ALTERED LOCOMOTORY BEHAVIOR IN WOODLICE (ONISCUS-ASELLUS (L)) COLLECTED AT A POLLUTED SITE

The locomotory behavior of woodlice (Oniscus asellus (L.)) collected a long a gradient of pollution from a plastics fire was quantified autom atically for 4 h in the laboratory employing computer-aided video trac king. Six locomotory parameters were measured and the corresponding in dividual body metal concentrations determined. Additional woodlice wer e collected from the same site for total protein and glycogen analyses . Woodlice collected from the litter layer overlying a pyrolyzed plast ic layer spent significantly less time in activity, resulting in a wal ked distance less than 50% of that of woodlice collected from a nearby reference location. Furthermore, a tendency to turn predominantly in either a left or a right direction and a tendency toward a higher disc ontinuity in moving was found for the woodlice collected on the pyroly zed plastic. Overall, the aberrant behavior coincided with significant ly elevated body concentrations of heavy metals and lowered protein an d glycogen levels. The interference of metals with neurological and me tabolic processes is discussed in relation to locomotion.