JERUSALEM, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli and Australian researchers have found out why desert isopods prefer low-nutrition food in their diet, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement on Tuesday.

In a study published in the journal Ecology Letters, the joint research team examined why the diet of desert woodlice mostly consists of the nutritionally poor soil crust, the upper layer of desert soils.

According to the study, these creatures consume the soil crust for calcium, which is essential for their growth as their exoskeletons are made of calcium carbonate.

The study referred to another reason for their dietary preferences as the many microorganisms in the soil crust, which help the woodlice digest the dry fibrous leaves that they also consume to produce more energy from the leaves' proteins and sugars.

The findings showed that the desert woodlice can regulate their food intake to ingest a precise ratio of proteins, sugars, and calcium.

Researchers noted that, in general, the findings may show how different animals and humans choose their diet and optimize their fitness by considering both the food nutrients and the existence of digestive assisting agents.

They added that the study sheds light on the intricate interplay between organisms and their surroundings and provides insights into ecosystem management and conservation. Enditem

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