OOSORPTION AND OOCYTE LOSS IN A TERRESTRIAL ISOPOD UNDER STRESSFUL CONDITIONS

An increased number of resorbed oocytes was observed in ovaries of ter restrial isopods which were kept under different experimental temperat ure and photophase regimes compared with those observed in the natural population. Regardless of the nature of the stimulus: high or low tem perature or long and short photophases, the female always responded th rough oosorption. In an iteroparous species such as Porcellio ficulneu s B.-L., recruitment of resources for future utilization could be its main response to adverse ambient conditions.