Impact of ferric salt on body weight of Megaphyllum kievense (Diplopoda, Julidae) and litter granulometric composition in the laboratory experiment

• Main Authors: V. V. Brygadyrenko, V. М. Ivanyshin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University 2014-05-01
• Series: Vìsnik Dnìpropetrovsʹkogo Unìversitetu: Serìâ Bìologìâ, Ekologìâ
• Subjects: подстилочные беспозвоночные; сапрофаги; тяжелые металлы; загрязненные экосистемы
• Online Access: http://ecology.dp.ua/index.php/ECO/article/view/73

The paper evaluates the impact of FeSO4·7H2O(10–1, 10–2, 10–3, 10–4, 10–5, 10–6, 10–7 and 10–8 mg of Fe / g of dry litter) on the body weight and trophic activity of Megaphyllum kievense (Lohmander, 1928). 30-day laboratory experiment on studying the impact of M. kievense on decomposition of plant residues in Fe concentration gradient showed no significant changes in the animal body weight. Under the impact of M. kievense the signiciatnt acceleration of litter decomposition was recorded with the increase in Fe concentration therein. The less decrease in the litter weight was observed in the control (by 45.7 ± 0.44%) and at concentration of 10–8 mg/g (by 44.9 ± 1.00%), and more pronounced one at 10–1 mg/g (by 46.1 ± 1.76%) and 10–2 mg/g of Fe (by 47.0 ± 0.72%). With regard to baseline values before the experiment, the weight of the large fraction of litter (> 2.05 mm) under the impact of M. kievense nutrition decreased by 9.8%, while the weight of fraction 0.70–1.05 mm increased by 7.06%. Increasing the share of the middle fraction (0.70–1.05 mm) is connected with accumulation of Julidae feces and fragments of crushed leaves at maceration of plant residues before eating. Effect on animals body weight and their feed substrate in different versions of the experiment was not reliably determined, because of possible activation of latent infections under conditions of the laboratory experiment.