NUTRITIONAL BIOLOGY OF TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS (ISOPODA: ONISCIDEA): COPPER REVISITED

ABSTRACT

In Porcellio scaber, we detected extensive oxidation of phenolics by copper-containing enzymes in the hindgut. The activity of these phenol oxidases significantly correlated with the number of bacteria in the hepatopancreas. About one quarter of the hepatopancreatic copper was localized in these bacterial cells. We conclude that copper-containing phenol oxidases in the gut of P. scaber originate from the hepatopancreatic bacteria. Furthermore, our data provide evidence that microbial colonization and coprophagy, serving as an “external rumen", may be less important with respect to litter degradation by terrestrial isopods than has been previously assumed.