Hemolymph protein patterns and coprophagous behaviour in Oniscus asellus L. (Crustacea, Isopoda)

Summary The ingestion of an animal's own faeces (coprophagy) is a common phenomenon in terrestrial isopods. In the present investigation the influence of withholding faeces on growth and on the hemolymph protein composition of different life stages of the wood-louse Oniscus asellus was assessed. Juvenile Oniscus asellus reared without access to their faeces suffered severely under this treatment. Their gain in body mass was significantly lower than that in the control group. In contrast, the effect of non-coprophagous rearing was moderate or not detectable in subadult and adult individuals, respectively. No correlation occurred between coprophagy and survival rates in all test groups. The relative content of hemocyanin in the hemolymph of coprophagous as compared to non-coprophagous juveniles showed no significant differences. The same was true for the total protein content of the hemolymph in relation to the body mass. However, the relative amount of a distinct glycoprotein, which typically disappears un...

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