Hierarchical organization of the cuticle of the subsocial desert isopod, Hemilepistus reaumurii

The crustacean cuticle is a hierarchically organised material which provides protection and sites for muscle attachment. The physical properties of this exoskeleton envelope are adapted to the function and the eco-physiological requirements of the species. This paper aimed to study, using the TEM, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of structural biology 2016-02, Vol.193 (2), p.115-123
Main Authors: Ayari, Anas, Raimond, Maryline, Souty-Grosset, Catherine, Nasri-Ammar, Karima
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Biological
Animal Shells - anatomy & histology
Animal Shells - cytology
Animal Shells - ultrastructure
Animals
Biodiversity and Ecology
Cuticle
Desert Climate
Desert isopod
Ecosystem
Environmental Sciences
Epithelial Cells - ultrastructure
Hemilepistus reaumurii
Isopoda - anatomy & histology
Isopoda - ultrastructure
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Porcellio variabilis
Subsocial
Transmission electron microscopy
Tunisia
Ultrastructure
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Summary:The crustacean cuticle is a hierarchically organised material which provides protection and sites for muscle attachment. The physical properties of this exoskeleton envelope are adapted to the function and the eco-physiological requirements of the species. This paper aimed to study, using the TEM, the structure of the tubercle and the tergite cuticle of the arid species Hemilepistus reaumurii in a comparison with a subhumid isopod in order to relate some peculiar features to an adaptive process to environmental constraints. Results showed that wild H. reaumurii cuticles were twice as thick in comparison with Porcellio variabilis which is a subhumid zone isopod. It is suggested therefore that the thick cuticle of wild H. reaumurii can be an adaptation to terrestrial life and a protection against osmotic stress and water loss in an arid environment. In addition the inside of the tubercle showed a high number of lipid droplets stacked into an adipose tissue which suggest that tubercles were used for storage for nutritive material in wild H. reaumurii.
ISSN:1047-8477
1095-8657
DOI:10.1016/j.jsb.2015.12.005