woodlice experiment choice chamber

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• Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment

Delve into the fascinating world of biology with an in-depth look at the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment. This strategic investigation provides key insights into behavioural responses and adaptations among woodlice, offering a unique learning opportunity in the field of Biology . Understanding the set-up, conducting and analysis of this experiment will open doors to appreciating the complexities of organic life. So, ready yourself for a detailed exploration of the methodology, varying factors and the insightful results this experiment yields. Be prepared to observe, analyse and foster a deeper understanding of scientific control measures in biology.

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• Cell Biology

What is thigmokinesis? 

Why do woodlice prefer dark damp environments?

Taxes are the same as Tropisms responses. True or False

Why are woodlice typically used in choice chamber experiments?

The choice chamber division with the lowest amount of woodlice in a choice chamber experiment likely reflects its ideal habitat condition in the wild. True or False.

What are taxes?

Why do Woodlouse prefer dark environments?

In kineses responses what of the following happens?

Woodlice display positive phototaxis. True or False

Positive taxes are movement responses ______ stimuli and negative taxes are movement responses ______from stimuli.

Kineses are random movement responses. True or False

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Understanding the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment

The Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment is an intriguing part of studying animal behaviour, known as ethology, in biology . It puts the spotlight on woodlice, small, adaptable organisms that exhibit certain behavioural traits when exposed to divergent conditions.

A woodlouse is a small land-dwelling crustacean with multiple segments, fourteen legs, and a pair of antennas; they're also typically known as rolly-polly, slaters, or pill bugs.

Woodlice have the unique ability to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, making them a perfect model organism for studying responses to varying stimuli.

What is a Choice Chamber in the Context of Biology

In biology, a choice chamber is an experimental setup used to investigate how small organisms such as woodlice react to different environmental conditions. This setup usually involves a container divided into different sections, each providing a unique controlled environment.

The Choice Chamber setup allows for controlled variables such as light, humidity, temperature, and the presence of certain materials, offering the organism a 'choice' between these different conditions.

• The organisms are placed in the central compartment and allowed to move freely,
• Their preference for a specific environment is then noted by counting the number of organisms in each compartment after a certain period.

Say, for instance, you prepare a Choice Chamber with three compartments: one dark and damp, one brightly lit and dry, and one compartment that is dark and dry. Make sure the conditions are well-segregated. Add a bunch of woodlice in the central compartment and observe them for 30 minutes. Their preference is then noted by counting the numbers in each compartment.

The Importance of the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment

Performing the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment allows you to understand and observe first-hand the behaviour and responses of organisms to environmental changes. By focusing on woodlice, you gain insights into how factors like light, humidity, and temperature affect these tiny creatures' behavioural decisions.

The experiment can highlight positive taxis, where organisms move towards favourable environmental conditions, and negative taxis, where they avoid unfavourable environments.

Interestingly, even simple creatures like woodlice show complex decision-making abilities when facing environmental changes, offering fascinating implications for the study of animal behaviour and evolution.

Conducting the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment

To initiate our exploration of animal behaviour, prolific in its inherent complexities, let's delve into how to administer an actual Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment. It's a process involving methodical preparation, keen observation, and consistent documentation of outcomes. Exposing woodlice to different conditions gives us significant insights into their inherent behaviour and survival instincts.

Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment Method

Firstly, you need to be equipped with the appropriate materials - a choice chamber, woodlice, and equipment to manipulate environmental conditions, like light, temperature, and humidity within the chamber.

A fundamental experimental setup could include a choice chamber divided into compartments with different conditions, such as light vs dark or wet vs dry. After introducing the woodlice into the central chamber, give them sufficient time to settle before we start our observations.

Count the number of woodlice periodically moving towards each environmental condition, documenting their preferences over time.

The preferences an organism exhibits towards specific environmental conditions are termed as 'taxis'. Positive taxis refer to movement towards a condition, whereas negative taxis mean movement away from it. An increase in the number of woodlice heading towards darkness, for instance, indicates positive phototaxis towards dark environments.

Remember to maintain consistency in your observations, sticking to fixed intervals for counting the woodlice. This allows for more reliable data for analysis.

Setting Up the Chamber: Woodlice Movement and Control

Setting up the chamber effectively requires an adequate understanding of the environment needed for observing woodlice behaviour. You could adopt a two- or multi-choice chamber for this experiment, depending on the complexity of conditions you wish to test.

A two-choice chamber provides two contrasting conditions, for instance, dark vs light, or wet vs dry. A multi-choice chamber, on the other hand, presents multiple environments, eliciting a wider range of behaviours.

In a two-choice chamber for light vs dark, ensure half the chamber is enclosed, allowing no light to penetrate, while the other half is transparent. For wet vs dry, imbue one part with moisture using damp cloth or paper, while keeping the opposite side dry.

Controlling woodlice movement during the experiment is crucial, too. You should not force their movement but allow it to happen naturally. They should be able to freely traverse the chamber from the centre point.

Factors Affecting the Experiment: Woodlice Choice Chamber Light Intensity

The Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment is influenced by several variables, and among these, light intensity serves as an immensely impactful factor in shaping the behaviour of woodlice.

The woodlice are known to show a clear preference for dark, damp conditions - displaying what is known as negative phototaxis when exposed to bright light. This means they tend to move away from well-lit environments, demonstrating an aversion to light.

Therefore, when setting up your choice chamber, it would be worth utilizing variable-intensity lights. This could assist in gauging woodlice behaviour across diverse light conditions, offering deeper insight.

If you want to examine the impact of light intensity on woodlice, set up a chamber whose light intensity can be altered. Observe how the woodlice react to changing light intensities – do they favour darkness at all times, or does there exist a threshold of light intensity that triggers negative phototactic actions?

Interpreting the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment Results

Once you have completed your Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment, the real task starts: interpreting the results. These observations form the key evidence that allows you to understand, analyse, and draw conclusions on woodlice behaviour under different environmental conditions.

Observing Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment Taxis and Kinesis

Through your meticulous observations during the experiment, you can assess the behavioural responses of woodlice, specifically exploring their taxis and kinesis .

Taxis refers to the movement of an organism towards or away from a stimulus. Kinesis, on the other hand, denotes an increase in the organism's movement in response to an unfavourable stimulus, without a specific direction.

Woodlice are expected to demonstrate a strong preference for dark, damp conditions. Therefore, negative phototaxis (movement away from light) and positive hydrotaxis (movement towards water/moisture) are expected forms of taxis behaviour.

An increase in the woodlice's movement, indicative of kinesis , in less preferred conditions can also be observed. This erratic movement typically reduces once they find a more favourable environment.

Suppose you notice a substantial increase in the movement of woodlice in the light and dry sections of your chamber. This likely corresponds to negative phototaxis and negative hydrotaxis . On finding a dark and moist environment, their movement becomes slower and more deliberate, indicating the presence of favourable conditions.

As you observe these behaviours, it's important to document them accurately for thorough analysis later.

Analysis of Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment Results: Responding to Change

After gathering meticulous observations from the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment, the process of analysing the movements and actions of woodlice gives a more comprehensive view of their behavioural adaptations.

This involves the examination of how woodlice, as organisms, respond to different alterations in their environment , mapping out their preferences and survival tactics.

It’s important to remember that the life of woodlice outside the controlled environment of a choice chamber is constantly changing. Therefore, changes in their habitat, manifested as variable light, humidity, and temperature conditions, are embedded in their evolution and survival strategies.

The ability of an organism to respond to change, termed as its plasticity , is central to understanding its adaptation and survival, which the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment uncovers with aplomb.

The analysis of these results may require you to construct a bar or pie chart, visually representing the woodlice's distribution in different sections of the choice chamber.

For instance, after concluding the experiment, you might find the largest percentage of woodlice inhabiting the dark and damp section, with significantly fewer in the brightly lit and dry sections. Plotting these results in a pie-chart helps visualise the environmental preferences of woodlice, making the data more accessible and digestible.

Understanding Control Measures in the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment

Like any scientific experiment, the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment also requires rigorous control measures to ensure the reliability and validity of your observations and conclusions.

Control measures for the experiment include maintaining a consistent methodology, preventing any outside disturbances, and ensuring a fair division of conditions within the choice chamber.

A control measure in scientific research is a standard against which the effects of an experiment are measured. It's a situation where the variable under study isn't influenced, allowing researchers to compare it with situations where the variable is manipulated.

Ensuring no external light or heat sources interfere with the experiment is a control measure central to the creation of distinct conditions within the chamber.

Moreover, verifying the woodlice are healthy and active before and after the experiment serves as another crucial control measure, ensuring their behaviour hasn't been affected by illness or lethargy.

Imagine you've set a two-choice chamber of humid vs dry conditions. A way to ensure no external factors interfere would involve performing the experiment in a neutral venue with zero probability for these elements to infiltrate the chamber. Ensuring that the woodlice chosen are active while being introduced to the setup, and their health status monitored during and post-experiment, bolsters the robustness of your setup.

Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment - Key takeaways

• The Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment is a strategic investigation that offers an understanding of behavioural responses and adaptations among woodlice.
• A 'Choice Chamber', in biology, is an experimental setup used to investigate reactions of small organisms to different environmental conditions. Variables like light, humidity, temperature can be controlled in this setup.
• Woodlice are small land-dwelling crustaceans that exhibit varied behavioural traits, called 'taxis', when exposed to divergent conditions. Positive taxis refer to movement towards a favourable condition, whereas negative taxis mean movement away from it.
• The method of the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment involves introducing woodlice into different environmental conditions in the chamber and observing their movement and preferences periodically. Factors like light intensity can significantly affect woodlice behaviour.
• The Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment results offer insights into woodlice behaviour, broadly exploring their taxis and kinesis. The analysis of results requires a focus on how woodlice respond to change, with the aim of understanding their adaptation and survival. Control measures such as maintaining a consistent methodology, preventing outside disturbances, and ensuring a fair division of conditions within the chamber are necessary to ensure the reliability and validity of the experiment.

Flashcards in Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment 27

Movement/Immobilization type response to contact stimuli.

Prevents desiccation and helps woodlice hiding

Woodlice are easy to find in nature and can be used to display taxis and kinesis-type responses to different stimuli.

Taxes are movement responses, where a motile organism either moves towards a favorable stimulus or away from an unfavorable stimulus.

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In a choice chamber with the following four compartments where do woodlouse accumulate?

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Choice Chambers – animal behaviour investigation!

April 9, 2012 By Emma Vanstone 11 Comments

Choice chambers are an investigative method used to study animal behaviour and to determine the favoured conditions for a habitat.

It is a very simple investigation to set up, and one that kids love as it involves searching for insects and then predicting and watching.

The living organisms that we chose to study were woodlice, as they are easy to find.

We decided to investigate whether woodlice

• prefer damp or dry conditions
• dark or light conditions

You will need:

A minimum of 5 woodlice

A collection pot

Two dishes with  lids

Filter paper (I just used coffee filter paper)

Dark or black paper

A pen/scissors

1. In your collection pot, put in some soil and dried leaves. Start looking under stones and bricks for some woodlice and put them in the pot. Make sure it is deep, as woodlice are very good climbers, and we had a few escapees! This is just to keep them happy when not under investigation, as we do not want to put them under undue stress.

2. Draw around the lid of your pot onto the filter paper

3. Cut it out and fold it in half.

4. Wet it and place it on one side of the pot.

5. Add your woodlice and, over time, see which side they prefer over time (about 5 minutes to let them acclimatise to their surroundings). The side that has the most woodlice is the side they prefer.

6. You can then repeat this experiment using dark paper to block out one side of the lid to see whether they prefer dark or light conditions.

7. You could also see if you can carry this out with other insects.

Please be sure to return the insects to the place you found them.

Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

April 09, 2012 at 12:47 pm

I remember doing this at school! I will have to try it with the mini mes though too 🙂 x

April 09, 2012 at 9:36 pm

That’s so cool! What a fun experiment. Lol, down here, we would probably use palmetto bugs.

April 09, 2012 at 9:47 pm

This is brilliant, just need to find some woodlice now.

April 10, 2012 at 7:15 am

After finding some woodlice in the garden the other day I was thinking of doing this it’s such a fun experiment to do.

April 10, 2012 at 7:44 am

I have a little area in my garden where my compost bins are too encourage things such as woodlice so I can easily find some so will definitely do this when we get to the letter W. thanks for sharing.

April 11, 2012 at 9:35 am

I’ve seen these creatures scurrying about the flat we began renting recently, now I know what they are! This is one way to treat them.

April 18, 2012 at 5:57 am

Very cool experiment! Thanks for your simple explanations, and thanks for linking to Kids Get Crafty! Alissa and Maggy

July 13, 2012 at 9:03 pm

Great experiment. We’ve done this with earthworms in my biology class.

April 08, 2013 at 9:57 am

woodlice are NOT insects!!

April 08, 2013 at 8:13 pm

You are right 🙂 Little typo there.

November 28, 2016 at 4:27 am

Those look like rolly pollies. This is the first time I’ve heard the term woodlice. Neat.

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Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment

In nature, every living organism has to adapt to its surroundings to survive. This adaptation is possible because of the reactions to external and internal stimuli, which help maintain a stable internal environment to support life. Animals have different ways of responding to these stimuli, such as taxes and kineses. Taxes and kineses are behavioural responses where animals change their movement pattern to adjust to the changes in their environment, for example, finding food or escaping from predators. One interesting experiment that studies these responses is the Woodlice Choice Chamber Experiment. This experiment helps us understand how woodlice react to different environmental conditions and make choices based on their responses. Through this experiment, we can learn more about how animals adapt to their environment to survive.

Taxis and kinesis

Taxis is a type of movement response that animals or other motile organisms can have. It is a simple response to a stimulus, where the direction of the stimulus determines the direction of movement. This response is similar to a plant response called tropism, where plants change their direction of growth towards or away from a stimulus. The main difference is that plants can't move, so they can only change direction of growth. In taxis, motile organisms can move away from unfavourable stimuli (negative taxis) or towards a favourable stimulus (positive taxis). This response helps animals to survive by helping them find food or escape from danger. 

The type of taxis is defined according to its originating stimulus.

Algae have a clever way of performing photosynthesis more effectively. They move towards the light, which gives them a better chance of survival. This movement is called positive phototaxis, which is a response to light stimuli. Another example of taxis is positive chemotaxis, where some bacteria move towards regions of higher glucose concentrations to find food. These are examples of how organisms can adapt to their environment to survive. A motile organism is simply an organism that can move around its environment, like animals or some types of bacteria. This ability to move is important for finding food, escaping from predators, or finding a comfortable place to live.

Difference between taxis and kinesis

Kinesis is another type of behavioural response that motile organisms can exhibit. Unlike taxis, kinesis does not involve changing the direction of movement according to a stimulus direction. Instead, it involves changing the organism's speed of movement and the rate of direction change. Kinesis is important when reacting to less directional stimuli, such as temperature or humidity, which do not vary in space in clear gradients. In a kinesis response, when an organism senses that it has temporarily entered an unfavorable location, it will increase its speed and rate of turning to exit the space. However, if the organism continues in such adverse surroundings, it will decrease its turning rate, moving in long straight lines and increasing the chances of reaching a more suitable environment, where the temperature might be milder. This type of response helps organisms to adapt to their environment and increases their chances of survival.

Woodlice movement

Woodlice are fascinating creatures and are often used as examples when studying animal movement responses. They exhibit both taxis and kinesis-type responses when looking for ideal living conditions in their habitat. For example, they display negative phototaxis, meaning they move away from light sources and prefer dark environments. When searching for ideal temperature and humidity conditions, woodlice display kinesis-type responses. These stimuli can be harder to pinpoint and may not vary in clear gradients, leading to random movement responses from woodlice seeking better environmental conditions to increase their survival chances. In a kinesis response, woodlice move faster if the temperature drops below or rises above a specific optimal range in their current location. This increased speed helps them exit the unfavorable area more quickly to another area where the temperature is more favorable and within their optimal living range. Woodlice also exhibit Thigmokinesis, which is a movement or immobilization response to contact stimuli. They are highly attracted to solid objects, including each other. Once woodlice come into contact with each other, they tend to clump together. All of these behavioral strategies increase the chances of woodlice or any other animal spending more time in favorable conditions (damp and mild temperature) than unfavorable ones (dry, extreme temperatures). It is fascinating to see how these small creatures adapt and survive in their environment.

Choice chamber

Choice chambers are an artificial means of investigating animal behavior. They are used to study the movement response of small motile organisms when exposed to different environmental conditions. These structures provide insights into the environmental conditions that animals prefer when searching for suitable habitats. Woodlice are commonly used in these experiments due to their abundance in nature and their ability to display both taxis and kinesis-type responses to different stimuli.

A choice chamber consists of several linked compartments in a large plastic petri dish, each designed to simulate specific environmental conditions. The behavior of animals like woodlice is assessed by observing their movement through these compartments. The preferred habitat conditions of woodlice are reflected in their choice of chamber division that most closely resembles their natural environment.

Light and humidity are two environmental factors that are often tested using choice chambers. An animal's preference for light/dark and dry/damp areas can be determined using these structures because these conditions can be easily replicated in an artificial setting.

For example, a choice chamber can be designed with both dry and damp compartments to investigate the influence of humidity on woodlice movement. Silica gel beads can simulate a dry area because they absorb moisture from the air, while wet cotton in another compartment can replicate damp conditions. Similarly, a dark compartment can be created by covering part of the dish from any light source, allowing the researchers to study the woodlice's preference for light/dark areas.

After being placed in the choice chamber, the woodlice will move around and experience the different stimuli. Through taxis and kinesis responses, they will gravitate towards the more suitable environment, providing valuable insights into their behavioral preferences. Overall, choice chambers are a useful tool for studying animal behavior and can provide important insights into the factors that influence an organism's movement and habitat preference.

Woodlice choice chamber experiment control

The design of a choice chamber can vary depending on the environmental factors being tested. However, it is essential to include an empty control chamber to ensure that the stimuli being tested are indeed influencing the animal's movement response. Additionally, having an empty chamber ensures that the woodlice are evenly distributed and not influenced by the presence or absence of other organisms. By having a control chamber, researchers can compare the behavior of woodlice in the experimental chambers to their behavior in a neutral environment, providing a baseline for their movements.

Woodlice choice chamber experiment results

Kinesis and taxis are simple movement responses that motile organisms use to respond to various environmental stimuli, such as temperature, light, or humidity. These responses ensure that organisms seek and move towards areas in their habitat with more favorable conditions. Taxes are movement responses towards favorable stimuli (positive) or away from unfavorable stimuli (negative). Kineses are random movement responses consisting of changes in the speed and rate of direction change from motile organisms in unfavorable environmental conditions.

Choice chambers are artificial compartments that replicate environmental conditions and are used to investigate animal behavior. In the woodlice choice chamber experiment, woodlice displayed negative phototaxis, preferring dark and damp environments. This experiment highlights how choice chambers can be used to study animal behavior and understand their habitat preferences in response to different environmental factors.

Why do woodlice clump together?

Woodlouse display thigmokinesis, which is a movement response or lack thereof to contact stimuli. Woodlouse are attracted to solid objects including each other and when they come into contact, they stop moving, clumping together.

What is a choice chamber?

Choice chambers are artificial man-made structures divided into compartments that present different stimuli in each division and are used to investigate how that affects animal behavior.

Do woodlice prefer the dark or the light?

Woodlice display negative phototaxis, which means they prefer the dark.

How do you set up a choice chamber?

Set up an enclosed environment and divide it into interlinked compartments.

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Causes of Animal Movement ( AQA A Level Biology )

Revision note.

Biology Lead

Investigating Environmental Factors That Cause Animal Movement

• Environmental factors can be abiotic or biotic
• For example: temperature, wind, humidity and soil pH
• For example: competition, predation and disease
• Choice chambers and mazes are often used in these experiments and woodlice and maggots are commonly the model animals
• A scientist called J. Cloudsley-Thompson carried out the first experiments on woodlouse behaviour
• One of his experiments focused on the response of woodlouse to humidity
• He used large choice chambers that were divided into two sections
• Choice chambers
• Distilled water (fixed volume in each choice chamber)
• Drying agent (fixed volume in each choice chamber)
• Gauze platforms
• A dark cupboard
• A bright well-lit room
• Add a fixed volume of distilled water to one side and a fixed volume of drying agent to the other
• This allows for the humidity to be controlled in each section
• This keeps the woodlice at a safe distance from the water and drying agent
• Note that woodlice are able to move between sections
• Drop the woodlice from group A into choice chambers kept in the dark
• Drop the woodlice from group B into choice chambers kept in the light
• The woodlice can be dropped into the chamber using the hole in the lid so that they fall into the centre of the choice chamber
• They should fall into the following categories: moving around, stationary on the dry side, stationary in the centre or stationary on the humid side
• Repeat the experiment several times for all conditions

Results and analysis

• This is a beneficial response as it helps to prevent water loss from the respiratory surfaces of the woodlice
• This is advantageous - if the woodlice are subject to dry conditions during the day when they are more likely to dehydrate then they are even more likely to move towards humid conditions (under a stone, log etc)
• This means they are able to remain within favourable conditions that reduce water loss

Limitations

• If the woodlice were kept in dark or light conditions it could affect their response during the experiment
• It can not be said if their behaviour was taxis (directional response) or kinesis (non-directional response) that randomly caused them to end up in the humid section

The choice chamber has two sections, one with low humidity and one with higher humidity

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The Choice Chamber Experiment

Concept map.

Exploring woodlice behavior, this text delves into the Choice Chamber Experiment, a method in ethology to observe how these crustaceans react to stimuli like light and moisture. By placing woodlice in varied conditions, researchers can analyze their taxis and kinesis, uncovering survival strategies and decision-making processes. The experiment's design and control measures ensure scientific accuracy, providing educational insights into animal behavior.

Introduction to the Choice Chamber Experiment

Definition of the choice chamber experiment.

The Choice Chamber Experiment is a classic investigation in ethology that examines how woodlice respond to environmental stimuli

Characteristics of Woodlice

Physical Characteristics

Woodlice are terrestrial crustaceans with segmented exoskeletons, multiple legs, and antennae

Resilience to Diverse Habitats

Woodlice's ability to thrive in various environments makes them ideal subjects for the Choice Chamber Experiment

Use of a Choice Chamber

The experiment utilizes a choice chamber, a compartmentalized apparatus that presents varying conditions such as light, humidity, and temperature

Taxis and Kinesis in Woodlice Behavior

Definition of taxis and kinesis.

Taxis is the movement toward or away from a stimulus, while kinesis is a non-directional increase in activity in response to a stimulus

Examples of Taxis in Woodlice

Positive and Negative Taxis

Woodlice exhibit positive taxis when they navigate toward favorable conditions and negative taxis when they avoid adverse ones

Common Taxis Behaviors in Woodlice

Woodlice commonly demonstrate negative phototaxis by avoiding light and positive hydrotaxis by seeking moist areas

Importance of Taxis and Kinesis in Woodlice Survival

Taxis and kinesis behaviors are essential for woodlice's survival and offer insights into their decision-making processes and evolutionary adaptations

Conducting the Choice Chamber Experiment

Experimental design.

Researchers set up an environment with contrasting conditions and introduce woodlice to the central section to observe their movements toward each condition

Factors Influencing Woodlice Behavior

Light Intensity

Woodlice's behavior in the Choice Chamber Experiment can be influenced by light intensity, with bright light causing negative phototaxis

Habitat Selection

The experiment allows for the observation of woodlice's preferred conditions and adaptive behaviors, providing insights into their habitat selection

Analyzing Results

Results are analyzed by examining woodlice's movement patterns and habitat preferences, revealing their behavioral adaptations and using data visualization techniques

Control Measures

Strict control measures, such as consistent experimental procedures and minimizing external disturbances, are crucial for obtaining reliable and valid results in the Choice Chamber Experiment

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Characteristics of woodlice

Segmented exoskeleton, multiple legs, antennae, known as pill bugs or roly-polies.

Choice chamber design

Compartmentalized apparatus with varying conditions: light, humidity, temperature.

Woodlice behavior analysis

Observation of woodlice distribution in choice chamber to determine environmental preferences.

The ______ Experiment demonstrates how organisms exhibit movement towards or away from stimuli, known as taxis.

Choice Chamber

Woodlice show positive ______ by moving towards moisture and negative ______ by avoiding light.

hydrotaxis phototaxis

Purpose of Choice Chamber Experiment

To observe woodlice behavior and decision-making in varied conditions.

Importance of consistent observation intervals

Ensures reliability of data on woodlice taxis behavior over time.

Taxis behavior in woodlice

Movement toward or away from stimuli, indicating preference or aversion.

In the ______ ______ Experiment, woodlice show a preference for ______, ______ environments.

Choice Chamber dark moist

Woodlice exhibit ______ ______ when exposed to bright light, which helps researchers understand their ______ ______.

negative phototaxis light tolerance

Taxis vs. Kinesis in woodlice

Taxis: directed movement towards/away from stimulus. Kinesis: non-directional movement increase due to stimulus.

Woodlice habitat preference indicators

Habitat preferences inferred from woodlice distribution in different chamber areas.

Data visualization in Choice Chamber Experiment

Use of bar/pie charts to clearly present woodlice distribution and behavior patterns.

For the ______ ______ Experiment to yield trustworthy outcomes, strict control measures must be in place.

Critical controls for ensuring the ______ of the results include a controlled setting and monitoring the ______'s health and activity.

integrity woodlice

Woodlice Taxis in Choice Chamber

Observation of woodlice movement preferences in response to stimuli like light, moisture.

Methodology of Choice Chamber Experiment

Varying environmental factors to study woodlice behavior; includes control measures for scientific accuracy.

Significance of Choice Chamber in Biology

Teaches about animal behavior, survival strategies, and provides a practical example of ethology.

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Exploring Woodlice Behavior through the Choice Chamber Experiment

Taxis: The Directed Movement in Woodlice

Methodology of the choice chamber experiment, environmental factors affecting woodlice in the choice chamber, analyzing woodlice behavior and adaptations, ensuring validity through control measures, educational insights from the choice chamber experiment.

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Animal Responses

Responses in animals.

Simple animals respond to stimuli to increase their chance of survival. This allows them to maintain a favourable environment. There are two ways in which simple animals respond:

Tactic responses (taxes)

• The stimulus is positively or negatively directional, e.g. light.
• Dark environments (e.g. under stones) are favourable for woodlice to protect them from predators.
• Being able to detect the direction of light and move away helps woodlice locate a more favourable habitat.

Kinetic responses (kineses)

• The stimulus is non-directional, e.g. humidity.
• Damp environments are favourable for woodlice to reduce water loss.
• When woodlice detect a drier environment they move more. This increases the chance woodlice will find a more favourable habitat.
• When woodlice detect a damper environment they move less. This ensures the woodlice stay in the more favourable habitat.

Choice Chambers

Choice chambers can be used to study how animals respond to environmental stimuli. In this experiment, four different conditions are created to see how woodlice respond to light and humidity.

Step 1 - Build choice chamber

• Divide a petri dish base into two halves with a divider between them.
• Place damp filter paper into one half and nothing into the other half. Place a piece of fine mesh on top.
• Cover half the petri dish lid with black card and leave the other half as transparent.

Step 2 - Add woodlice

• Place 10 woodlice in the centre of the mesh.
• Dark and damp.
• Dark and dry.
• Light and damp.
• Light and dry.

Step 3 - Collect results

• After 10 minutes, remove the lid and record the number of woodlice in each quarter.

Step 4 - Repeat the experiment

• Carefully move the woodlice back to the centre of the fine mesh and repeat the experiment two more times.
• The same experiment could be replicated using a maze.

1 Biological Molecules

1.1 Monomers & Polymers

1.1.1 Monomers & Polymers

1.1.2 Condensation & Hydrolysis Reactions

1.2 Carbohydrates

1.2.1 Structure of Carbohydrates

1.2.2 Types of Polysaccharides

1.2.3 End of Topic Test - Monomers, Polymers and Carbs

1.2.4 Exam-Style Question - Carbohydrates

1.2.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Carbohydrates

1.3.1 Triglycerides & Phospholipids

1.3.2 Types of Fatty Acids

1.3.3 Testing for Lipids

1.3.4 Exam-Style Question - Fats

1.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Lipids

1.4 Proteins

1.4.1 The Peptide Chain

1.4.2 Investigating Proteins

1.4.3 Primary & Secondary Protein Structure

1.4.4 Tertiary & Quaternary Protein Structure

1.4.5 Enzymes

1.4.6 Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

1.4.7 Enzyme-Controlled Reactions

1.4.8 End of Topic Test - Lipids & Proteins

1.4.9 A-A* (AO3/4) - Enzymes

1.4.10 A-A* (AO3/4) - Proteins

1.5 Nucleic Acids

1.5.1 DNA & RNA

1.5.2 Nucleotides

1.5.3 Polynucleotides

1.5.4 DNA Replication

1.5.5 Exam-Style Question - Nucleic Acids

1.5.6 A-A* (AO3/4) - Nucleic Acids

1.6.1 Structure of ATP

1.6.2 Hydrolysis of ATP

1.6.3 Resynthesis of ATP

1.6.4 End of Topic Test - Nucleic Acids & ATP

1.7.1 Importance of Water

1.7.2 Structure of Water

1.7.3 Properties of Water

1.7.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - Water

1.8 Inorganic Ions

1.8.1 Inorganic Ions

1.8.2 End of Topic Test - Water & Inorganic Ions

2.1 Cell Structure

2.1.1 Introduction to Cells

2.1.2 Eukaryotic Cells & Organelles

2.1.3 Eukaryotic Cells & Organelles 2

2.1.4 Prokaryotes

2.1.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Organelles

2.1.6 Methods of Studying Cells

2.1.7 Microscopes

2.1.8 End of Topic Test - Cell Structure

2.1.9 Exam-Style Question - Cells

2.1.10 A-A* (AO3/4) - Cells

2.2 Mitosis & Cancer

2.2.1 Mitosis

2.2.2 Stages of Mitosis

2.2.3 Investigating Mitosis

2.2.4 Cancer

2.2.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - The Cell Cycle

2.3 Transport Across Cell Membrane

2.3.1 Cell Membrane Structure

2.3.2 A-A* (AO3/4) - Membrane Structure

2.3.3 Diffusion

2.3.4 Osmosis

2.3.5 Active Transport

2.3.6 End of Topic Test - Mitosis, Cancer & Transport

2.3.7 Exam-Style Question - Membranes

2.3.8 A-A* (AO3/4) - Membranes & Transport

2.3.9 A-A*- Mitosis, Cancer & Transport

2.4 Cell Recognition & the Immune System

2.4.1 Immune System

2.4.2 Phagocytosis

2.4.3 T Lymphocytes

2.4.4 B Lymphocytes

2.4.5 Antibodies

2.4.6 Primary & Secondary Response

2.4.7 Vaccines

2.4.9 Ethical Issues

2.4.10 End of Topic Test - Immune System

2.4.11 Exam-Style Question - Immune System

2.4.12 A-A* (AO3/4) - Immune System

3 Substance Exchange

3.1 Surface Area to Volume Ratio

3.1.1 Size & Surface Area

3.1.2 A-A* (AO3/4) - Cell Size

3.2 Gas Exchange

3.2.1 Single-Celled Organisms

3.2.2 Multicellular Organisms

3.2.3 Control of Water Loss

3.2.4 Human Gas Exchange

3.2.5 Ventilation

3.2.6 Dissection

3.2.7 Measuring Gas Exchange

3.2.8 Lung Disease

3.2.9 Lung Disease Data

3.2.10 End of Topic Test - Gas Exchange

3.2.11 A-A* (AO3/4) - Gas Exchange

3.3 Digestion & Absorption

3.3.1 Overview of Digestion

3.3.2 Digestion in Mammals

3.3.3 Absorption

3.3.4 End of Topic Test - Substance Exchange & Digestion

3.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Substance Ex & Digestion

3.4 Mass Transport

3.4.1 Haemoglobin

3.4.2 Oxygen Transport

3.4.3 The Circulatory System

3.4.4 The Heart

3.4.5 Blood Vessels

3.4.6 Cardiovascular Disease

3.4.7 Heart Dissection

3.4.8 Xylem

3.4.9 Phloem

3.4.10 Investigating Plant Transport

3.4.11 End of Topic Test - Mass Transport

3.4.12 A-A* (AO3/4) - Mass Transport

4 Genetic Information & Variation

4.1 DNA, Genes & Chromosomes

4.1.2 Genes

4.1.3 Non-Coding Genes

4.1.4 The Genetic Code

4.1.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - DNA

4.2 DNA & Protein Synthesis

4.2.1 Protein Synthesis

4.2.2 Transcription & Translation

4.2.3 End of Topic Test - DNA, Genes & Protein Synthesis

4.2.4 Exam-Style Question - Protein Synthesis

4.2.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Coronavirus Translation

4.2.6 A-A* (AO3/4) - Transcription

4.2.7 A-A* (AO3/4) - Translation

4.3 Mutations & Meiosis

4.3.1 Mutations

4.3.2 Meiosis

4.3.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Meiosis

4.3.4 Meiosis vs Mitosis

4.3.5 End of Topic Test - Mutations, Meiosis

4.3.6 A-A* (AO3/4) - DNA,Genes, CellDiv & ProtSynth

4.4 Genetic Diversity & Adaptation

4.4.1 Genetic Diversity

4.4.2 Natural Selection

4.4.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Natural Selection

4.4.4 Adaptations

4.4.5 Investigating Natural Selection

4.4.6 End of Topic Test - Genetic Diversity & Adaptation

4.4.7 A-A* (AO3/4) - Genetic Diversity & Adaptation

4.5 Species & Taxonomy

4.5.1 Courtship Behaviour

4.5.2 Phylogeny

4.5.3 Classification

4.5.4 DNA Technology

4.5.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Species & Taxonomy

4.6 Biodiversity Within a Community

4.6.1 Biodiversity

4.6.2 Index of diversity

4.6.3 Agriculture

4.6.4 End of Topic Test - Species,Taxonomy& Biodiversity

4.6.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Species,Taxon&Biodiversity

4.7 Investigating Diversity

4.7.1 Genetic Diversity

4.7.2 Quantitative Investigation

5 Energy Transfers (A2 only)

5.1 Photosynthesis

5.1.1 Overview of Photosynthesis

5.1.2 Photoionisation of Chlorophyll

5.1.3 Production of ATP & Reduced NADP

5.1.4 Cyclic Photophosphorylation

5.1.5 Light-Independent Reaction

5.1.6 A-A* (AO3/4) - Photosynthesis Reactions

5.1.7 Limiting Factors

5.1.8 Photosynthesis Experiments

5.1.9 End of Topic Test - Photosynthesis

5.1.10 A-A* (AO3/4) - Photosynthesis

5.2 Respiration

5.2.1 Overview of Respiration

5.2.2 Anaerobic Respiration

5.2.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Anaerobic Respiration

5.2.4 The Link Reaction

5.2.5 The Krebs Cycle

5.2.6 Oxidative Phosphorylation

5.2.7 Respiration Experiments

5.2.8 End of Topic Test - Respiration

5.2.9 A-A* (AO3/4) - Respiration

5.3 Energy & Ecosystems

5.3.1 Biomass

5.3.2 Production & Productivity

5.3.3 Agricultural Practices

5.4 Nutrient Cycles

5.4.1 Nitrogen Cycle

5.4.2 Phosphorous Cycle

5.4.3 Fertilisers & Eutrophication

5.4.4 End of Topic Test - Nutrient Cycles

5.4.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Energy,Ecosystems&NutrientCycles

6 Responding to Change (A2 only)

6.1 Nervous Communication

6.1.1 Survival

6.1.2 Plant Responses

6.1.3 Animal Responses

6.1.4 Reflexes

6.1.5 End of Topic Test - Reflexes, Responses & Survival

6.1.6 Receptors

6.1.7 The Human Retina

6.1.8 Control of Heart Rate

6.1.9 End of Topic Test - Receptors, Retina & Heart Rate

6.2 Nervous Coordination

6.2.1 Neurones

6.2.2 Action Potentials

6.2.3 Speed of Transmission

6.2.4 End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials

6.2.5 Synapses

6.2.6 Types of Synapse

6.2.7 Medical Application

6.2.8 End of Topic Test - Synapses

6.2.9 A-A* (AO3/4) - Nervous Comm&Coord

6.3 Muscle Contraction

6.3.1 Skeletal Muscle

6.3.2 Sliding Filament Theory

6.3.3 Contraction

6.3.4 Slow & Fast Twitch Fibres

6.3.5 End of Topic Test - Muscles

6.3.6 A-A* (AO3/4) - Muscle Contraction

6.4 Homeostasis

6.4.1 Overview of Homeostasis

6.4.2 Blood Glucose Concentration

6.4.3 Controlling Blood Glucose Concentration

6.4.4 End of Topic Test - Blood Glucose

6.4.5 Primary & Secondary Messengers

6.4.6 Diabetes Mellitus

6.4.7 Measuring Glucose Concentration

6.4.8 Osmoregulation

6.4.9 Controlling Blood Water Potential

6.4.11 End of Topic Test - Diabetes & Osmoregulation

6.4.12 A-A* (AO3/4) - Homeostasis

7 Genetics & Ecosystems (A2 only)

7.1 Genetics

7.1.1 Key Terms in Genetics

7.1.2 Inheritance

7.1.3 Linkage

7.1.4 Multiple Alleles & Epistasis

7.1.5 Chi-Squared Test

7.1.6 End of Topic Test - Genetics

7.1.7 A-A* (AO3/4) - Genetics

7.2 Populations

7.2.1 Populations

7.2.2 Hardy-Weinberg Principle

7.3 Evolution

7.3.1 Variation

7.3.2 Natural Selection & Evolution

7.3.3 End of Topic Test - Populations & Evolution

7.3.4 Types of Selection

7.3.5 Types of Selection Summary

7.3.6 Overview of Speciation

7.3.7 Causes of Speciation

7.3.8 Diversity

7.3.9 End of Topic Test - Selection & Speciation

7.3.10 A-A* (AO3/4) - Populations & Evolution

7.4 Populations in Ecosystems

7.4.1 Overview of Ecosystems

7.4.2 Niche

7.4.3 Population Size

7.4.4 Investigating Population Size

7.4.5 End of Topic Test - Ecosystems & Population Size

7.4.6 Succession

7.4.7 Conservation

7.4.8 End of Topic Test - Succession & Conservation

7.4.9 A-A* (AO3/4) - Ecosystems

8 The Control of Gene Expression (A2 only)

8.1 Mutation

8.1.1 Mutations

8.1.2 Effects of Mutations

8.1.3 Causes of Mutations

8.2 Gene Expression

8.2.1 Stem Cells

8.2.2 Stem Cells in Disease

8.2.3 End of Topic Test - Mutation & Gene Epression

8.2.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - Mutation & Stem Cells

8.2.5 Regulating Transcription

8.2.6 Epigenetics

8.2.7 Epigenetics & Disease

8.2.8 Regulating Translation

8.2.9 Experimental Data

8.2.10 End of Topic Test - Transcription & Translation

8.2.11 Tumours

8.2.12 Correlations & Causes

8.2.13 Prevention & Treatment

8.2.14 End of Topic Test - Cancer

8.2.15 A-A* (AO3/4) - Gene Expression & Cancer

8.3 Genome Projects

8.3.1 Using Genome Projects

8.4 Gene Technology

8.4.1 Recombinant DNA

8.4.2 Producing Fragments

8.4.3 Amplification

8.4.4 End of Topic Test - Genome Project & Amplification

8.4.5 Using Recombinant DNA

8.4.6 Medical Diagnosis

8.4.7 Genetic Fingerprinting

8.4.8 End of Topic Test - Gene Technologies

8.4.9 A-A* (AO3/4) - Gene Technology

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Plant Responses

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Choice Chamber

Parts and Tools

Instructions

This guide shows how to construct a choice chamber. Choice chambers are used in biology lessons to see which habitat conditions specific animals prefer. The type used in schools usually consists of a clear plastic box which is divided into four or more separate sections. These can be purchased through most general lab suppliers.

This version is relatively easy to construct and could form part of a ‘habitats’ lesson or after school club.

Fig 1 shows a sturdy cardboard box or plastic tray. This forms the base of the choice chamber. A plastic tray is probably best if one or more of the habitats contains items that may be moist. A paper box is a good size for this and so can be cut down to the correct size. A wall height of 10-15cm is suitable.

Fig 2 shows the box with the lid of a Petri dish placed in the centre. This is glued into place. This will be the starting point for the woodlice and so it is important that the centre of the dish is an equal distance from each habitat. Use heavy cardboard, Corriflute or mounting board (the type with a layer or foam between two layers of board) to add four walls, dividing the base into four evenly sized areas. Glue these into place using a glue gun ensuring there are no gaps where woodlice could fit through.

Fig 3 shows the habitats in place. Each should be as different as possible. Habitats can include damp, dark, light, stony, sandy, woody, dry, cold or warm environments.

Fig 4 shows some of the walls of the chamber painted black. You can either paint some or all. The colour or brightness may have an effect on woodlice preference and so selective painting may be incorporated into some of the habitats.

Fig 5 Shows a lid in place. This can be simply cut from a piece of stiff card and should be easily removable. A hole needs to be cut in the centre, which when placed on the box, sits directly over the Petri dish lid. This is so you can place the woodlice into the chamber through the lid. Holes may be cut into the lid to create a brighter environment (Fig 6).

For more information about choice chambers, see our related pages:

• Practicals > Choice Chambers
• Equipment > Choice Chamber

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Before attempting any of the construction projects featured on this website, ensure you have, and know how to use, the appropriate tools, components and safety equipment and are competent to undertake the project. These guides are for information only and we hold no responsibility for any accidents, injuries or damage caused by the use or misuse of any equipment, project or information contained within this website. In short - use common sense and stay safe!

Resources you can trust

Investigation – adaptive behaviour in woodlice

This resource gives two worksheets to use when doing choice chambers investigations with woodlice. The first includes instructions for students to set up and light/dark choice chamber in a petri dish. The second describes how to set one up for damp/dry. Students could set up their own to develop their practical skills.

The two worksheets also include a series of questions based on students observations.

Extend the investigation by asking students to design a choice chamber than combines the following sections dry/dark, dry/light, damp/dark, damp/light.

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Choice chambers - Woodlice

Subject: Primary science

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

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An experiment lesson suitable for primary science or older that can be adapted or changed to use with maggots as well. Includes introductory and explanatory videos, fact sheet and worksheet lesson plan (x 2 differentiated). Also includes an assessment rubric that can be adapted to your curriculum objectives and an alternative lesson on woodlice in a maze.

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Environment Preferences of Woodlice: An Experiment

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Cartographic analysis of woodlice fauna of the former USSR

Daria m. kuznetsova.

1 A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

Konstantin B. Gongalsky

An inventory of the woodlice fauna of the former USSR yielded 190 species, 64 of them were recorded from the territory of Russia. According to the cartographic analysis, the limits of distribution of epigean terrestrial isopods over the area, excluding mountains, is explained by temperature. No woodlice records were found outside the isocline of 120 days a year with the mean daily air temperature >10°C. The highest species diversity was found between the isoclines of 180 and 210 days. These areas correspond to forest-steppe and steppe zones.

Introduction

Studies of spatial differentiation of various taxa are among the most important frontiers of modern biogeography. For some well-studied groups, mainly, vertebrates and plants, such trends are already discovered ( Loiselle et al. 2003 ; Guisan and Thuiller 2005 ; Grenouillet et al. 2011 ), but for soil-dwelling invertebrates they are only at the stage of species inventory. However, there are certain groups of invertebrates for which analysis of spatial differentiation is already possible due to the large number of records from different geographical localities. Woodlice are among such groups.

There is no faunistic list of terrestrial isopods for the territory of the former USSR until now, as well as of the territory of Russia. However, there are extensive regional lists ( Borutzky 1948 , 1953 ; Zalesskaya and Rybalov 1982 ; Khisametdinova 2007 ; Gongalsky and Kuznetsova 2011 ), and numerous records scattered in the literature devoted to soil macrofauna. At the same time, there are only a few ecological studies about factors affecting woodlice distribution over regions of the former USSR ( Gongalsky et al. 2005 ; Khisametdinova 2009 ).

The aim of the study is to determine the factors affecting woodlice distribution over the plain area of the former Soviet Union. To achieve this, an inventory of species distribution across the study area was made. The task was to create a database indicating locations with woodlice presence/absence overlaid with several environmental variables values distribution.

Material and methods

The first step was to compile a list of species for the study area. We made a database of isopod presence or absence in the locations across the whole territory of the former USSR (both plains and mountains). For each record the database includes information about date, data source, geographical coordinates, location, isopod species list or information about woodlice absence in the soil fauna list, biotope, and natural zone.

Three types of information sources of terrestrial isopod locations were used: i) available literature on soil fauna surveys; ii) collections of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia) and the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St.-Petersburg, Russia); and iii) authors’ personal collections. Here we provide a list of woodlice from the territory of the former USSR since some species and localities were not included in the list of Schmalfuss (2003) , although it covered the majority of species. To work with regional databases, a specific list would be useful. Since such a list for this area did not exist, the proposed compilation would be a start to be completed in the future. We used the taxonomic system proposed by Schmalfuss (2003) for species naming. Isopod absence was recorded only in extensively surveyed locations.

For cartographic analysis, 259 locations were chosen, 44 of which with woodlice absence. Due to the difficulty of tracing ecological trends in the mountains, only plain territories were involved into the analysis. Some species were excluded from the analysis: i) synanthropic species and ii) species inhabiting azonal locations, such as sea coasts, caves and anthills.

Then database records with isopod presence or absence locations were laid on the geographic maps to perform cartographic analysis.

Cartographic analysis

The map of woodlice distribution was visually compared with the maps of environmental factors (mean annual temperature; the period with temperature above 10°C; mean precipitation; permafrost distribution; soil pH and soil type; vegetation type; natural zones) found in the Agricultural Atlas of the USSR ( Tulupnikov 1960 ) and the Geographical Atlas of the USSR ( Kolosova 1980 ). The data were verified using the WorldClim database ( Hijmans et al. 2005 ).

The database is maintained in MS Excel. Cartographic analysis is done in MapInfo 8.5.

Results and discussion

Limits of isopod distribution.

Woodlice have not been recorded northwards the isocline of 120 days a year with temperature >10°C ( Fig. 1 ). The northern border of woodlice distribution matches the distribution of this parameter. Other parameters did not coincide with isopod distribution as well as with this isocline (data not shown).

Map of woodlice presence or absence over the plain territory of the former USSR. The duration of period with temperature >10°C is adapted from Geographical Atlas of the USSR ( Kolosova 1980 ).

Species diversity

In total, 190 species were recorded from the territory of the former USSR (Appendix 1). Among them, 64 were recorded from the territory of Russia. Northernmost natural zone with woodlice records is southern taiga. No woodlice records were in tundra, northern and middle taiga. The species diversity increases southwards, but decreases in the deserts. However, this may be due to the low number of locations extensively studied to reveal local faunas.

Distribution of isopods is known to be limited by natural factors, such as temperature and moisture ( Harding and Sutton 1985 , Hopkin 1991 ). In our study, the limiting factor of woodlice distribution towards the north turned out to be the length of the warm period, expressed as number of days when the temperature was above 10°C. The highest species diversity was observed between isoclines of 180 and 210 days with temperature >10°C. Colder conditions slow down their physiological processes ( Hopkin 1991 ) and limit their distribution. For a better understanding of distribution of woodlice, a Species Distribution Modeling ( Elith and Leathwick 2009 , Franklin 2009 ) should be applied, which is a next step in the analysis of the database of Russian isopods.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr H. Schmalfuss and Dr Ch. Schmidt for the help with isopod identifications, and to Dr K.G. Mikhailov and Dr B.V. Mezhov for allowing working with crustacean material kept at Zoological Museum of Moscow State University.

The study is supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant 11-04-00245) and the Program “Biodiversity” of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

List of woodlice species from the territory of the former USSR. Abbreviations: Ab – Abkhazia, Ar – Armenia, Az – Azerbaijan, Bl – Belarus, Ge – Georgia, Kz – Kazakhstan, Kg – Kyrgyzstan, Lt – Lithuania, Md – Moldova, Ru – Russia, Td – Tajikistan, Tu – Turkmenistan, Ua – Ukraine, Uz – Uzbekistan; S, N, W, E – south, north, west, east. References to authorships of the species can be found in Schmalfuss and Wolf-Schwenninger (2002) .

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• Arthropoda Selecta
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• Russian Journal of Theriology
• Invertebrate Zoology
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Gongalsky K.B. 1 , Kolevatov V.A., Kuznetsova D.M., Medvedev D.A. 2023. On the genus Trachelipus Budde-Lund, 1908 (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Trachelipodidae) from the Caucasus // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.32. No.3: 293–314 [in English].

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr., 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia. 1 E-mail: [email protected]

doi: 10.15298/arthsel.32.3.06

ABSTRACT. Four species of woodlice belonging to the family Trachelipodidae, Trachelipus lencoranicus Borutzky, 1976 from Azerbaijan, T. pieperi Schmalfuss, 1986 from Iran, as well as T. armenicus Borutzky, 1976 and T. nassonovi Borutzky, 1976 from Armenia are re-described. T. azerbaidzhanus Schmalfuss, 1986 syn.n . is considered junior synonym of T. lencoranicus. This is the first record of both T. armenicus and T. pieperi from Russia, and T. nassonovi from Azerbaijan. Diagnostic features of these species as well as affinities within the genus Trachelipus Budde-Lund, 1908 based on molecular markers (COI gene) are provided.

KEY WORDS: Isopoda, Oniscidea, Trachelipus , COI, barcoding, woodlouse, Caucasus.

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