1. Leaf litter species preference in the pill bug ( Armadillidium sp. ) Emily Byrne Kevin Isherwood Greg McGuire Jonathan O’Keefe

2. The pill bug, Armadillidium sp. Widespread terrestrial crustacean Susceptible to desiccation Physiological adaptations Behavioural adaptations Respiratory mechanisms

3. Habitat preference Flexible diet comprised primarily of decaying matter Moist, dark environments Decaying > fresh leaf litter

4. Species- specific leaf litter High quality litter> low quality litter Panlasiui (2011) Oak, Quercus agrifolia, > Blue Gum, Eucalyptus globulus Tuck & Hassall (2003) Dicotyledon litter > grass litter Morisawa et al. (2002) Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica – natural repellant

5. Current study Investigate if the pill bug, A rmadillidium sp. has a preference for local leaf litter species Hypothesis: individuals will prefer broad-leaf species

6. Experiment 1: Leaf litter species preference 3 trials Wet leaves Dark environment Picea rubensQuercus rubens Thuja occidentalis Acer saccharum

8. Experiment 2: Effects of moisture and humidity Spruce dried in oven Maple dunked in well water

10. Discussion Hypothesis: preference for broad leaf species Drying of leaves potentially a major contributor

11. Discussion Cloudsley-Thompson & Constantinou 1987 Presence of a thigmokinetic response Takeda 1980 Possible aggregation pheromones

12. Questions?