Spatio-temporal patterns of foraging activity in subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae), with laboratory observations of tunneling behavior in Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) /
Landscape patterns of foraging activity in subterranean termites were examined in an alluvial hardwood forest. Foraging activity was observed biweekly within a grid of wooden monitoring stations. Termite presence-absence and estimated abundance data were used to analyze seasonal patterns of foraging...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1999.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=731680981&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Landscape patterns of foraging activity in subterranean termites were examined in an alluvial hardwood forest. Foraging activity was observed biweekly within a grid of wooden monitoring stations. Termite presence-absence and estimated abundance data were used to analyze seasonal patterns of foraging activity and to characterize the spatial distribution of termites. The spatial distribution of several soil environmental factors were also examined. Two species, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and Reticulitermes hageni Banks, were observed within monitoring stations throughout the study. The lacunarity index was used to quantify the spatial pattern of occupied stations. Lacunarity was highest for R. hageni during cool, wet months and highest for R. flavipes during hot, dry months. These patterns reflect differential degrees of adaptation to soil moisture and temperature extremes and may provide a mechanism for temporal and spatial escape from interspecific competition for shared resources within the landscape. Geostatistical models were developed to explain the spatial patterns of termite abundance and the spatial relationships between abundance and woody stems, soil moisture, soil temperature, soil organic matter, soil texture and soil strata. These models suggested that the highest abundance values for R. hageni occurred near high densities of woody stems and in areas where the water table was deepest. High densities of R. flavipes foragers occurred at distances away from high densities of woody stems and in areas where seasonal levels of soil temperature and moisture were relatively consistent. Experimental tunneling arenas were constructed in the laboratory to observe search tunnel morphology and rates of excavation by R. flavipes under experimental conditions. Different treatment levels of soil texture and termite density were examined, along with different R. flavipes colonies, to determine how they affect searching behavior. No differences in tunnel morphology were measured between treatments in any of these experiments. Tunneling rates were increased in foraging arenas containing soils with higher sand concentrations or higher termite densities. No differences in searching behavior were identified between different R. flavipes colonies. Increased tunneling was observed on days following the addition of water. This suggests that R. flavipes responds to moisture stress through reduced searching activity. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Entomology". |
| Physical Description: | xvii, 156 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-155). |