Responses of the parthenogenetic isopod, Trichoniscus pusillus (Isopoda : Oniscidea), to changes in food quality

Long-term observations of Trichoniscus pusillus revealed that chemical comp osition and microbial activity of the leaf litter serving as food influence d the reproductive success of females and the mortality rates of juveniles as well. Of the food sources investigated, only alder litter, exhibiting hi gh microbial activity, allowed the maintenance of a stable population with frequently reproducing females. This study concludes that the food type is a significant factor for population parameters of:this parthenogenetic isop od. Our results on T. pusillus, belonging to the taxon Synocheta, are compa red with data on terrestrial isopod species of the taxon Crinocheta.