MICROORGANISMS AND CELLULOSE DIGESTION IN THE GUT OF THE WOODLOUSE PORCELLIO SCABER

In the common woodlouse Porcellio scaber different parts of the gut we re observed with respect to microbial counts, cellulose activity, and degradation of cellulose. Cellulose is mainly digested in the anterior part of the hindgut, as was indicated by the distribution of cellulol ytic activity and the decrease of cellulose content inside the gut. Th e cellulases woodlice utilize for the degradation of litter are mainly produced by endosymbiotic bacteria in the hepatopancreas rather than by microorganisms ingested with the food. Microorganisms ingested with the litter are digested in the anterior part of the hindgut and may p rovide an important food source. In the posterior hindgut, bacterial p roliferation ensures microbial colonization of feces.