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The integument in troglobitic and epigean woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea): a comparative ultrastructural study

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Abstract

We compared the ultrastructure and the relative thickness of the integumental cuticle in several species of troglobitic and non-troglobitic woodlice. Measurements of tergal cuticle thickness on histological sections demonstrated that the cuticles in non-troglobites are thicker than those in troglobites of similar body sizes. As revealed by scanning electron microscopy, the endocuticles in troglobites consist of more numerous and thinner lamellae compared to cuticles of similar thickness in non-troglobites. Similar differences in the number and thickness of cuticular lamellae were not found in the exocuticle. As demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy of the epicuticles in troglobitic and non-troglobitic woodlice, the simple inner epicuticle is thinner relative to the total epicuticle thickness in troglobites, but this is not the case for the outer epicuticle. Outer epicuticles consisting of different numbers of sublayers can be found in troglobites as well as in non-troglobites and more complex outer epicuticles are not characteristic of representatives of any of the two ecological groups. Our results indicate that the thickness and structure of the integumental cuticle are important for evolutionary success in the subterranean environment. Nevertheless, the cuticles of troglobites are diverse in their ultrastructural features, likely reflecting different lifestyles of various troglobites.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank J. Bedek, S. Taiti, T. Delić, M. Konec, K. Šporar and J. Jugovic who kindly provided most of the troglobitic woodlice specimens used in this study as well as J. Murko Bulić for her laboratory assistance and A. Blejec for advice on data analysis. Specimens of P. scaber were provided by P. Zidar. This work was financed by the Slovenian Research Agency as part of the Research Program P1-0184.

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  1. Miloš Vittori

    Present address: Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Večna Pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna Pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Miloš Vittori & Jasna Štrus

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  1. Miloš Vittori
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  2. Jasna Štrus
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Correspondence to Miloš Vittori.

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Communicated by Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa.

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435_2014_232_MOESM1_ESM.tif

The epicuticle in different parts of the body in an intramolt stage (molting) Hyloniscus riparius. a: the new cuticle of the anterior body segments just prior to anterior ecdysis with a simple outer epicuticle; b: the new cuticle of the posterior body segments just after the posterior ecdysis with a four-layered outer epicuticle; c: the old cuticle of the anterior body segments (not yet shed) with a four-layered outer epicuticle. ds: dense sublayer of the outer epicuticle, ie: inner epicuticle, oe: outer epicuticle, ex: exocuticle. Scale bar = 50 nm (TIFF 1843 kb)

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Vittori, M., Štrus, J. The integument in troglobitic and epigean woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea): a comparative ultrastructural study. Zoomorphology 133, 391–403 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-014-0232-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-014-0232-9

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