Bioremediation of Cellulosic Wastes by Using Orthodillo chiltoni (Vandel, 1973), Isopoda

Terrestrial isopods play an important role in the biodegradation of many wastes which gives agreat importance in the nutrient cycles and ecosystem services, therefore this paper aims to use species Orthodillo chiltoni (Vandel, 1973) as a model organism in bioremediation of urban environment with municipal wastes, agricultural fields, parks and markets wastes. Samples of these wastes included potato peels, orange fruit leaves, thyme plant and sawdust,cardboard residues, the experiments were carried out in laboratory condition similar to the living environment of this species in terms of temperature, humidity and intensity lighting. The applied results have shown that the individuals of this species were very efficient in consuming all of the tested wastes, as the percentage of consumption reached 99.525% of potato peels, 87.15% of orange leaves, 78.225% of sawdust, 66.8% of thyme plant and 61.6% of cardboard residues, also the results shown the efficiency of consumption of each isopods indiviual reached 0.796, 0.697, 0.625, 0.534 and 0.492 mg respectively. Recommendation are given for use other species of terrestrial isopoda to treat other wasters by biological approach.