Substrate and Moisture Substrate and Moisture Preferences of Terrestrial Preferences of Terrestrial

Isopods.Isopods.

C. Brett BashamC. Brett BashamUndergraduate in Conservational BiologyUndergraduate in Conservational Biology

Tennessee Tech. UniversityTennessee Tech. University

Cookeville, TN 38501Cookeville, TN 38501

Project SummaryProject Summary

Problem: Problem: Terrestrial isopods, like their Terrestrial isopods, like their aquatic relatives use tracheae like gills to aquatic relatives use tracheae like gills to breath. In order for them to breathe properly breath. In order for them to breathe properly they must be able to respond to changes in they must be able to respond to changes in moisture levels.moisture levels.

Objective: Objective: The objective of the experiment is The objective of the experiment is to test their ability to detect different moisture to test their ability to detect different moisture levels and to document which moisture level / levels and to document which moisture level / substrate they prefer.substrate they prefer.

IntroductionIntroduction Terrestrial isopodsTerrestrial isopods

Domain: EukaryaDomain: EukaryaKingdom: AnimaliaKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Arthropoda Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: CrustaceaSubphylum: CrustaceaClass: MalacostracaClass: MalacostracaOrder: IsopodaOrder: IsopodaFamily: ArmadillidiiaeFamily: ArmadillidiiaeSpecies: Species: Armadillidium vulgareArmadillidium vulgare

Introduction Cont.Introduction Cont.

Terrestrial isopods are the only crustaceans that have Terrestrial isopods are the only crustaceans that have totally abandoned an aquatic environment for a totally abandoned an aquatic environment for a terrestrial one. (Brusca 1985) terrestrial one. (Brusca 1985)

Isopods break down organic material, especially leaf Isopods break down organic material, especially leaf matter and play an important role in the production of matter and play an important role in the production of humus. (Rapp 2001)humus. (Rapp 2001)

Young isopods emerge in the spring and walk from a Young isopods emerge in the spring and walk from a few to over one thousand meters before establishing few to over one thousand meters before establishing burrows of their own. (Baker 2005)burrows of their own. (Baker 2005)

Introduction Cont.Introduction Cont.

Fossil evidence show that isopods occurred in Fossil evidence show that isopods occurred in the Late Jurassic and inhabited coastal the Late Jurassic and inhabited coastal mudflats. (Gaillard et al. 2005)mudflats. (Gaillard et al. 2005)

Isopods are able to perceive the presence of Isopods are able to perceive the presence of toxic compounds and are able to escape from toxic compounds and are able to escape from contaminated soil to clean soil. (Loureiro et al. contaminated soil to clean soil. (Loureiro et al. 2005)2005)

Objective & Hypothesis StatementObjective & Hypothesis Statement

Objective:Objective: To determine how isopods react to To determine how isopods react to different moisture levels and substrates.different moisture levels and substrates.

Hypothesis:Hypothesis: The isopods will show a preference for The isopods will show a preference for both moisture levels and substrates. both moisture levels and substrates.

Null Hypothesis: Null Hypothesis: The isopods will show no The isopods will show no preference. preference.

Methods and MaterialsMethods and Materials

Materials needed:Materials needed:

- Petri dishes- Petri dishes

- filter paper- filter paper

- dark soil- dark soil

- red clay- red clay

- sand- sand

- water- water

- terrestrial isopods (30-40)- terrestrial isopods (30-40)

- stopwatch - stopwatch

Data formData form

MethodsMethods

There will be two separate experiments. There will be two separate experiments. The first experiment will test how the isopods The first experiment will test how the isopods

respond to different moisture levels (dry, moist, respond to different moisture levels (dry, moist, and soaked) on a simple, artificial substrate. and soaked) on a simple, artificial substrate.

The second will test how they respond to the The second will test how they respond to the preferred moisture level of the first experiment preferred moisture level of the first experiment

on on different natural substrates (dark soil, red clay, different natural substrates (dark soil, red clay, and sand). and sand).

I will analyze the data from each experiment using I will analyze the data from each experiment using the the G-testG-test, and then by using a chi squared table to , and then by using a chi squared table to determine if my findings are significant.determine if my findings are significant.

Expected ResultsExpected Results

For both experiments the isopods will show a For both experiments the isopods will show a preference. preference.

For the first experiment I predict they will prefer For the first experiment I predict they will prefer the moist substrate.the moist substrate.

For the second experiment I predict that they For the second experiment I predict that they will have a preference for the dark soil.will have a preference for the dark soil.

Projected TimelineProjected Timeline

Timeline

0

1

2

3

4

5

Hours

BudgetBudgetSalary- $500Salary- $500

Nonexpendable-$100Nonexpendable-$100Expendable-$150Expendable-$150Indirect Costs-$75Indirect Costs-$75

Travel-$175Travel-$175Budget

Salary

InexpendableCosts

ExpendableCosts

Indirect Costs

Travel

The EndThe End

Literature Cited Literature Cited

Baker, M. 2005. Experience influences settling behaviour in Baker, M. 2005. Experience influences settling behaviour in desert isopods, desert isopods, Hemilepistus reaumuriHemilepistus reaumuri. Animal Behavior . Animal Behavior 6969: : 1131-11381131-1138

Brusca, R. 1985. The biology of terrestrial isopods. Brusca, R. 1985. The biology of terrestrial isopods.   Science Science 230:230: 659659

Gaillard, C., P. Hantzpergue, J. Vannier, A. Margerard, J. Mazin. Gaillard, C., P. Hantzpergue, J. Vannier, A. Margerard, J. Mazin. 2005. Isopod trackways from the Crayssac Lagerstatte, Upper 2005. Isopod trackways from the Crayssac Lagerstatte, Upper Jurassic, France. Palaeontology Jurassic, France. Palaeontology 4848: 947-962: 947-962

Loureiro, S., A. Soares, A. Nogueira. 2005. Terrestrial avoidance Loureiro, S., A. Soares, A. Nogueira. 2005. Terrestrial avoidance behavior tests as screening tool to assess soil contamination. behavior tests as screening tool to assess soil contamination. Environmental Pollution Environmental Pollution 138:138: 121-131 121-131

Rapp, W. 2001.The terrestrial isopods of Nebraska.Rapp, W. 2001.The terrestrial isopods of Nebraska.  Transactions Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 27:27: 9 9