A Novel Light‐Induced Collective Circular Movement in <i>Armadillo sordidus</i> Isopods

: large nocturnal aggregations forming coordinated circular movements involving thousands of individuals. The behavior was observed naturally in several locations in northern Israel and could be experimentally induced using artificial white light. Ultraviolet light and magnetic fields did not induce this behavior. Image analysis revealed approximately 5500 individuals within a single aggregation, and manual tracking confirmed a clear circular movement pattern. The observed sex ratio (1:4 males to females) and presence of many gravid females suggest that the behavior is not reproductive. Instead, the circular motion appears to represent a density-dependent, light-induced aggregation response. To our knowledge, this is the first formal documentation of collective circular movement in isopods, potentially arising from anthropogenic light pollution.

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Publication Details

Journal
Ecology and Evolution
Published
2026-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73487
Primary Topic
Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A Novel Light‐Induced Collective Circular Movement in Armadillo sordidus Isopods

Ariel D. Chipman, Idan Sheizaf, Eviatar Itzkovich
Ecology and Evolution
Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
article

A Novel Light‐Induced Collective Circular Movement in Armadillo sordidus Isopods

Ariel D. Chipman, Idan Sheizaf, Eviatar Itzkovich
article en

Abstract

: large nocturnal aggregations forming coordinated circular movements involving thousands of individuals. The behavior was observed naturally in several locations in northern Israel and could be experimentally induced using artificial white light. Ultraviolet light and magnetic fields did not induce this behavior. Image analysis revealed approximately 5500 individuals within a single aggregation, and manual tracking confirmed a clear circular movement pattern. The observed sex ratio (1:4 males to females) and presence of many gravid females suggest that the behavior is not reproductive. Instead, the circular motion appears to represent a density-dependent, light-induced aggregation response. To our knowledge, this is the first formal documentation of collective circular movement in isopods, potentially arising from anthropogenic light pollution.

Ecology and EvolutionVol. 16(4)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL), Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts (IL)
National Science Foundation, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
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A Novel Light‐Induced Collective Circular Movement in <i>Armadillo sordidus</i> Isopods — Ariel D. Chipman, Idan Sheizaf, et al. · Ecology and Evolution (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS