The Microclimate in the Habitats of Two Isopod Species in Southern Arizona

The paper describes the microclimate in a mesic habitat of Armadillidium vulgare, and a xeric habitat of Venezillo arizonicus, two isopods found in southern Arizona. Within a small area, a significant divergence in microclimatic conditions was found. The climate under cover was in general less extreme than the climate in exposed places. Thus, under a stone the microclimate was least variable. The main difference in microclimate of different sites within the habitat was in relative humidity. In general the temperature in the xeric habitat was higher than in the mesic habitat. Conditions on the ground in the mesic habitat permitted an isopod to move about without danger of desiccation; this was not possible in the xeric habitat.