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Leaf litter ingestion and assimilation by two endemic pill millipedes (Arthrosphaera)

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Abstract

This study aims to determine leaf litter preference, consumption rate, growth rate, food conversion efficiency, and quality of fecal pellets of two endemic pill millipedes (Arthrosphaera dalyi and Arthrosphaera davisoni) of the Western Ghats of India by laboratory microcosm experiments. Among seven combinations of three plantation leaf litters offered in 4-day trial, top three preferred combinations were selected for 4-week trial. In 4-week trial, preference of mixed litter diet was higher than single litter diet, which resulted in enhanced growth as well as food conversion efficiency of millipedes. Among Hopea , Pongamia , and Areca litters, A. dalyi preferred Hopea + Pongamia, and its consumption was significantly correlated with contents of organic carbon (P < 0.05; r = –0.97) and nitrogen (P < 0.01; r = 0.99), while growth rate with phosphorus content (P < 0.05; r = 0.97) and food conversion efficiency with contents of organic carbon (P < 0.05; r = 0.98) and calcium (P < 0.01; r = –0.99). Among Areca , Elettaria , and Coffea litters, Areca + Elettaria  + Coffea was most preferred by A. davisoni, which was significantly correlated with organic carbon content (P < 0.05; r = 0.98) and food conversion efficiency with calcium content (P < 0.0001; r = 0.99). The food conversion efficiency, however, was the highest in millipedes fed with Areca  +  Elettaria. The present study demonstrated increased nitrogen and phosphorus contents and decreased phenolic content and C/N ratio in fecal pellets of pill millipedes fed with plantation litter, and thus, these millipedes play an important role in leaf litter mineralization and soil enrichment in plantations Western Ghats.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Mangalore University for granting permission to carry out this study at the Department of Biosciences. This study constitutes part of the PhD thesis of senior author during the tenure of Faculty Improvement Programme (University Grants Commission, New Delhi). We appreciate Dr. Seena Sahadevan for statistical analysis, and BSK is thankful to the Principal, FMKMC College, Madikeri for support.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Mangalore University College, Madikeri, 571 201, Karnataka, India

    B. S. Kadamannaya

  2. Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore, 574 199, Karnataka, India

    K. R. Sridhar

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  1. B. S. Kadamannaya
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Correspondence to K. R. Sridhar.

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Kadamannaya, B.S., Sridhar, K.R. Leaf litter ingestion and assimilation by two endemic pill millipedes (Arthrosphaera). Biol Fertil Soils 45, 761–768 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0391-x

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