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Journal of Experimental Biology 57,569-574 (1972)
Published by Company of Biologists 1972

Cuticular Water Content and the Rate of Evaporation in the Terrestrial Isopod Porcellio Scaber Latr

INGA SALMINEN ¹ and OSSI V. LINDQVIST ²

¹ Zoophysiological Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Turku, 20500 Turku, Finland; University of Kuopio, 70101 Kuopio, Finland. (Reprints.)
² Zoophysiological Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Turku, 20500 Turku, Finland

1. The free-water content of the cuticle of the isopod Porcellio scaber Latr. was measured after treatments which are known to affect the total rates of water loss from the animal. The animals were desiccated for various periods of time in dry air, after which the cuticular samples were taken.

2. After antennectomy, which is known to reduce the evaporation rate in dry air, the water content of the cuticle remains steady but at a higher level than that of normal animals. The mean cuticular water contents 24 h after operation were 54.0±0.80% and 50.6±0.88% (P<0.01) respectively for desiccated animals. The water content of the cuticle of non-desiccated animals was not altered by this treatment; the differences show up only after desiccation.

3. Both hydration and removal of a pair of legs can result in an increased rate of evaporation; during desiccation the cuticular water content decreases with increasing desiccation. The slope of the regression curve for both hydrated and leg-amputated animals differs significantly from both the zero slope as well as from the control curve.

4. A tentative model for the water permeability characteristics of the cuticle of Porcellio is presented to explain the above data.