Intestinal Microbiota of Terrestrial Isopods

Abstract

Isopods are a cosmopolitan group of crustaceans, which inhabit marine environments ranging from deep-sea to intertidal areas, surface and un- derground freshwaters and terrestrial environments fromhigh humidity to dry habitats, including deserts. More than one third ofthe described isopo- dan species (approximately 9000) belong to the terrestrial Oniscidea or woodlice (slaters, sowbugs and pillbugs; Schamlfuss 2003). The phylogeny and systematics of Oniscidea were analysed and presented by several au- thors (Schmalfuss 1989; Erhard 1998; Tabacaru and Danielopol 1999). In general, Oniscidea are assigned to five sections, namelyDiplocheta, Tylida, Microcheta, Synocheta and Crinocheta,with 33 families altogether (Erhard 1998). Amphibious species of the family Ligiidae (slaters) and members of Mesoniscidae represent only approximately 50 ofthe described species, the rest belonging to the higher oniscideans, mostly to troglobiontic Synocheta and “truly terrestrial” Crinocheta.