Balloniscus glaber (Crustacea, Isopoda, Balloniscidae), a habitat specialist species in a disturbed area of Brazil

• Main Authors: Diego Costa Kenne, Paula Beatriz Araujo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul 2015-12-01
• Series: Iheringia: Série Zoologia
• Subjects: Interferência humana; influência antropogência; ecologia populacional; K-estrategista; isópodos terrestres
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0073-47212015000400430&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT Balloniscus glaber Araujo & Zardo, 1995 (Balloniscidae), a Neotropical Oniscidea, has been recorded historically in environments with low or no human interference. In one of these areas, it was determined as aK-strategist. Recently, however, this species was documented in a disturbed forest within urban limits. The present work revealed that the population in the urban area has high density, high number of ovigerous females and mancae in the population, a long reproductive period, and early sexual maturity. These results suggest that modified environments may provide favorable conditions and that the species is not negatively affected by human influence.