. Woodlice are of the order Isopoda which means, "The legs are alike". Different species prefer different dwellings however the Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber), which has been used for this investigation, is commonly found around residential properties. They can be found under rocks or around compost heaps where the soil is moist and a humid atmosphere is maintained. One abiotic factor that affects the habitat of Woodlice includes damp or moist soil. Compost heaps also provide a continuous source of dead plants, which is part of the diet of Woodlice. This is another abiotic factor. Woodlice are believed to provide a vital role in the decomposition process as their eating habits return essential nutrients to the soil.
Closer examination of the anatomy of the Porcellio scaber may give more understanding of why they may be found in damp conditions. The external structure (fig.1) shows a hard exoskeleton, which is shed at intervals throughout their lives in order that they can grow longer.
The exoskeleton consists of segments and the first section has a fusion of the thorax and the head. The uropod at the rear of the
Woodlouse is used for the uptake of water and this is achieved when they are pressed against moist surfaces. Woodlice cannot retain water for long periods of time and because they have a large surface area to volume ratio they loose water quickly by diffusion. Their exoskeleton is not waterproof which means that they will also loose water through this.
Fig 1. Dorsal View of Porcellio scaber
The ventral view of the anatomy of Woodlice (fig. 2) shows that they have simple pseudo-lungs as their respiratory surface and this is also towards the rear. There is a pore opening that allows the
Introduction
There are many species of Woodlice found around the world and because of their abundance they provide good material for an ecological investigation into their preferred habitat. Woodlice are of the order Isopoda which means, "The legs are alike". Different species prefer different dwellings however the Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber), which has been used for this investigation, is commonly found around residential properties. They can be found under rocks or around compost heaps where the soil is moist and a humid atmosphere is maintained. One abiotic factor that affects the habitat of Woodlice includes damp or moist soil. Compost heaps also provide a continuous source of dead plants, which is part of the diet of Woodlice. This is another abiotic factor. Woodlice are believed to provide a vital role in the decomposition process as their eating habits return essential nutrients to the soil.
Closer examination of the anatomy of the Porcellio scaber may give more understanding of why they may be found in damp conditions. The external structure (fig.1) shows a hard exoskeleton, which is shed at intervals throughout their lives in order that they can grow longer.
The exoskeleton consists of segments and the first section has a fusion of the thorax and the head. The uropod at the rear of the
Woodlouse is used for the uptake of water and this is achieved when they are pressed against moist surfaces. Woodlice cannot retain water for long periods of time and because they have a large surface area to volume ratio they loose water quickly by diffusion. Their exoskeleton is not waterproof which means that they will also loose water through this.
Fig 1. Dorsal View of Porcellio scaber
The ventral view of the anatomy of Woodlice (fig. 2) shows that they have simple pseudo-lungs as their respiratory surface and this is also towards the rear. There is a pore opening that allows the