Inconsistent effects of environmental variations on body size and density of pillbugs, Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille, 1804) (Isopoda, Oniscidea) in urban green spaces

What is it about?

In habitats of urban green spaces, the density ,size characters (length, width, and weight) and distribution pattern of pillbugs were detected in early May 2022. The density did not vary significantly among forest, garden, grassland, bamboo grove, and wasteland, but the body size did. The environmental factors varied significantly except electrical conductivity and total nitrogen. And the number of plant species and pH can be used for explaining the differences among habitats. The density of pillbugs increased in the habitats with denser vegetation and high organic matter content, and the body size related to total carbon and number of plant species. In this study, a clumped spatial distribution pattern of pillbugs was detected.

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