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Soil Moisture Levels and the Porcellio Scaber

Due to Slaters not containing a waxy cuticle on their exoskeleton and respiratory surfaces they are susceptible to water diffusing readily through there exoskeleton in dry conditions. Slaters relatively high surface area to volume ratio further presents the risk of them losing water by diffusion and being susceptible to dessication more quickly than most other species[3]. The behavioural adaptations Slaters contain to help overcome their sensitivity to dry conditions and loss of water, are their ability to roll into a ball, their Thigmokinesis response to contact from objects and their Orthokinesis response to a moisture stimuli. Slaters have the ability to roll into a ball if they are exposed to dry conditions or susceptible to desiccation[8]. This behaviour allows them to retain water as they are able to enclose a large proportion of their surface area which is directly exposed to dry conditions, preventing water from dissociating directly from open pores in the exoskeleton leading to gas exchange surfaces of the psuedotrachea in the 1st pleopod. The Slaters behavioural adaptations of Thigmokinesis and Orthokinesis responses have also helped to protect the Slaters from dry conditions which they are sensitive to. These responses lead them to inhabiting humid environments under stones, cracks and crevices in bark or debris [8]. This is because the Thigmokinesis behavioural adaptation/response causes Slaters to move around so that the maximum area of their body is in contact with other objects (including other Slaters). This causes Slaters to congregate in large population densities in cracks and crevices (As seen in the cracks of old wooden fence posts at the farm in Waikari where the Slaters were found), providing them with better protection from desiccation and water loss[3]. Their Orthokinesis response also helps to protect them from desiccation and their sensitivity to dry conditions, as it causes them to move rapidly in speed until they come into contact with damper/more humid conditions, where they begin to slow in speed and lessen their movement so that they are able to stay away from dry conditions for as long as possible.


Essays Related to Soil Moisture Levels and the Porcellio Scaber

1. Soil Erosion

Water plays an important role in soil erosion. When an area receives more water (in the form of rain, melting snow, or ice) than the ground can absorb, the excess water flows to the lowest level, carrying loose material with it. ... Compaction rearranges soil particles; increasing the density of the soil and reducing porosity which preventing water movement into the soil and increasing runoff and erosion. ... When rain falls on a surface of grass or on the leaves of trees, some of the moisture evaporates before it can reach the ground. ... Erosion attacks the moisture-bearing ability of so...

  • Word Count: 797
  • Approx Pages: 3
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2. How Does Salt Content in Soil Effect the Growth of Plants?

How Does High Salt Content in Soil Effect the Growth of Plants? Plants differ widely in their tolerance of high salt content in soil. ... This is because the concentration of soluble salts in plant tissues increases as moisture levels decrease. ... This is lethal to the cell and the plant will soon die.A plant growing on saline soil is smaller than normal, may have darker leaves than normal and will wilt from drought sooner than it would in a non-saline soil. ... Once the salts reach a toxic level they cause the characteristic "burn" associated with excessive salts. ...

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3. The Vegetation Succession Of A Sand Dune System In Relation

Soil pH, soil moisture, soil depth, wind exposure and precipitation levels are all physical factors likely to influence the nature of the vegetation and nature of succession, e.g. an area with a low soil pH would be expected to harbour plants that were able to tolerate such conditions, plants like azaleas and pin oaks. ... Also each at location along the dune the following physical characteristics will be measured, soil pH, soil depth, soil moisture levels and wind exposure. ... Soil moisture can be measured using a soil auger which takes a small sample from the ground which can then be taken ...

  • Word Count: 1741
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Acid Rain

When this sulphuric acid is absorbed into moisture in the air, poignant rainfalls can be damaging to the external environment. ... The sulphur dioxide, which diffuses into the air, mixes with moisture causing the pH levels to drop from the normal level. ... When acid in the soil causing this soil respiration to slow down, in turn it causes the photosynthesis process to slow down. The soil also erodes when the pH levels drop. The acidic levels of the soil cause nutrients in the soils such as aluminum to break apart and the soil to erode. ...

  • Word Count: 930
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5. Coping With Drought

To conserve moisture, the kind of tillage and the number of tillage operations affects the amount of moisture remaining following tillage and the ability of the soil surface to attract and store additional moisture (Sirios 1). ... Spring tillage should be shallow to limit moisture loss and allow planting in moist soil. Fall tillage influences the amount of snow catch, which is important in many years to help recharge soil moisture after a previously dry summer and fall. ... Slightly larger soil particles bounce or roll along soil surface. ... Direct seeding is a way to save as much moistur...

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6. Acid Rain

When this sulphuric acid is absorbed into moisture in the air, poignant rainfalls can be damaging to the external environment. ... Sulphur dioxide diffuses into the air and mixes with moisture causing the pH levels to drop from the normal level. ... The ecosystem is slowly eroding due to the increased amounts of acid in the soil. Acidic soil causes the carbon dioxide respiration process to decelerate. ... The acidic levels of the soil cause vital nutrients to deteriorate resulting in soil erosion. ...

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7. Toms River New Jersey

The Precipitation level is distributed evenly throughout the year with slightly more precipitation in the late summer months. ... Vegetation along the coastline is influenced by two moisture conditions different from each other. ... The second moisture condition involves varying quantities of salt. ... The soil process that produces this type of soil found in Toms River is called Podzolization. ... Another type of soil found in the Outer Coastal Plains is the sassafras. ...

  • Word Count: 705
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8. The Hydrologic Cycle

The force resulting from the established pressure gradient causes air to diverge at upper levels. Since pressure is a measure of the weight of air above a unit area, removal of air at upper levels subsequently reduces pressure at the surface. ... As the air rises, it cools and its moisture condenses to produce clouds and precipitation. ... Again, the air cools as it rises and its moisture condenses to produce clouds and precipitation. ... Plants absorb soil water through their roots and this water can originate from deep in the soil. ...

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9. Lake Observations

Other abiotic components include the temperature, rocks, soil, mud, human trash/waste, sunlight, and moisture. ... Along with the light, moisture affects the ecosystem in a similar way. Moisture was need for the producers to photosynthesize and make food to start the food chain. ... The soil by the lake was always moist and great for growing conditions. ... If the soil were of better quality, the plants would have grown even bigger and stronger. ...

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