Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas, 1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Tunisia
The breeding phenology and reproductive strategies of Porcellio variabilis were investigated, both in field and laboratory, in the population of Béja (North of Tunisia). P. variabilis Lucas, 1946 is characterized by a seasonal reproduction period followed by a sexual rest phase during November, Dece...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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De Gruyter
2015-11-01
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| Series: | Open Life Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biol.2015.10.issue-1/biol-2015-0052/biol-2015-0052.xml?format=INT |
| _version_ | 1818028060703719424 |
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| author | Medini-Bouaziz Lamia El-Gtari Mohamed Charfi-Cheikhrouha Faouzia |
| author_facet | Medini-Bouaziz Lamia El-Gtari Mohamed Charfi-Cheikhrouha Faouzia |
| author_sort | Medini-Bouaziz Lamia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The breeding phenology and
reproductive strategies of Porcellio variabilis
were investigated, both in field and laboratory,
in the population of Béja (North of Tunisia).
P. variabilis Lucas, 1946 is characterized by a seasonal
reproduction period followed by a sexual rest phase
during November, December and January. Mean fecundity
showed a great seasonal variation ranging between 29.612
eggs for females caught in the late summer, and 125.920
eggs for those collected in the spring. P. variabilis is an
iteroparous species; females were able to produce one
(95% of females), two (40% of females) or three broods
(20% of females) during their reproduction period. The
duration of the gestation period ranged from 34 days in
the first brood to 14 days in the third one. Energy allocated
to reproduction decreased from the first brood (26.29%)
to the last one (4.618%). During the sampling period,
eight cohorts were identified, each exhibiting a variable
life span estimated around 6 months for cohorts born
in early spring, and 12 months for those born in the fall.
According to our present results and previous studies in
another population of P. variabilis in Tunisia, we discuss
factors of variability in breeding phenology in this species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:57:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-061f9174dd504fd08d5fd74628c9bbe1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2391-5412 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:57:47Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Life Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-061f9174dd504fd08d5fd74628c9bbe12022-12-22T02:01:28ZengDe GruyterOpen Life Sciences2391-54122015-11-0110110.1515/biol-2015-0052biol-2015-0052Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas, 1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from TunisiaMedini-Bouaziz Lamia0El-Gtari Mohamed1Charfi-Cheikhrouha Faouzia2University Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, RU-11ES11 Animal Bio-Ecology and Systematic Evolutionary, 2092, Tunis, TunisiaUniversity Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, RU-11ES11 Animal Bio-Ecology and Systematic Evolutionary, 2092, Tunis, TunisiaUniversity Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, RU-11ES11 Animal Bio-Ecology and Systematic Evolutionary, 2092, Tunis, TunisiaThe breeding phenology and reproductive strategies of Porcellio variabilis were investigated, both in field and laboratory, in the population of Béja (North of Tunisia). P. variabilis Lucas, 1946 is characterized by a seasonal reproduction period followed by a sexual rest phase during November, December and January. Mean fecundity showed a great seasonal variation ranging between 29.612 eggs for females caught in the late summer, and 125.920 eggs for those collected in the spring. P. variabilis is an iteroparous species; females were able to produce one (95% of females), two (40% of females) or three broods (20% of females) during their reproduction period. The duration of the gestation period ranged from 34 days in the first brood to 14 days in the third one. Energy allocated to reproduction decreased from the first brood (26.29%) to the last one (4.618%). During the sampling period, eight cohorts were identified, each exhibiting a variable life span estimated around 6 months for cohorts born in early spring, and 12 months for those born in the fall. According to our present results and previous studies in another population of P. variabilis in Tunisia, we discuss factors of variability in breeding phenology in this species.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biol.2015.10.issue-1/biol-2015-0052/biol-2015-0052.xml?format=INTTerrestrial Isopods Breeding phenology variability iteroparous species |
| spellingShingle | Medini-Bouaziz Lamia El-Gtari Mohamed Charfi-Cheikhrouha Faouzia Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas, 1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Tunisia Open Life Sciences Terrestrial Isopods Breeding phenology variability iteroparous species |
| title | Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas,
1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Tunisia |
| title_full | Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas,
1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas,
1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas,
1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Tunisia |
| title_short | Reproductive traits of Porcellio variabilis Lucas,
1946 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Tunisia |
| title_sort | reproductive traits of porcellio variabilis lucas 1946 isopoda oniscidea from tunisia |
| topic | Terrestrial Isopods Breeding phenology variability iteroparous species |
| url | http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biol.2015.10.issue-1/biol-2015-0052/biol-2015-0052.xml?format=INT |
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