Author/Editor     Gaberšek, Kristina
Title     Morfološki opis prebavnih žlez med levitvenim ciklom mokric (Porcellio scaber, Isopoda, Crustacea)
Translated title     Morphological description of digestive gland of terrestrial isopods (Porcellio scaber, Isopoda, Crustacea) in different moulting stages
Type     monografija
Place     Ljubljana
Publisher     Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta
Publication year     2006
Volume     str. 35
Language     slo
Abstract     The thesis summarizes the morphological study of terrestrial isopods digestive gland (Porcellio scaber, Isopoda, Crustacea) in different moulting stages. Animal laboratory culture was used, when the digestive gland section and fixation had been executed equally. A computer programme served as a means of picture analysis through which the morphology of the median and posterior part of digestive gland were examined. The animals are classified into four groups (control, premoult, intramoult, postmoult) according to the gut occupation and moulting stage. All animals were weighted and had their digestive glands measured after the fixation. The property of the digestive gland colour appeared to be the most interesting in the further investigation. The average control group hepatopancreas epithelium thickness was between 40 and 70 pm - the epithelium is thinning when the animal is moulting. Animals in other groups (pre and postmoult) have various averages of epithelium thicknesses. The average hepatopancreas epithelium area changes similarly to the average hepatopancreas epithelium thickness. The average total area of hepatopancreas and average perimeter of hepatopancreas are dependent too, and most variable in moulting group. The folding factor (lumen perimeter / lumen perimeter of cylindrical model) is reduced during the epithelium thinning (the shapes of the cells in epithelium change) which occurs during the animal's moulting. The last part of the thesis presents the study results which can be included in a teaching process. The student activity is appropriate for primary and secondary schools and is most convenient after having studied the land ecosystem or general variability of living creatures. This activity is very important in the education about the environment.
Descriptors     CRUSTACEA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
MOLTING
IMAGE PROCESSING, COMPUTER-ASSISTED
BODY WEIGHT