Porcellio

The uptake and elimination of benzo[a]pyrene by the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber have been investigated (van Brnmmelen and van Straalen 1996), and 1-hydroxypyrene was identified among the metabolites of pyrene in this organism (Stroomberg et al. 1996). 

Polychaete worms belonging to the genera Nereis and Scolecolepides have extensive metabolic potential. Nereis virens is able to metabolize PCBs (McElroy and Means 1988) and a nnmber of PAHs (McElroy 1990), while N. diversicolor and Scolecolepides viridis are able to metabolize benzo[a]pyrene (Driscoll and McElroy 1996). It is worth noting that apart from excretion of the toxicant, polar, and mnch more water-soluble metabolites such as the glycosides formed from pyrene by Porcellio sp. (Larsen et al. 1998) may be mobile in the interstitial water of the sediment phase. 

Hopkin, S.P., D.T. Jones, and D. Dietrich. 1993. The isopod Porcellio scaber as a monitor of the bioavailability of metals in terrestrial ecosystems towards a global woodlouse watch scheme. Sci. Total Environ., Suppl. 1993, Part 1 357-365. 

The use of terrestrial invertebrates as sentinel organisms has been suggested for monitoring lead. The spider Araneus umbricatus, for example, contained lead body burdens that correlated with that in a lichen (Lecanora conizaeoides) that is used to monitor atmospheric lead (Clausen 1984). Similarly, the woodlouse (Porcellio scaber) seems to reflect lead concentrations in adjacent soil or leaf litter (Hopkin et al. 1986). 

Hopkin, S. P, G.N. Hardisty, and M.H. Martin. 1986. The woodlouse Porcellio scaber as a biological indicator of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper pollution. Environ. Pollut. llB 271-290. 

Whole-body zinc content of terrestrial isopods seems to reflect soil zinc levels and may be a useful indicator of soil contamination (Hopkin et al. 1989). Porcellio scaber, a terrestrial isopod known as a woodlouse, is recommended as a biological indicator of zinc contamination because of the positive correlation between zinc content in soil or leaf litter and woodlouse hepatopancreas. Zinc content in Porcellio, litter, and soil near a zinc smelter, in mg/kg DW, was >1000 in whole isopod, >9000 in hepatopancreas, >10,000 in titter, and >50,000 in soil (Hopkin et al. 1986). 

Woodlouse, Porcellio scaber Near metal smelter of maximum soil Zn of 24,900 mg/kg DW, and soil litter of 4150 mg/kg DW ... 

Slug, Arion ater, fed diets containing up to 1000 mg/kg feed for 30 days Spider, Dysdera crocata, fed woodlice, Porcellio scaber at rate of 1 every 3 days for 36 days Woodlice from uncontaminated site (87 mg Zn/kg DW whole organism)... 

Woodlouse, Porcellio scaber, fed soil litter containing up to 12,800 mg Zn/kg for 64 weeks Soil litter containing 1600 mg Zn/kg or more had adverse effects on reproduction adult survival was reduced at 6400 mg Zn/kg litter and higher 12... 

Donker, M.H., H.M. Abdel-Lateif, M.A. Khalil, B.M. Bayoumi, and N.M. Van Straalen. 1998. Temperature, physiological time, and zinc toxicity in the isopod Porcellio scaber. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 17 1558-1563. Droual, R., C.U. Meteyer, and F.D. Galey. 1991. Zinc toxicosis due to ingestion of a penny in a gray-headed chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps). Avian Dis. 35 1007-1011. 

Donker MH, Abdel-Lafeif HM, Khalil MA, Bayoumi BM, van Straalen NM. 1998. Temperature, physiological time, and zinc toxicity in the isopod Porcellio scaber. Environ Toxicol Chem 17 1558-1563. 

Van Brummelen TC, Van Gestel CAM, Verweij RA. 1996a. Long-term toxicity of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for the terrestrial isopods Oniscus asellus and Porcellio scaber. Environ Toxicol Chem 15 1199-1210. 

Stroomberg GJ, Reuther C, Kozin I, et al. (1996) Formation of pyrene metabolites by the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber. Chemosphere 33 1905-14. 

McCluskey, S., Mather, P.B. and Hughes, J.M. (1993) The relationship between behavioural responses to temperature and genotype at a PGI locus in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio laevis. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 21, 171-179. 

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