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Purpose: To study the morphology of all the life stages and the life cycle of the parasitic isopod Cymothoa indica Schioedte and Meinert, 1884, and its prevalence in different commercial fishes in the Chilika Lagoon, India., Methods: From April 2021 to December 2022, different life stages of the said parasites were collected from five different fish species from four localities of the Chilika Lagoon. The parasites were carefully removed from the host with a pair of forceps and then identified following standard literature and description. The morphology of all life stages, life cycle, and prevalence of the isopod C. indica were carried out as per the standard protocol., Results: A total of 1252 host fishes were analysed. The total prevalence was 44.5%. The host with the highest prevalence of C. indica was Glossogobius giuris, with 58.79% of the hosts parasitized by at least one parasite individual. Followed by the host Datnoides polota (50.98%), Johnius dussumieri (46.25%), Etroplus suratensis (28.45%) and the least prevalence was in Lates calcarifer (14.70%). The description of the life stages is based on the observation of 523 females, 116 males, 46 Juveniles, and 50 embryonic stages of the said parasites., Conclusion: The description of all the life stages and life cycles certainly helps to identify this species with clarity and ease in understanding the species' biology. In future, this study may be helpful in the effective management towards the improvement of aquaculture productivity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The semiterrestrial isopod, Ligia exotica represents one of the oldest documented species introductions of marine organisms and is known as an intermediate form between marine and strictly terrestrial isopods. In order to explore the potential value of Ligia as an animal food source, this study focused on the growth rate under laboratory rearing conditions and conducted a detailed analysis of the overall nutrient content of the species in comparison to two other marine food media (krill and fish meal). Evaluation of the growth rate of juveniles suggests it is a relatively fast-growing species of the Ligiidae family. The essential amino acids content Ligia meal is the lowest amongst the three studied media but the proportion of flavor amino acids, and in particular taurine, was higher. The most restricted amino acids of isopod meal are methionine and cysteine. The significantly unbalanced amino acid composition of Ligia meal may affect the absorption and utilization by consumers. In terms of fatty acids, the total polyunsaturated fatty acids in the isopod is very low. A total of 12 vitamins were examined. The VK 1, VE, VB 2 , VB 3 , VB 5 content of isopod meal were significantly higher than those of krill meal and fish meal. Similarly, most of the 11 mineral elements are highest in the isopod meal. Ligia therefore offers potential as an alternative natural food source in animal given the growth rate under culture and the overall nutrient content. But Ligia collected in most of the field would be deemed unfit for human consumption because of the relatively low nutritional value and heavy metal content exceeding the provided standard. Further study is warranted to elucidate the biological characteristics of isopods and how its diet is reflected in its nutritional value to consumers.

Reproductive senescence is the decrease of reproductive performance with increasing age and can potentially include trans-generational effects as the offspring produced by old parents might have a lower fitness than those produced by young parents. This negative effect may be caused either by the age of the father, mother or the interaction between the ages of both parents. Using the common woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare, an indeterminate grower, as a biological model, we tested for the existence of a deleterious effect of parental age on fitness components. Contrary to previous findings reported from vertebrate studies, old parents produced both a higher number and larger offspring than young parents. However, their offspring had lower fitness components (by surviving less, producing a smaller number of clutches or not reproducing at all) than offspring born to young parents. Our findings strongly support the existence of trans-generational senescence in woodlice and contradict the belief that old individuals in indeterminate growers contribute the most to recruitment and correspond thereby to the key life stage for population dynamics. Our work also provides rare evidence that the trans-generational effect of senescence can be stronger than direct reproductive senescence in indeterminate growers., (© 2020 European Society For Evolutionary Biology. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2020 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.)

The reliance of parasites on their hosts makes host-parasite interactions ideal models for exploring ecological and evolutionary processes. By providing a consistent supply of parasites, in vivo monocultures offer the opportunity to conduct experiments on a scale that is generally not otherwise possible. Gnathiid isopods are common ectoparasites of marine fishes, and are becoming an increasing focus of research attention due to their experimental amenability and ecological importance as ubiquitous, harmful, blood-feeding "mosquito-like" organisms. They feed on hosts once during each of their three juvenile stages, and after each feeding event they return to the benthos to digest and moult to the next stage. Adults do not feed and remain in the benthos, where they reproduce and give birth. Here, we provide methods of culturing gnathiids, and highlight ways in which gnathiids can be used to examine parasite-host-environment interactions. Captive-raised gnathiid juveniles are increasingly being used in parasitological research; however, the methodology for establishing gnathiid monocultures is still not widely known. Information to obtain in vivo monocultures on teleost fish is detailed for a Great Barrier Reef (Australia) and a Caribbean Sea (US Virgin Islands) gnathiid species, and gnathiid information gained over two decades of successfully maintaining continuous cultures is summarised. Providing a suitable benthic habitat for the predominantly benthic free-living stage of this parasite is paramount. Maintenance comprises provision of adequate benthic shelter, managing parasite populations, and sustaining host health. For the first time, we also measured gnathiids' apparent attack speed (maximum 24.5 cm sec -1 ; 6.9, 4.9/17.0, median, 25th/75th quantiles) and illustrate how to collect such fast moving ectoparasites in captivity for experiments. In addition to providing details pertaining to culture maintenance, we review research using gnathiid cultures that have enabled detailed scientific understanding of host and parasite biology, behaviour and ecology on coral reefs., (Copyright © 2020 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Terrestrial isopods have evolved pleopodal lungs that provide access to the rich aerial supply of oxygen. However, isopods occupy conditions with wide and unpredictable thermal and oxygen gradients, suggesting that they might have evolved adaptive developmental plasticity in their respiratory organs to help meet metabolic demand over a wide range of oxygen conditions. To explore this plasticity, we conducted an experiment in which we reared common rough woodlice (Porcellio scaber) from eggs to maturation at different temperatures (15 and 22 °C) combined with different oxygen levels (10% and 22% O 2 ). We sampled animals during development (only females) and then examined mature adults (both sexes). We compared woodlice between treatments with respect to the area of their pleopod exopodites (our proxy of lung size) and the shape of Bertalanffy's equations (our proxy of individual growth curves). Generally, males exhibited larger lungs than females relative to body size. Woodlice also grew relatively fast but achieved a decreased asymptotic body mass in response to warm conditions; the oxygen did not affect growth. Under hypoxia, growing females developed larger lungs compared to under normoxia, but only in the late stage of development. Among mature animals, this effect was present only in males. Woodlice reared under warm conditions had relatively small lungs, in both developing females (the effect was increased in relatively large females) and among mature males and females. Our results demonstrated that woodlice exhibit phenotypic plasticity in their lung size. We suggest that this plasticity helps woodlice equilibrate their gas exchange capacity to differences in the oxygen supply and metabolic demand along environmental temperature and oxygen gradients. The complex pattern of plasticity might indicate the effects of a balance between water conservation and oxygen uptake, which would be especially pronounced in mature females that need to generate an aqueous environment inside their brood pouch., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicting interests., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Cave animals are a fascinating group of species often demonstrating characteristics including reduced eyes and pigmentation, metabolic efficiency, and enhanced sensory systems. Asellus aquaticus , an isopod crustacean, is an emerging model for cave biology. Cave and surface forms of this species differ in many characteristics, including eye size, pigmentation, and antennal length. Existing resources for this species include a linkage map, mapped regions responsible for eye and pigmentation traits, sequenced adult transcriptomes, and comparative embryological descriptions of the surface and cave forms. Our ultimate goal is to identify genes and mutations responsible for the differences between the cave and surface forms. To advance this goal, we decided to use a transcriptomic approach. Because many of these changes first appear during embryonic development, we sequenced embryonic transcriptomes of cave, surface, and hybrid individuals at the stage when eyes and pigment become evident in the surface form. We generated a cave, a surface, a hybrid, and an integrated transcriptome to identify differentially expressed genes in the cave and surface forms. Additionally, we identified genes with allele-specific expression in hybrid individuals. These embryonic transcriptomes are an important resource to assist in our ultimate goal of determining the genetic underpinnings of the divergence between the cave and surface forms.

Cellulose is an abundant source of carbon, accounting for more than 50% of foliage and 90% of woody tissues of plants. Despite the diversity of species that include living or dead plant tissue in their diets, the ability to digest cellulose through self-produced enzymatic machinery is considered rare in the animal kingdom. The majority of animals studied to date rely on the cellulolytic activity of symbiotic microorganisms in their digestive tract, with some evidence for a complementary action of endogenous cellulases. Terrestrial isopods have evolved a lifestyle including feeding on a lignocellulose diet. Whether isopods utilize both external and internal cellulases for digestion of a diet is still not understood. We experimentally manipulated the content of cellulose (30%, 60%, or 90%) and the amount of biofilm (small or large) in the offered food source and quantified growth and cellulolytic activity in the gut of the isopod Porcellio scaber . The presence of a visible biofilm significantly promoted isopod growth, regardless of the cellulose content in the diet. The activity of gut cellulases was not significantly affected by the amount of biofilm or the cellulose content. Our results do not support a significant contribution of either ingested or host enzymes to cellulose utilization in P. scaber . Cellulose might not represent a key nutrient for isopods and does not seem to affect the nutritional value of the diet-associated biofilm. We propose that it is the biofilm community that determines the quality of plant diet in terrestrial isopods and potentially also in other detrital plant feeders.

Organisms with a parasitic lifestyle comprise a high proportion of biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial environments. However, there is considerable variation in the ways in which they acquire nutrients. Hematophagy is a common consumption strategy utilized by some terrestrial, aquatic, and marine organisms whereby the parasite removes and digests blood from a host. Gnathiid isopods are marine hematophagous parasites that live in benthic substrates from the intertidal to the abyss. Although ecologically similar to ticks and mosquitoes, they feed only during each of 3 juvenile stages and adults do not feed. They have long been considered as generalist fish parasites and to date, there have been no reports of their successfully feeding on invertebrates. Based on observations of gnathiids attached to soft-bodied invertebrates collected from light traps, we conducted a laboratory experiment in which we collected and individually housed various common Caribbean invertebrates and placed them in containers with gnathiids to see if the gnathiids would feed on them. All fed gnathiids were subsequently removed from containers and given the opportunity to metamorphose to the next developmental stage. In total, 10 out of the 260 gnathiids that were presented with 1 of 4 species of potential invertebrate hosts had fed by the next morning. Specifically, 9 of a possible 120 gnathiids fed on lettuce sea slugs ( Elysia crispata ), and 1 of a possible 20 fed on a bearded fireworm ( Hermodice carunculata ). Eight of these 10 fed gnathiids metamorphosed to the next stage (5 to adult male, 2 to adult female, and 1 to third-stage juvenile). Even though feeding rates on invertebrates were considerably lower than observed for laboratory studies on fishes, this study provides the first documented case of gnathiids' feeding on and metamorphosing from invertebrate meals. These findings suggest that when fish hosts are not readily available, gnathiids could switch to soft-bodied invertebrates. They further provide insights into the evolution of feeding on fluids from live hosts in members of this family.

The aim of the present study is investigation of the impact of mass development of cyanobacteria and Elodea on population characteristics (abundance, biomass, fecundity) and "health" parameters (the state of embryos, heart rate, and thermal resistance) of aquatic invertebrates in experiments with controlled conditions. In July-August 2018, in four variants of microcosms, the conditions were modeled characteristic of the coastal zone of the Rybinsk Reservoir in the period of mass development of cyanobacteria. Mass species were placed in microcosms of planktonic (with domination (80%) Daphnia longispina) and bottom animals (Unio pictorum, Gmelinoides fasciatus, Asellus aquaticus), as well as Elodea canadensis. In the variants with cyanobacteria, the toxic microcystins LR were revealed (24-53% of the sum of toxins, or from 6.6-66.5 μg/L). The presence of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Gloeoitrichia spp.) influenced structural parameters of plankton: the quantity to green algae decreased, small-sized crustaceans increased. Influence of cyanobacteria caused reliable changes in parameters of aquatic animal from those of the control: thermal resitance of mollusks and amphipods decreased, time of restoration of heart rate after loads (salinity test) in mollusks increased; in amphipods, individual fecundity decreased, frequency of abnormalities and of mortality of embryos increased. The presence of Elodea intensified these effects. Thus, mass development of cyanobacteria and Elodea influences ecological-physiological parameters of aquatic animals, decreasing their adaptivity to natural stresses and deteriorating the quality of the progeny.

Differentiation of transporting epithelial cells during development of animal organisms includes remodelling of apical and basal plasma membranes to increase the available surface for transport and formation of occluding junctions, which maintain a paracellular diffusion barrier. This study provides a detailed ultrastructural analysis of apical and basal plasma membrane remodelling and cell junction formation in hindgut cells during late embryonic and early postembryonic development of the crustacean Porcellio scaber. Hindgut cells in late-stage embryos are columnar with flat apical and basal plasma membranes. In early-stage marsupial mancae the hindgut cells begin to acquire their characteristic dome shape, the first apical membrane folding is evident and the septate junctions expand considerably, all changes being probably associated with the onset of active feeding. In postmarsupial mancae the apical labyrinth is further elaborated and the septate junctions are expanded. This coincides with the transition to an external environment and food sources. First basal infoldings appear in the anterior chamber of early-stage marsupial mancae, but in the papillate region they are mostly formed in postmarsupial mancae. In molting late-stage marsupial mancae, the plasma membrane acquires a topology characteristic of cuticle-producing arthropod epithelia and the septate junctions are considerably reduced., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Biotic stressors have been demonstrated to change the toxicity of pollutants. While the combined effects of predator cues and pesticides are well documented, the interaction of predator stress with metals is a topic that has remained largely unexplored. In this laboratory experiment, the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus is exposed to predator cues and metal mixtures of Cd, Cu and Pb. We examined the effects on growth, respiration and, as behavioral parameters, feeding rate and activity. These were linked to the free ion activities (FIAs) in the water and the metal body concentrations. The findings reveal that Cu accumulation significantly influenced the growth rate, the feeding rate and the activity of isopods exposed to predator stress. Furthermore, we found a concentration-dependent interaction of the Cd + Pb mixtures on the feeding rate and a lower feeding rate for Cd and Pb predator exposed asellids. As several interactions were found between metals and predator stress, it demonstrates the importance of investigating how organisms and whole ecosystems respond to multiple stressors. A better understanding of these interactions will undoubtedly improve risk assessment and management., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The exposure to pesticides by nontarget soil biota has long been regarded as a serious downside of modern agricultural regimes and the subject of heated debate. Of utmost relevance is the exposure to pesticide mixtures because their effects have been shown to not necessarily reflect the individual toxicity of their components, and even the simple addition of effects may lead to consequences not clearly anticipated. In the present study, a multiple biomarker approach was employed to identify the mechanistic and time effects underlying several single and mixture treatments of chlorpyrifos (CPF) and mancozeb (MCZ) in juveniles and adults of the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides pruinosus. The effects of the individual pesticides and the mixtures at recommended doses were mostly transitory under these controlled conditions and one-pulse exposure. Whereas imbalances were identified on detoxification and oxidative stress-related enzymes, the isopods generally showed the ability to recover through the end of the experiment. However, juveniles displayed greater vulnerability than adults. Most of the differences between life stages occurred in energy-related parameters where distinct performances and stress-handling behaviors were observed, suggesting higher metabolic costs to juveniles. Our results stress that understanding the time dependence of the underlying mechanisms governing the joint effects of the pesticides can help in assessing and anticipating the effects of the pesticide mixtures. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of taking life stage-related differences into consideration when evaluating the environmental risks of pesticides and pesticide mixtures. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1446-1457. © 2018 SETAC., (© 2018 SETAC.)

Calcium bodies are internal epithelial sacs found in terrestrial isopods of the family Trichoniscidae that contain a mineralized extracellular matrix that is deposited and resorbed in relation to the molt cycle. Calcium bodies in several trichoniscids are filled with bacteria, the function of which is currently unknown. The woodlouse Hyloniscus riparius differs from other trichoniscids in that it possesses two different pairs of calcium bodies, the posterior pair being filled with bacteria and the anterior pair being devoid of bacteria. We explored the development of these organs and bacterial colonization of their lumen during the postmarsupial development with the use of optical clearing and whole-body confocal imaging of larval and juvenile stages. Our results show that calcium bodies are formed as invaginations of the epidermis in the region of intersegmental membranes during the postmarsupial development. The anterior pair of calcium bodies is generated during the first postmarsupial manca stage, whereas the posterior calcium bodies first appear in juveniles and are immediately colonized by bacteria, likely through a connection between the calcium body lumen and the body surface. Mineral is deposited in calcium bodies as soon as they are present., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study determined the toxicity of lanthanum, one of the most commonly used rare earth elements (REEs), to five representative soil invertebrates after 3-4 weeks exposure. Toxicity was related to total, 0.01 M CaCl 2 -extractable and porewater concentrations in the standard LUFA 2.2 soil, and for earthworms also to body concentrations. La sorption to LUFA 2.2 soil, estimated by relating total soil concentrations to CaCl 2 -extractable or porewater concentrations seemed to reach saturation at >1000 mg La/kg dry soil. Isopod (Porcellio scaber) growth was the most sensitive endpoint, followed by earthworm (Eisenia andrei), enchytraeid (Enchytraeus crypticus), springtail (Folsomia candida) and oribatid mite (Oppia nitens) reproduction, with EC 50 s of 312 (95% confidence interval: 5.6-619), 529 (295-762), 1010 ((>377 < 3133), 1220 (1180-1250) and 1500 (1250-1750) mg La/kg dry soil, respectively. EC 50 s related to CaCl 2 -extractable concentrations ranged between 1.3 (0.046-2.6) and 15.6 (5.6-25.7) mg La/kg dry soil, while porewater-based EC 50 s were 3.5 (-) and 10.2 (-) mg/L for the springtails and mites, respectively. La uptake in the earthworms linearly increased with increasing exposure concentration with bioaccumulation factors ranging between 0.04 and 0.53 (average ± SE: 0.24 ± 0.032). EC 50 for effects on earthworm reproduction related to internal concentrations was 184 (61-301) mg La/kg dry body weight. A risk assessment based on the available toxicity for soil invertebrates, bacteria and plants resulted in an HC 5 of approx. 50 mg La/kg dry soil, suggesting that La may affect soil ecosystems at concentrations slightly above natural background levels (6.6-50 mg La/kg dry soil) in non-polluted soils., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Metal pollution is a serious threat to environmental health. While the aquatic isopod Asellus aquaticus L. (Isopoda) is an important decomposer of freshwater ecosystems, very little research has reported its long-term or incipient lethal concentrations for metals. Moreover, the lethal concentrations at a certain percentage (LCxs) that can be found in the literature are often based on unmeasured concentrations, which could lead to a severe underestimation of the actual toxicity. In the present exploratory study, the 1-, 4-, 7-, and 14-d LC10, LC20, and LC50 values of copper, cadmium, and lead for adult A. aquaticus were determined. The LCx values were calculated using the nominal concentrations, the effective concentrations, and the free ion activities. Incipient lethal values were determined as well. In general, surprisingly lower lethal concentrations were found than in other studies. Furthermore, the present study shows that lethal concentrations based on free ion activities were generally much lower than nominal and effective concentrations. Although almost all LC values were higher than the environmental quality standards (EQS), the Cu 14-d LC10 and several (incipient) Pb LC10 and LC20 values, all calculated with free ion activities, were lower than the EQS. We conclude that lethal or effective concentrations based on free ion activities provide a more realistic view, which is vital for environmental policy making. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2849-2854. © 2017 SETAC., (© 2017 SETAC.)

In the present study a biological "in vivo" assay, with freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus, was used to define and evaluate the potential impact of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) wastewaters on local wildlife. Samples of both untreated and mechanically and biologically treated WWTP wastewater, were tested in the presence and absence of the formulated sediment for their lethal and sublethal effects. Chronic exposures to wastewater samples caused concentration dependent reduced locomotion, body pigmentation and molting frequency in exposed organisms. The observed effects indicate the overall toxicity and endocrine disruption of the wastewater samples. In contrast stimulations of the feeding rate and growth rate of the test organisms during the chronic exposure to sublethal levels of wastewater samples were observed, indicating an improvement in nutritional quality of the wastewater. The most sensitive exposure endpoint was molting frequency of tested organisms, which indicated the presence of estrogenically active endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Raw wastewater caused up to 42% molting frequency reduction of exposed A. aquaticus when exposed to five times diluted untreated wastewater sample, while undiluted treated wastewater caused a 61% molting frequency reduction. The presence of estrogenically active compounds in the wastewater was confirmed with the yeast estrogen screen assay (YES test), which assigned the highest estrogenic activity to a mechanically and biologically treated wastewater sample, and lower estrogenic activity to all other tested samples. The importance of presence of the formulated sediment was determined, as it lessened the effects of all WWTP wastewater samples in all observed exposures., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lucasioides nudus sp. n. is described from Jiangxi Province, China. The new species can be diagnosed by the cephalon having a well-developed median lobe, the pereonite 1 with acutely postero-lateral corners and sinuous posterior margin of epimeron, the male pleopod 1 endopod without setules, and the bilobed exopod with the outer lobe much shorter and broader than the acute triangular inner lobe.

The acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus dirus is a trophically transmitted parasite that modifies both the physiology and behavior of its intermediate host (isopod) prior to transmission to its definitive host (fish). Infected isopods often contain multiple A. dirus individuals and we examined the relationships between host sharing, body size, energy content, and host modification to determine if host sharing was costly and if these costs could influence the modification of host behavior (mating behavior). Using field-based measures of parasite energy content (glycogen, lipid) and parasite body size (volume), we showed that host sharing was costly in terms of energy content but not in terms of body size. Analysis of the predictors of host behavior revealed that energy content, and body size, were not predictors of host behavior. Of the variables examined, parasite intensity was the only predictor of host behavior. Hosts that contained more parasites were less likely to be modified (i.e., less likely to undergo mating suppression). We suggest that intraspecific competition influenced parasite energy content and that the costs associated with competition are likely to shape the strategy of growth and energy allocation adopted by the parasites. These costs did not appear to have a direct effect on the modification of host mating behavior.

We studied the individual and joint acute toxicity of S-metolachlor (SMOC) and deethylatrazine (DEA - a metabolite of atrazine) on different non-target freshwater crustaceans. We used animals from different ecological groups: two amphipods from surface running water (Gammarus pulex and Gammarus cf. orinos), an isopod from surface stagnant water (Asellus aquaticus) and an amphipod living in groundwater (Niphargus rhenorhodanensis). Organisms were exposed to different levels of SMOC and DEA, alone or in binary mixture. Temperature effect on SMOC toxicity was assessed by exposing G. pulex and N. rhenorhodanensis to SMOC at 11 °C and 15 °C. Studying mortality as the biological endpoint, N. rhenorhodanensis was more resistant than surface water species towards SMOC and DEA. Among surface water species, G. pulex was the most sensitive while Gammarus cf. orinos and A. aquaticus showed similar responses to both compounds. Temperature increase did not change SMOC toxicity but modify the shape and steepness of the dose-response curve. We used a Model Deviation Ratio (MDR) approach to evaluate the predictability of Concentration Addition (CA) and Independent Action (IA) models to mixture toxicity. Results indicated either an additive or an antagonistic or a synergistic interaction depending on the concentrations combination and the test species. Our finding conclusively show the suitability of CA and IA in predicting mixture toxicities but results should be interpreted with caution according to ecological group of exposed species in risk assessment procedures., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mothocya renardi (Bleeker, 1857), a protandrically hermaphroditic cymothoid, parasitising the banded needle fish Strongylura leiura (Bleeker) from the Malabar Coast, India is redescribed and morphological data for different life-cycle stages [male, transitional and ovigerous female, larvae (pre-manca and manca) and juvenile] are provided. Mothocya renardi exhibited strict oligoxenous host specificity by infesting only S. leiura and showed high prevalence levels (reaching up to 92%). The life-cycle of M. renardi comprises three major phases (marsupial phase, free living phase and infestive phase). The marsupial phase comprised one zygotic, three embryonic and two larval stages, all of which remained in the marsupium until the final staged manca is released into the surrounding water. After having led a short free- swimming life, the manca infested the branchial cavity of the host fish, S. leiura. Subsequently it was transformed successively into juvenile, male, transitional and finally functional female through biphasic moult which occurs in between each stage. Based on the presence (or absence) of a brood pouch and/or marsupiumites, six successive stages of the female population were also identified. These data will help precise identification of the female M. renardi irrespective of their stage. The present paper also discusses the host-parasite interactions between S. leiura and M. renardi.

The genus Cymothoa Fabricius, 1793 is revised for Australian waters. Cymothoa hermani Hadfield, Bruce & Smit, 2011, previously known from Tanzania on the host Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793) is new to Australian waters. Cymothoa carangi Avdeev, 1979; Cymothoa epimerica Avdeev, 1979; Cymothoa parupenei Avdeev, 1979; Cymothoa propria Avdeev, 1979; Cymothoa rotunda Avdeev, 1979 and Cymothoa pulchrum Lanchester, 1902 are redescribed. Cymothoa curta Schioedte & Meinert, 1884, first described from the host Anableps anableps (Linnaeus, 1758); and Cymothoa plebeia Schioedte & Meinert, 1884, first described from Cape Verde; are redescribed and excluded from the Australian fauna. Cymothoa limbata Schioedte & Meinert, 1884 is placed into junior synonymy with Cymothoa eremita (Brünnich, 1783). A key to the Australian species of Cymothoa is presented.

Three species of Cirolanidae described by Nierstrasz in 1931 are redescribed from the type material: Cirolana indica Nierstrasz, 1931, with new material from Singapore and Lombok Island, Indonesia; C. vanhoeffeni Nierstrasz, 1931; and C. stebbingi Nierstrasz, 1931, which is here transferred to the genus Politolana Bruce, 1981 based on the elongate body, long peduncle of pleopod 1, narrow and slender frontal lamina, flat and robust carpus of pereopod 7, long and acute robust setae on merus-propodus pereopod 1, secondary unguis on dactylus, and antenna peduncle articles 1-2 shorter than the subequal articles 3-5.

Cymodoce brucei sp. nov. is described from the intertidal zone of the Iranian coast of the Oman Sea. This species can be distinguished from all other Cymodoce in the Western Indian Ocean region, by a pleotelson with a large prominent tongue-like projection in midline of the posterior margin. The status of Cerceis manorii Nooruddin, 1965, and Cymodoce spinula Yousuf & Javed, 2001 both from Pakistan (Karachi) is determined and Cymodoce manorii (Nooruddin, 1965) comb. nov. is established.

A main source of uncertainty currently associated with environmental risk assessment of chemicals is the poor understanding of the influence of environmental factors on the toxicity of xenobiotics. Aiming to reduce this uncertainty, here we evaluate the joint-effects of two pesticides (chlorpyrifos and mancozeb) on the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides pruinosus under different soil moisture regimes. A full factorial design, including three treatments of each pesticide and an untreated control, were performed under different soil moisture regimes: 25%, 50%, and 75% WHC. Our results showed that soil moisture had no effects on isopods survival, at the levels assessed in this experiment, neither regarding single pesticides nor mixture treatments. Additivity was always the most parsimonious result when both pesticides were present. Oppositely, both feeding activity and biomass change showed a higher sensitivity to soil moisture, with isopods generally showing worse performance when exposed to pesticides and dry or moist conditions. Most of the significant differences between soil moisture regimes were found in single pesticide treatments, yet different responses to mixtures could still be distinguished depending on the soil moisture assessed. This study shows that while soil moisture has the potential to influence the effects of the pesticide mixture itself, such effects might become less important in a context of complex combinations of stressors, as the major contribution comes from its individual interaction with each pesticide. Finally, the implications of our results are discussed in light of the current state of environmental risk assessment procedures and some future perspectives are advanced., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Myopiarolis tona sp. nov. is described from the Challenger Plateau, southern Lord Howe Rise and the west coast of the North Island, New Zealand at depths of 634-1250 m. M. tona sp. nov. can be identified by the prominent posteriorly directed dorsal nodule on fused pereonites 5-7. There are nine species in four genera of the cold-water, epibenthic family Serolidae recorded from New Zealand waters, three species of Myopiarolis Bruce, 2009, one undescribed species of Acutiserolis Brandt, 1988, four of Brucerolis Poore and Storey, 2009 and the monotypic Spinoserolis Brandt, 1988.

Temperature is an important environmental factor that influences key traits like body size, growth rate and maturity. Ectotherms reared under high temperatures usually show faster growth, but reach a smaller final size, a phenomenon known as the temperature-size rule (TSR). Oxygen may become a limiting resource at high temperatures, when demand for oxygen is high, especially in water as oxygen uptake is far more challenging under water than in air. Therefore, in aquatic ectotherms, the TSR might very well be mediated by temperature effects on oxygen availability and oxygen demand. To distinguish between the direct effects of temperature and oxygen mediated effects, growth rate and final size were measured in the aquatic ectotherm Asellus aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758) reared under different temperature and oxygen conditions in a factorial design. Growth could be best described by a modified Von Bertalanffy growth function. Both temperature and oxygen affected age at maturity and growth. Growth responses to temperature were dependent on oxygen conditions (interactive effect of temperature and oxygen). Only under hypoxic conditions, when oxygen was most limiting, did we find a classic TSR. Moreover, when comparing treatments differing in temperature, but where the balance between oxygen demand and supply was similar, high temperature increased both growth rate and final size. Thus effects of oxygen may resolve the life-history puzzle of the TSR in aquatic ectotherms., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Levantoniscus n. gen. is erected for two new species from Cyprus: Levantoniscus bicostulatus n. sp. and Levantoniscus makrisi n. sp. Levantoniscus wahrmani (Strouhal, 1968) n. comb. from Israel and southern Turkey is transferred from the genus Bathytropa Budde-Lund, 1885 and family Bathytropidae. The new genus is included in the family Trachelipodidae and is characterized by distinct dorsal ornamentation, interlocking pleopods and uncovered pleopodal lungs which are located in invaginations on pleopod 3-5 exopodites.

The isopod genus Dolicholana Bruce, 1986, previously known only from the Indo-West Pacific, is recorded for the first time from the Atlantic Ocean. A new species, Dolicholana brucei sp. nov., is described from the northeastern Brazilian coast, and is the first record of the genus Dolicholana Bruce, 1986 for the Atlantic Ocean. The material was collected from the upper part of the continental slope off Rio Grande do Norte (150 m depth). The new species is characterized by pereopod 1 propodal palm being crenulate, ischium of pereopod 1 and 2 with a plumose seta on the anterior margin, peduncle of pleopods 3-5 bearing an accessory lobe acute on the distolateral angle, pleotelson posterior margin being rounded, and the uropodal endopod and the exopod apices distally being rounded. A revised key to the genus is provided.

Two new species of Desmosomatidae, Eugerdella kurabyssalis sp. nov. and Parvochelus serricaudis sp. nov., are described from the Northwest Pacific open abyssal plain to the east of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. These species constituted about one fourth of all collected desmosomatid specimens of the KuramBio expedition (2012), indicating it may be the most abundant species of the family in this area. E. kurabyssalis sp. nov. is rather similar to E. minutula Mezhov, 1986 and E. theodori Brix, 2007, resembling them in the shape of its body segments and appendages, including the absence of the mandibular palp and morphology of the pereopod I. The new species can be distinguished from the mentioned species by the number of cusps of the mandibular incisor process and lacinia mobilis, the relatively stouter pereopods and different setation of the pereopod I ischium. P. serricaudis sp. nov. is the second species of the genus Parvochelus Brix & Kihara, 2015 (see Brix et al. 2015) and the first record of the genus from the Pacific Ocean and from the Northern Hemisphere. P. serricaudis sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. russus Brix & Kihara, 2015 by its relatively stouter pereopod I, presence of the mandibular palp and the shape of the maxilliped palp articles and female operculum. A discussion of the taxonomic characters and the modified diagnosis of the genus Parvochelus are presented.

The effects of Ag-NPs and AgNO3 on the isopod Porcellionides pruinosus were determined upon soil and dietary exposures. Isopods avoided Ag in soil, with EC50 values of ∼16.0 and 14.0 mg Ag/kg for Ag-NPs and AgNO3, respectively. Feeding inhibition tests in soil showed EC50s for effects on consumption ratio of 127 and 56.7 mg Ag/kg, respectively. Although similar EC50s for effects on biomass were observed for nanoparticulate and ionic Ag (114 and 120 mg Ag/kg dry soil, respectively), at higher concentrations greater biomass loss was found for AgNO3. Upon dietary exposure, AgNO3 was more toxic, with EC50 for effects on biomass change being >1500 and 233 mg Ag/kg for Ag-NPs and AgNO3, respectively. The difference in toxicity between Ag-NPs and AgNO3 could not be explained from Ag body concentrations. This suggests that the relation between toxicity and bioavailability of Ag-NPs differs from that of ionic Ag in soils., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The neotropical genus Benthana (Philosciidae) is reviewed. Fourteen species are redescribed: Benthana picta, B. olfersii, B. longicornis, B. schubarti, B. albomarginata, B. werneri, B. santosi, B. longipenis, B. bocainensis, B. moreirai, B. dimorpha, B. iporangensis, B. sulcata, and B. longicaudata. Additional characters were proposed for B. convexa, B. taeniata, B. serrana, B. trinodulata, B. araucariana, and B. cairensis. New records are provided for 13 species, and four new species are described: Benthana aimores sp. nov., Benthana goitacas sp. nov., Benthana tupinamba sp. nov. and Benthana canastraensis sp. nov.. Two Chilean species are considered incertae sedis. A pictorial key and distribution maps for the species are provided.

The genus Odysseylana Malyutina, 1995 is revised and a new diagnosis presented; two new species from Singapore are described: Odysseylana sakijang sp. nov. and Odysseylana temasek sp. nov. The monotypic genus Parilcirolana Yu & Li, 2001, is placed in synonymy, bringing total number of species in Odysseylana to four including the type species Odysseylana sirenkoi Malyutina, 1995 and Odysseylana setosa (Yu & Li, 2001) comb. nov. The genus is known only from coastal waters from Singapore to off Macau, western Pacific. The principal distinguishing character of Odysseylana are an elongate body shape (2.9-3.5 long as greatest width), head without a rostral point, pentagonal and flat frontal lamina; antenna peduncle articles 1-3 short, 4 and 5 subequal in length and longest; and pleopod 1 peduncle quadrate, and a slender pleopod 1 endopod.

A new species of the genus Litarcturus Brandt, 1990, L. kexueiae sp. nov., collected from deep sea of the Okinawa Trough, is described and illustrated. It is readily distinguished from the other seven species of the genus by bearing long supraocular spines about as long as the head and posterolateral pleotelsonic spines overreaching the pleotelson apex.

A new family Thermoarcturidae of valviferan isopod is erected for three genera, Califarcturus n. gen., Spinarcturus Kensley, 1978 and Thermoarcturus Paul & Menzies, 1971, each represented by one species. All share strong stiff setae on distal articles of pereopods 2-4, uropods with two rami, and a tomentum of fine setae over the cuticle. The members are distinguished from Antarcturidae, Arcturididae, Rectarcturidae and Arcturidae, similar arcturoid families that differ in having rows of filter setae on pereopods 2-4 and usually lack one or more uropodal rami.

Experiments were performed to study the effects of short and long-term exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) on a freshwater crustacean isopod Asellus aquaticus (L.). Two life stages of isopods were exposed to a range of BPA concentrations, from aqueous and two dietary sources, in the form of with BPA spiked conditioned alder leaf (Alnus glutinosa) discs, or spiked formulated sediment, to determine the relative importance of each source of exposure on the uptake of this contaminant. Several lethal and sublethal endpoints were evaluated in this study to measure the potential effects of BPA on A. aquaticus, including mortality, growth and feeding rate inhibition, mobility inhibition, de-pigmentation and molting disturbances. They signify a correlation to BPA levels and a difference in BPA uptake efficiency from different uptake sources. Results of acute exposure to BPA show a greater sensitivity of test systems using juvenile specimens with a 96 h LC₅₀ of 8.6 mg L(-1) BPA in water medium and a 96 h LC₅₀ of 13.5 mg L(-1) BPA in sediment. In comparison, adult isopods show a 96 h LC₅₀ of 25.1 mg L(-1) BPA in water medium and a 96 h LC₅₀ of 65.1 mg L(-1) BPA in sediment. Observed endpoints of chronic exposures suggest the alder leave discs to be the most efficient uptake source of BPA, in contrast to uptake from water or heterogeneous sediment. Significant (p<0.05) growth inhibition, with a 21d NOEC of 0.5/2.5 mg L(-1) (for juvenile/adult organisms), and feeding rate inhibition, with a 21d NOEC of 0.5/1.0 mg L(-1) (for juvenile/adult organisms), were proven to be the most sensitive toxicity endpoints. An even more sensitive effect turned out to be molting frequency, which was significantly reduced; a 21d NOEC was 1.0 mg L(-1) of BPA for adult organisms and an even lower 21d NOEC of 0.05 mg L(-1) of BPA for juveniles. The observed endpoints are recorded at very low, non-toxic exposure concentrations, indicating that BPA acts as an endocrine disrupting compound, as well as a toxic substance. We also determined the importance of the direct dietary uptake of the pollutants, significant for juveniles as well as adult animals., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Two species of Glossobius Schioedte & Meinert, 1883 are known from Australia: Glossobius anctus Bruce & Bowman, 1989 and Glossobius impressus (Say, 1818), the latter recorded here for the first time from Australia and southern Africa. Glossobius ogasawarensis Nunomura, 1994 is here placed in synonymy with Glossobius auritus Bovallius, 1885; whereas Glossobius crassa (Dana, 1853) is removed from synonymy with G. auritus and placed into nomen dubium. Glossobius arimae Nunomura, 2001 is transferred to the genus Ceratothoa Dana, 1852. A key to the species of Glossobius is presented.

The genus Ceratothoa Dana, 1852, is revised for Australian waters. Ceratothoa is represented in Australia by nine species, including two new species: Ceratothoa barracuda sp. nov. described from Cairns and Ceratothoa globulus sp. nov. described from Lord Howe Island. Ceratothoa imbricata Fabricius, 1775 is redescribed, with Ceratothoa trillesi (Avdeev, 1979) and Ceratothoa huttoni Filhol, 1885 placed into junior synonymy; the preferred hosts are species of the genus Trachurus (Carangidae). Ceratothoa banksii (Leach, 1818) is validated and brought out of synonymy with Ceratothoa imbricata; host species are from the families Kyphosidae, Scombridae, Latridae, Carangidae, Mugilidae, Salmonidae, Scatophagidae, Pomatomidae and Hemiramphidae. Species excluded from the Australian fauna are Ceratothoa trigonocephala (Leach, 1818) with an unknown host identity and type locality; and Ceratothoa lineata Miers, 1876a, that here is transferred to the genus Mothocya Costa, 1851, with Mothocya ihi Bruce, 1986 placed into junior synonymy. Ceratothoa contracta (Miers, 1880), the New Zealand Ceratothoa novaezelandiae Filhol, 1885 and the East Pacific Ceratothoa gaudichaudii (Milne Edwards, 1840) are regarded here as species inquirenda. A key to the Australian species of Ceratothoa is presented.

The new subfamily Iuiuniscinae, Styloniscidae, is erected for the new genus Iuiuniscus and the new species I. iuiuensis, which is described from cave of the State of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. A special ecological character is shown here for the first time for a New World Oniscidea: the construction of mud shelters. An introduction addressing the systematics of Synocheta with emphasis on Styloniscidae Vandel, 1952 is provided, as well as general comments about the dependence of water in some Oniscidea and ecological traits of amphibious Synocheta. The problems referring to nomenclature, taxonomy and the interrelationships in Styloniscidae are discussed.

Onychatrium gen. nov. is described, with five included species: Onychatrium forceps sp. nov., the type species and Onychatrium torosus sp. nov., both from the Great Barrier Reef; Onychatrium entale (Nordenstam, 1946) comb. nov., from Tapateuen (= Tabiteue Island), Gilbert Islands; Onychatrium thomasi (Bolstad & Kensley, 1999) comb. nov., from Madang, Papua New Guinea; and Onychatrium echiurum (Nobili, 1906) comb. nov., and species inquirenda from the Tumaotu Islands, Eastern French Polynesia. The primary distinguishing characters for Onychatrium gen. nov. are a trapezoid pseudosrostrum, the male pereopod 1 with elongate dactylus (4.7-7.3 as long as proximal width), propodus with strongly produced and acute lobe, carpus with a distally acute, flat, ventrally directed process (except O. torosus sp. nov., which has a short and truncate process) and the merus with a distally directed inferodistal lobe. The genus is known only from the southern Pacific, from the Tuamotus (eastern French Polynesia) to the Great Barrier Reef and northern Papua New Guinea.

Two new species of anthuroid isopods, Caenanthura koreana sp. nov. and Apanthura koreaensis sp. nov. are described from the southern and western coasts of the Korean Peninsula. A key to the species and the type locality of Caenanthura are provided. Additionally, we determined the partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) from two new species.

A new species of Ischnomesidae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Asellota), Ischnomesus harrietae sp. nov. is described from the southern Bay of Biscay. This new species is distinctive due to the presence of numerous pedestal setae arranged in longitudinal rows on pereonite 5. Because of this morphological peculiarity, it can be easily distinguished from the four other Ischnomesus species previously reported from bathyal/abyssal bottoms of the European continental margin. Within its known distributional area, the new species inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms between 619 and 1099 m, with a maximum abundance of 41.8 individuals per 100 m2 recorded at approximately 700 m on the Arcachon Plateau. Another new species is also reported, Ischnomesus sp.1, represented by one specimen only and briefly described. An identification key to European species of Ischnomesus is provided.

Changes in temperature across geographic gradients can occur on a wide temporal range, from fluctuations within hours as a result of day-night to those over many years. These events will drive many organisms towards their physiological limits of thermal tolerance. Recently, many reports support a limited scope for adaptive evolutionary responses to high temperatures, meaning a conserved heat tolerance among ectotherms in general. We address this problem and tested the heat and cold tolerance invariant-variant hypotheses in terrestrial isopods. We studied five different populations of Porcellio laevis and three populations of Porcellio scaber, spanning 30° S latitudinal gradient in Chile. The heat tolerance of woodlice was conserved with little variation along latitude and environmental temperatures, but cold tolerance decreases significantly with environmental temperatures and latitudes. Indeed, a significant and negative correlation was observed between cold tolerance and latitude. Also, significant and positive correlations were observed among cold tolerance and environmental temperatures. Conversely, heat tolerance was not significantly correlated with any of the environmental temperatures tested neither with latitude. This macrophysiological pattern indicated that heat and cold-tolerances of species and populations not always change across geographical gradients meaning that thermal tolerance responses to high temperatures may be evolutionary constrained., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Heterodina Schotte & Kensley, 2005 is revised with Heterodina qeshmensis sp. nov., described from the subtidal zone of the Qeshm Island, southern Iran. Heterodina qeshmensis sp. nov. is characterized by: unornamented dorsal surfaces, wide and anteriorly concave epistome, and the appendix masculina with sub-parallel margins and not extending beyond the distal margin of the endopod. A key to the species is provided. The penial processes of Heterodina mccaini Schotte & Kensley, 2005 is also re-illustrated.

Marine wood-borers of the Limnoriidae cause great destruction to wooden structures exposed in the marine environment. In this study we collated occurrence data obtained from field surveys, spanning over a period of 10 years, and from an extensive literature review. We aimed to determine which wood-boring limnoriid species are established in European coastal waters; to map their past and recent distribution in Europe in order to infer species range extension or contraction; to determine species environmental requirements using climatic envelopes. Of the six species of wood-boring Limnoria previously reported occurring in Europe, only Limnoria lignorum, L. quadripunctata and L. tripunctata are established in European coastal waters. L. carinata and L. tuberculata have uncertain established status, whereas L. borealis is not established in European waters. The species with the widest distribution in Europe is Limnoria lignorum, which is also the most tolerant species to a range of salinities. L. quadripunctata and L. tripunctata appear to be stenohaline. However, the present study shows that both L. quadripunctata and L. tripunctata are more widespread in Europe than previous reports suggested. Both species have been found occurring in Europe since they were described, and their increased distribution is probably the results of a range expansion. On the other hand L. lignorum appears to be retreating poleward with ocean warming. In certain areas (e.g. southern England, and southern Portugal), limnoriids appear to be very abundant and their activity is rivalling that of teredinids. Therefore, it is important to monitor the distribution and destructive activity of these organisms in Europe.

The reproductive success of female Gnathia marleyi (Crustacea: Isopoda) was examined among individuals from eight species belonging to five families of common Caribbean reef fishes of St. John, US Virgin Islands that differ in susceptibility to G. marleyi infestation. Fish were placed in cages during times of peak gnathiid activity. Gnathiids were recovered from host fishes and reared to adulthood in the laboratory. Ovigerous females were then placed in individual containers until offspring were released. Measures of reproductive success used were the number of hatched zuphea 1 larvae that emerged from the brood pouch, "brood size," and the average total length of newly emerged zuphea larvae, "average z-length." Among the five host fish families tested, females that fed on the two families most susceptible to gnathiid infestation (Haemulidae and Lutjanidae) produced longer larvae than those feeding on the three less susceptible host families. However, there was no significant difference in the number of viable offspring produced. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between the source of the blood meal and any measure of reproductive success in female gnathiid isopods. These findings open the door to future research on potential differences in host blood quality and defense mechanisms that may cause variations in susceptibility to gnathiid among different host fishes.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of ambient concentrations of pesticides combined with abiotic factors on the key aquatic species Daphnia magna, Chydorus sphaericus and Asellus aquaticus by means of 21 days field exposure experiments. In situ bioassays were deployed in ditches around flower bulb fields during spring and autumn 2011-2012. The results showed that phosphate was the most variable parameter followed by pesticides expressed as toxic units, as the main factors explaining differences between sites. Variation in reproduction and growth of cladoceran D. magna was largely explained by nutrients, whereas dissolved oxygen contributed mostly to variations in reproduction of C. sphaericus. Dissolved organic carbon contributed to variations in growth of the detrivore A. aquaticus. It is concluded that abiotic stressors rather than pesticides contributed significantly to the performance of aquatic invertebrates., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gnathiid larvae were collected from the gill chambers of coastal sharks in southwestern Japan. Some were reared in a laboratory aquarium and successfully metamorphosed into adults. Morphological observations of the adult males identified three undescribed species, which are designated Gnathia albipalpebrata n. sp., G. parvirostrata n. sp., and G. dejimagi n. sp. on the basis of their larval morphologies and pigmentation patterns.

Exoskeletal crustacean cuticle is a calcified apical extracellular matrix of epidermal cells, illustrating the chitin-based organic scaffold for biomineralization. Studies of cuticle formation during molting reveal significant dynamics and complexity of the assembly processes, while cuticle formation during embryogenesis is poorly investigated. This study reveals in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber, the ultrastructural organization of the differentiating precuticular matrices and exoskeletal cuticles during embryonic and larval intramarsupial development. The composition of the epidermal matrices was obtained by WGA lectin labelling and EDXS analysis. At least two precuticular matrices, consisting of loosely arranged material with overlying electron dense lamina, are secreted by the epidermis in the mid-stage embryo. The prehatching embryo is the earliest developmental stage with a cuticular matrix consisting of an epicuticle and a procuticle, displaying WGA binding and forming cuticular scales. In newly hatched marsupial larva manca, a new cuticle is formed and calcium sequestration in the cuticle is evident. Progression of larval development leads to the cuticle thickening, structural differentiation of cuticular layers and prominent cuticle calcification. Morphological characteristics of exoskeleton renewal in marsupial manca are described. Elaborated cuticle in marsupial larvae indicates the importance of the exoskeleton in protection and support of the larval body in the marsupium and during the release of larvae in the external environment., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Wolbachia are widespread endosymbiotic bacteria of arthropods and nematodes. Studies on such models suggest that Wolbachia's remarkable aptitude to infect offspring may rely on a re-infection of ovaries from somatic tissues instead of direct cellular segregation between oogonia and oocytes. In the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare, Wolbachia are vertically transmitted to the host offspring, even though ovary cells are cyclically renewed. Using Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we showed that the proportion of infected oocytes increased in the course of ovary and oocyte maturation, starting with 31.5% of infected oocytes only. At the end of ovary maturation, this proportion reached 87.6% for the most mature oocytes, which is close to the known transmission rate to offspring. This enrichment can be explained by a secondary acquisition of the bacteria by oocytes (Wolbachia can be seen as last minute passengers) and/or by a preferential selection of oocytes infected with Wolbachia (as priority travellers).