БИРШТЕЙН В.Я., МИХАЙЛОВА Н.А.
ГАНИН Г.Н.
Data are reported on the food activity parameters in five species of diplopodes. Maximum consumption rate and specific assimilation of the birch litter are 56 and 40% accordingly. Assimilation rate varies from 50 to 94%. In summer consumption rate is higher than in autumn. In dry period assimilation rate falls down drastically. The diplopodes of the studied communities can process about 15 g/m1 of the litter during a season. 85% of it falls on Skleroprotopus coreanus and Sichotanus eurygaster equally. The obtained value makes up about 20% of the litter consumed by the whole complex of large saprophages. About 70% of this amount is assimilated. Approximately 70% of cellulose is disintegrated in the process of digestion by millepedes that accounts for 1/3 of the actual ration.