GEOGRAPHICAL AND ANNUAL VARIATIONS IN THE PHENOLOGY OF SOME TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS (ISOPODA, ONISCIDEA)

Three species of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda, Oniscidea), Ligidium hy pnorum (Ligiidae), Trachelipus rathkii (Trachelipodidae) and Armadilli dium opacum (Armadillidiidae), were observed in 1993 concerning their breeding phenology in different sites in south-western Germany. We com pared the resulting phenology patterns to data discussed in the litera ture. Furthermore, annual and geographical variations in the reproduct ive period were examined using data from woodlice collected in the nea rby national preserved area ''Federsee'' in 1987. Clear interspecific differences in the duration of the reproductive time interval were ol, served. On the other hand, within the examined area geographical varia tions in the phenology of the investigated species appeared to he rath er small, while remarkable annual changes occurred concerning the begi nning of the breeding period. We discuss the influence of changes in c limatic factors on breeding phenology of terrestrial isopods. Furtherm ore, we show patterns that describe the annual phenology of tile obser ved species.