Body Size and Weight of Pill Bugs (Armadillidium vulgare) Vary between Urban Green Space Habitats

Simple Summary Urban green areas are critically important for maintaining biodiversity in urban ecosystems. The pill bug is an ecological bio-indicator of soil health that is widely distributed around the world. In this study, we studied the relationship between the characteristics of the pill bugs population and soil properties of urban green spaces. The characteristics of the population vary significantly among selected habitats. The pH and soil organic matter may be the main factors for explaining the variation in body size of pill bugs among the habitats in spring. Significant positive regressions were detected between body length and body weight. Rapid urban development poses a threat to global biodiversity. At the same time, urban green spaces offer opportunities for holding biodiversity in cities. Among biological communities, the soil fauna plays a crucial role in ecological processes but is often ignored. Understanding the effects of environmental factors on soil fauna is critical for ecological conservation in urban areas. In this study, five typical green space habitats were selected including bamboo grove, forest, garden, grassland, and wasteland in spring, for detecting the relationship between habitats and Armadillidium vulgare population characteristics in Yancheng, China. Results indicate that soil water content, pH, soil organic matter, and soil total carbon varied significantly among habitats, as well as the body length and body weight of pill bugs. The higher proportion of larger pill bugs was found in the wasteland and the lower proportion in the grassland and the bamboo grove. The body length of pill bugs was positively related to pH. Soil total carbon, soil organic matter, and the number of plant species were correlated with the body weight of pill bugs.

Automated summary

Urban green areas are vital for biodiversity in urban ecosystems. Pill bugs, as ecological bio-indicators, are widely distributed and can represent soil health. This study examines the relationship between pill bugs and soil properties in urban green spaces. The characteristics of pill bug populations vary significantly among different habitats, with pH and soil organic matter being key factors in explaining the variation in body size. Positive correlations are observed between body length and body weight.