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Summary
Postembryonic ontogenetic development in Porcellio scaber was observed on an individual basis over 90 weeks. Under optimal nutritive conditions, the duration of development to maturity showed high inter-individual variability and ranged from 60 to 90 weeks. Both growth rates and mortality of juvenile woodlice depended on the available food source, the alder litter being of highest, the oak litter of lowest, and the birch litter of intermediate quality. The experimentally manipulated pH level of the litter that, in turn, affected some leaf litter traits and the density and activity of litter-colonizing microbiota was of minor significance. Previous results and the present study suggest that food sources of low nutritive value affect isopod populations by (1) increasing the mortality and (2) reducing the reproductive success of adult females, and by (3) increasing mortality and reducing growth rates of juveniles, and therefore by (4) delayed maturity.