Effects of Dietary Coffee on Feeding Parameters and Growth of Terrestrial Isopod, Porcellio laevis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 New valley University, Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology Department, New Valley, Egypt

2 Assiut University, Zoology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

Caffeine is considered the most widely consumed pharmacologically active drug. It is probably found in popular beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks), as well as cocoa or chocolates-based goods. However, it has received a lot of attention there is still much to be learned with respect to its toxicology in animals. Terrestrial isopods are considered one of the most investigated invertebrate groups in soil ecotoxicology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of coffee on feeding parameters and the growth of terrestrial isopod Porcellio laevis. Feeding parameters and growth efficiency were calculated and compared among treated isopod groups. The results revealed decreasing in food parameters such as consumption ratio, assimilation ratio, and egestion ratio in P. laevis treated with different concentrations of coffee. Also, decreasing growth efficiency for this isopod was noticed after exposure to different concentrations of coffee. These results indicate that high levels of caffeine may have toxic effects on P. laevis after a long period of exposure. Further research about the toxic effect of caffeine on isopods is needed.

Keywords

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, B. Zoology
Volume 13, Issue 2
December 2021
Pages 173-183

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