Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structures

The second antennae, an important sensory organ of terrestrial isopods, are often attacked and amputated by predators or members of the same species. If an amputation does happen, the antenna usually regenerates after the very first or the next moult that follows. However, the new regenerated antenn...

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Main Authors: Primož Zidar, Primož Mihelič
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-02-01
Series:ZooKeys
Online Access:https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/118414/download/pdf/
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author Primož Zidar
Primož Mihelič
author_facet Primož Zidar
Primož Mihelič
author_sort Primož Zidar
collection DOAJ
description The second antennae, an important sensory organ of terrestrial isopods, are often attacked and amputated by predators or members of the same species. If an amputation does happen, the antenna usually regenerates after the very first or the next moult that follows. However, the new regenerated antenna is smaller than the original one. This raises the question of whether a smaller regenerated antenna is potentially also less functional as the sensory elements of the antenna undergo regeneration as well. In this study, the regeneration process of the second antenna of Porcellio scaber was followed after two consecutive amputations. The original antennae were compared with the regenerated ones under light and scanning electron microscopes in view of the dimensions of segments and the size and number of sensory elements on them. As expected, all regenerated antennae were reduced in size, however, the reduction of different antennal segments was different. The second segment of the flagellum was reduced by almost half as much as the first segment of the flagellum or the last segment of the peduncle. After the next consecutive amputation, the reduction of the regenerated antennae does not increase further. The size and shape of the apical organ and lateral seta did not change during the regeneration process, neither after the first nor after the next amputation. In contrast, the number of plural receptor elements, such as aesthetascs and tricorn sensilla, decreases in accordance with reduced segment size. Therefore, since only the number of the most common sensory structures is reduced during regeneration, the regenerated antenna probably retains its sensory functionality.
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spelling doaj-art-b01662f39ada462d937b44680c3e03272025-02-07T08:31:42ZengPensoft PublishersZooKeys1313-29702025-02-011225334710.3897/zookeys.1225.118414118414Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structuresPrimož Zidar0Primož Mihelič1University of LjubljanaUniversity of LjubljanaThe second antennae, an important sensory organ of terrestrial isopods, are often attacked and amputated by predators or members of the same species. If an amputation does happen, the antenna usually regenerates after the very first or the next moult that follows. However, the new regenerated antenna is smaller than the original one. This raises the question of whether a smaller regenerated antenna is potentially also less functional as the sensory elements of the antenna undergo regeneration as well. In this study, the regeneration process of the second antenna of Porcellio scaber was followed after two consecutive amputations. The original antennae were compared with the regenerated ones under light and scanning electron microscopes in view of the dimensions of segments and the size and number of sensory elements on them. As expected, all regenerated antennae were reduced in size, however, the reduction of different antennal segments was different. The second segment of the flagellum was reduced by almost half as much as the first segment of the flagellum or the last segment of the peduncle. After the next consecutive amputation, the reduction of the regenerated antennae does not increase further. The size and shape of the apical organ and lateral seta did not change during the regeneration process, neither after the first nor after the next amputation. In contrast, the number of plural receptor elements, such as aesthetascs and tricorn sensilla, decreases in accordance with reduced segment size. Therefore, since only the number of the most common sensory structures is reduced during regeneration, the regenerated antenna probably retains its sensory functionality.https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/118414/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Primož Zidar
Primož Mihelič
Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structures
ZooKeys
title Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structures
title_full Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structures
title_fullStr Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structures
title_full_unstemmed Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structures
title_short Morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea), with emphasis on the main sensory structures
title_sort morphological analysis of regenerated antennae in the isopod porcellio scaber isopoda crustacea with emphasis on the main sensory structures
url https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/118414/download/pdf/
work_keys_str_mv AT primozzidar morphologicalanalysisofregeneratedantennaeintheisopodporcellioscaberisopodacrustaceawithemphasisonthemainsensorystructures
AT primozmihelic morphologicalanalysisofregeneratedantennaeintheisopodporcellioscaberisopodacrustaceawithemphasisonthemainsensorystructures