DOCSLIB.ORG

Growth Response of Amaranth to Admixture of Termite Mound Material

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Growth Response of Amaranth to Admixture of Termite Mound Material Faculteit Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen Academiejaar 2013 – 2014 Growth response of amaranth to admixture of termite mound material Elke Deweer Promotors: Prof. Dr. ir. Boeckx Prof. Dr. Van Ranst Tutor: Drs. ir. Erens Masterproef voorgedragen tot het behalen van de graad van Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: landbouwkunde COPYRIGHT The author and the promoter give the permission to use this thesis for consultation and to copy parts of it for personal use. Every other use is subject to the copyright laws, more specifically the source must be extensively specified when using results from of this thesis. The promotors, Prof. Dr. ir. Boeckx Prof. Dr. Van Ranst The tutor, The author, Drs. ir. Erens Elke Deweer ACKNOWLEDGMENT Mijn promotoren, prof. P. Boeckx en prof. E. Van Ranst en daarnaast prof. G. Baert, bedankt om me in de juiste richting te leiden. In het bijzonder, Hans, enorm bedank om altijd paraat te staan om mijn vele vragen te beantwoorden en me met raad en daad bij te staan. Je veux remercier mon promoteur local, prof. B. B. Mujinya, pour l'accueil chaleureux et le support pendant le séjour. Merci aussi à Jonas pour l'accompagnement pendant le travail. Grand merci à Isaac, Ray et Guy pour les beaux moments sur terrain et pour rendre le travail agréable. Loes, bedankt voor het luisterend oor en de unieke, onvergetelijke momenten samen. The Psaro farm manager, Fin Kelly, thank you for letting us use the field, for all the help you provided and to support us with your wise and valuable advice. Dank aan mijn familie om er altijd voor me te zijn. Mijn vrienden, bedankt om af en toe op gepaste wijze mijn zinnen te verzetten, zodat ik daarna weer met volle moed en energie aan de slag kon. Surtout grand merci à Isaac pour ne jamais douter de moi et pour toujours continuer à me soutenir et croire en moi! i TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT .......................................................................................................................................I TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................... II LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................................. V LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................... VI LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................................... VIII ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... IX ABSTRACT (NEDERLANDS) ............................................................................................................................... X 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Problem statement .................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 Main objective ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.2 Specific objectives ........................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Hypotheses .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Background and framework .................................................................................................... 2 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Termites ................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 A brief introduction to termites ...................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Classification .................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.2.1 Taxonomy .................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.2.2 Ecological classification ............................................................................................... 5 2.2 Macrotermes mounds ............................................................................................................. 6 2.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Biological composition .................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2.1 Construction of Macrotermes mounds ....................................................................... 6 2.2.2.2 Fungus gardens ............................................................................................................ 7 2.2.2.3 Ventilation system ....................................................................................................... 9 2.2.3 Physical and chemical composition ............................................................................... 10 2.2.3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 10 2.2.3.2 Clay content ............................................................................................................... 10 2.2.3.3 Cation exchange capacity and exchangeable basic cation content .......................... 12 2.2.3.4 Carbonate content .................................................................................................... 13 2.2.3.5 Acidity ........................................................................................................................ 14 ii Table of contents 2.2.3.6 Salinity ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.3.7 Soil organic matter and organic carbon content ....................................................... 14 2.2.3.8 Nitrogen content ....................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3.9 C:N ratio ..................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3.10 Phosphorus content .............................................................................................. 15 2.2.3.11 Micronutrient content ........................................................................................... 16 2.2.4 Termite mound function ............................................................................................... 17 2.2.4.1 Ecosystem function ................................................................................................... 17 2.2.4.2 Applications ............................................................................................................... 17 2.3 Amaranth ............................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 The crop in general ........................................................................................................ 18 2.3.2 Use ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.3 Ecology........................................................................................................................... 20 2.3.4 Harvest .......................................................................................................................... 20 3 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 21 3.1 Area description .................................................................................................................... 21 3.1.1 Localization .................................................................................................................... 21 3.1.2 Climate ........................................................................................................................... 21 3.1.3 Ecology........................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.4 Termite mounds ............................................................................................................ 23 3.2 Pot trials ................................................................................................................................ 25 3.2.1 Soil collection ................................................................................................................. 25 3.2.2 First germination ........................................................................................................... 27 3.2.3 Second germination ...................................................................................................... 27 3.2.4
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Discovery of a Cryptic Termite Genus, Stylotermes (Isoptera: Stylotermitidae), in Taiwan, with the Description of a New Species
    Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 110(4), 2017, 360–373 doi: 10.1093/aesa/sax034 Advance Access Publication Date: 23 March 2017 Research Research article Discovery of a Cryptic Termite Genus, Stylotermes (Isoptera: Stylotermitidae), in Taiwan, With the Description of a New Species Wei-Ren Liang, Chia-Chien Wu, and Hou-Feng Li1 Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xingda Rd., Taichung 40227, Taiwan ([email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]), and 1Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Subject Editor: Allen Szalanski Received 18 October 2016; Editorial decision 11 January 2017 Abstract The termite family Stylotermitidae consists of a single extant genus, Stylotermes, present only in eastern Asia. Stylotermes has distinctively trimerous tarsi and is considered an intermediate between the Rhinotermitidae and Kalotermitidae families. The present study reports the first discovery of the Stylotermitidae family in Taiwan. On the basis of a comparison between the Taiwanese samples and the original descriptions of all the other 44 Stylotermes species, a new species collected from eastern Taiwan is described as Stylotermes halumi- cus sp. nov. This study is the first to report the gene sequence and detailed morphological descriptions of the winged imago, soldier, and worker of a single Stylotermes sp. Furthermore, a preliminary review of the Stylotermes taxonomy is provided. Key words: Stylotermitidae, wood-feeding termite, Taiwan, 16S, COII Holmgren and Holmgren (1917) established a new genus, Malaysia. In China, 35 Stylotermes spp. were described between Stylotermes, as the type genus of the new Stylotermitinae subfamily 1963 and 1993 from eight provinces: Fujian [no.
    [Show full text]
  • XII Dr. S. Pradhan Memorial Lecture Entomofauna, Ecosystem And
    XII Dr. S. Pradhan Memorial Lecture September 28, 2020 Entomofauna, Ecosystem and Economics by Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY, ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, NEW DELHI- 110012 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE PATRON Dr. A. K. Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi CONVENER Dr. Debjani Dey, Head (Actg.), Division of Entomology MEMBERS Dr. H. R. Sardana, Director, ICAR-NCIPM, New Delhi Dr. Subhash Chander, Professor & Principal Scientist Dr. Bishwajeet Paul, Principal Scientist Dr. Naresh M. Meshram, Senior Scientist Mrs. Rajna S, Scientist Dr. Bhagyasree S N, Scientist Dr. S R Sinha, CTO Shri Sushil Kumar, AAO (Member Secretary) XIII Dr. S. Pradhan Memorial Lecture September 28, 2020 Entomofauna, Ecosystem and Economics by Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY, ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, NEW DELHI- 110012 Dr. S. Pradhan May 13, 1913 - February 6, 1973 4 Dr. S. Pradhan - A Profile Dr. S. Pradhan, a doyen among entomologists, during his 33 years of professional career made such an impact on entomological research and teaching that Entomology and Plant Protection Science in India came to the forefront of agricultural research. His success story would continue to enthuse Plant Protection Scientists of the country for generations to come. The Beginning Shyam Sunder Lal Pradhan had a humble beginning. He was born on May 13, 1913, at village Dihwa in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. He came from a middle class family. His father, Shri Gur Prasad Pradhan, was a village level officer of the state Government having five sons and three daughters.
    [Show full text]
  • Structure, Function and Evolution of the Labral and Frontal Glands in Termites Valeria Danae Palma Onetto
    Structure, function and evolution of the labral and frontal glands in termites Valeria Danae Palma Onetto To cite this version: Valeria Danae Palma Onetto. Structure, function and evolution of the labral and frontal glands in termites. Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]. Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, 2019. English. NNT : 2019USPCD027. tel-03033808 HAL Id: tel-03033808 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-03033808 Submitted on 1 Dec 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. UNIVERSITÉ PARIS 13, SORBONNE PARIS CITÉ ECOLE DOCTORALE GALILEÉ THESE présentée pour l’obtention du grade de DOCTEUR DE L’UNIVERSITE PARIS 13 Spécialité: Ethologie Structure, function and evolution Defensiveof the labral exocrine and glandsfrontal glandsin termites in termites Présentée par Valeria Palma–Onetto Sous la direction de: David Sillam–Dussès et Jan Šobotník Soutenue publiquement le 28 janvier 2019 JURY Maria Cristina Lorenzi Professeur, Université Paris 13 Présidente du jury Renate Radek Professeur, Université Libre de Berlin Rapporteur Yves Roisin Professeur,
    [Show full text]
  • Wing Microsculpturing in the Brazilian Termite Family Serritermitidae ( <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serritermes Serr
    Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Anim. Sci.), Vol. 94, No.4, August 1985, pp. 399-406. © Printed in India. Wing microsculpturing in the Brazilian termite family Serritermitidae iSerritermes serrifer, Isoptera), and its bearing on phylogeny ML ROONWAL and N S RATHORE Desert Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, Jodhpur 342006, India MS received 28 January 1985; revised 24 April 1985 Abstract. The results of our studies on the Brazilian family Serritermitidae are presented here. Microsculpturing issimple and consists ofa fewrows of small, tongue-shaped papillae on the anterior and posterior wing margins and a few rows ofangular arrowheads in the anterior one-third of the wings. Hairs are almost absent, a fewsmall ones being scattered on some of the veins. The bearing of wing microsculpturing on the phylogeny of the Serritermitidae is discussed. It is concluded that the family arose as a lone sideline from the common ancient rhinotermitid stock. The other line from this stock gave rise to the Stylotermitidae on the one hand and the Rhinotermitidae on the other. Keywords. Wing microsculpturing; Isoptera; Serritermitidae; Serritermes serrifer; phylogeny 1. Introduction In a long series of papers, Roonwal and co-workers (1967-1983) have published the results ofstudies on wing microsculpturing in all the major families and subfamilies of termites except two tiny single-genus families, the Serritermitidae (neotropical, Brazil) and the Indotermitidae (oriental). The occurrence of a thick carpet of eight different types ofmicrosculpturing elements on both wing surfaces has been demonstrated, with 2 densities as high as over 125OOjmm • Imagoes ofSerritermes serrifer (Bates in Hagen), the sole representative of this rare and unique neotropical (Brazilian) family, have, after years ofeffort, recently become available, and the results of its study are presented here.
    [Show full text]
  • )Jaie'1canjeluseum
    )JAie'1can1oxfitatesJEluseum PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK 24, N.Y. NUMBER 2 236 DECEMBER I7, I965 A Review of the Mastotermitidae (Isoptera), Including a New Fossil Genus from Brazil' BY ALFRED E. EMERSON2 INTRODUCTION The large majority of fossil termites are known only from fragmentary specimens, usually wings alone. These are often distorted or broken, and some of the veins may not be clearly discernible, particularly at the base of the wing near the humeral suture. Many characters of the species and higher taxonomic categories are lacking in the winged caste. The soldier caste, in particular, would add immensely to the accuracy of iden- tification and relationship, but so far no sterile castes are known for any adequately classified fossil species of Tertiary or earlier periods. Fossil termites are rare. The species are often known from single speci- mens only, dispersed in various paleontological collections around the world, and are seldom associated with the collections of modern termites. Thorough revisions based on first-hand study are virtually impossible for any specialist on the Isoptera, and a specialist on living termites has never collected a fossil termite personally. Many specimens were lost during the bombardments of cities during World War II, particularly in Hun- gary and Germany. Fossil termites are usually collected and often studied by paleontolo- gists who are not well acquainted with modern termites, and therefore 1 The present investigation was supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant No. G-25146). 2 Research Associate, Department of Entomology, the American Museum of Natural His- tory, and Professor Emeritus of Zoology, the University of Chicago.
    [Show full text]
  • The Diversification of Termites: Inferences from a Complete Species-Level Phylogeny
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.07.414342; this version posted December 7, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-ND 4.0 International license. 1 The diversification of termites: inferences from a complete species-level phylogeny Marcio R. Pie1,*, Tiago F. Carrijo & Fernanda S. Caron1 1Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, C.P 19020, Curitiba PR 81531- 990, Brazil 2Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil *Author for correspondence: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná. C.P. 19020. 81531-990 Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Phone: +55(41) 3361-1558. Email: [email protected] Declarations of interest: none. bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.07.414342; this version posted December 7, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-ND 4.0 International license. 2 Abstract Termites play a major role in a variety of ecological processes in tropical and subtropical biomes worldwide, such as decomposition, soil formation and aeration, and nutrient cycling. These important ecosystem services were achieved through their highly complex societies and remarkable adaptations, including the evolution of sterile worker castes, the acquisition of endosymbionts, and the capacity for extensive environmental engineering, yet the causes and consequences of their ecological success are still poorly understood.
    [Show full text]
  • Blattodea Karyotype Database
    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGYENTOMOLOGY ISSN (online): 1802-8829 Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 192–199, 2021 http://www.eje.cz doi: 10.14411/eje.2021.020 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Blattodea Karyotype Database MAREK JANKÁSEK 1 , ZUZANA KOTYKOVÁ VARADÍNOVÁ 1,2 and FRANTIŠEK ŠŤÁHLAVSKÝ 1 1 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Praha 2, Czech Republic; e-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2 Department of Zoology, National Museum, Václavské náměstí 68, 115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic Key words. Blattodea, Isoptera, cockroach, termite, chromosome number, karyotype, meiosis, sex chromosome system, online database Abstract. We present an open (publicly available) and updatable database of the karyotypes of Blattodea which is available at http://web.natur.cuni.cz/zoologie/arthropods/blattodeadatabase/index.html. This database currently contains data on chromo- some numbers and sex chromosome systems for 355 (209 cockroaches and 146 termites) cytogenetically and/or geographically distinct populations of 229 species (138 cockroaches and 91 termites). When available, data on chromosome morphology and fundamental number are also included. As this summary of the data on Blattodea cytogenetics follows current taxonomy and phy- logeny it enabled us to discuss hypotheses on karyotype evolution. We also point out some cytogenetically interesting phenomena such as extensive karyotype differentiation at low taxonomic levels in some lineages and the change from the X0 sex chromosome system, which is present in cockroaches, to systems with multiple neo-sex chromosomes, present in termites. We encourage the use of modern cytogenetic methods in research on Blattodea cytogenetics to uncover more detailed mechanisms of karyotype evolution in this insect order.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Perspectives on the Evolution of Insect Diversity
    FOSSIL PERSPECTIVES ON THE EVOLUTION OF INSECT DIVERSITY Thesis submitted by David B Nicholson For examination for the degree of PhD University of York Department of Biology November 2012 1 Abstract A key contribution of palaeontology has been the elucidation of macroevolutionary patterns and processes through deep time, with fossils providing the only direct temporal evidence of how life has responded to a variety of forces. Thus, palaeontology may provide important information on the extinction crisis facing the biosphere today, and its likely consequences. Hexapods (insects and close relatives) comprise over 50% of described species. Explaining why this group dominates terrestrial biodiversity is a major challenge. In this thesis, I present a new dataset of hexapod fossil family ranges compiled from published literature up to the end of 2009. Between four and five hundred families have been added to the hexapod fossil record since previous compilations were published in the early 1990s. Despite this, the broad pattern of described richness through time depicted remains similar, with described richness increasing steadily through geological history and a shift in dominant taxa after the Palaeozoic. However, after detrending, described richness is not well correlated with the earlier datasets, indicating significant changes in shorter term patterns. Corrections for rock record and sampling effort change some of the patterns seen. The time series produced identify several features of the fossil record of insects as likely artefacts, such as high Carboniferous richness, a Cretaceous plateau, and a late Eocene jump in richness. Other features seem more robust, such as a Permian rise and peak, high turnover at the end of the Permian, and a late-Jurassic rise.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Tropical Termites in Early Paleogene with Description of a New Species of Stylotermitidae (Isoptera) from Rovno Amber (Late Eocene of Ukraine)
    Invertebrate Zoology, 2020, 17(3): 231–246 © INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY, 2020 Evolution of tropical termites in early Paleogene with description of a new species of Stylotermitidae (Isoptera) from Rovno amber (late Eocene of Ukraine) E.E. Perkovsky1, D.V. Vasilenko2,3 1 I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Bogdan Chmielnitski Str., 15, Kiev, 01601 Ukraine. E-mail: [email protected] 2 A.A. Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya Str. 123, Moscow, 117868 Russia. 3 Cherepovets State University, Lunacharsky prospect 5, Cherepovets, Vologda region, 162600 Russia. E-mail:[email protected] ABSTRACT. The first Rovno amber stylotermitid Parastylotermes nathani Perkovsky sp.n. is described. It is the fourth amber stylotermitid and the second Priabonian one. Two non-Priabonian amber stylotermitids are known from the tropical Ypresian Cambay amber. In Cambay amber stylotermitids compose half of the species, and all termites with trimerous tarsi extraordinary 75% of Cambay termites. Another peculiarity of the Cambay amber isopteran community is the small body size: Cambay termites are 2.3–2.6 times smaller than Aptian Crato and Cenomanian Burmese termites and two times smaller than Ypresian Oise amber termites. The dominance of small termites with trimerous tarsi in Cambay amber is likely because of a change in the nature of predation pressure in the tropics during the earliest Cenozoic. The only known Cretaceous arboreal birds belonged to Enantiornithes (opposite birds). These opposite birds are known to have low cranial kinetism and thus would have difficulty catching small insects. At the K-Pg boundary, the extinction of Enantiornithes occurred. Concurrent with this event there was a rapid radiation of crown birds and their expansion in the low latitudes, increasing pressure from predation.
    [Show full text]
  • T7-Revisao-Bibliografica-Da-Biologia
    UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA “JÚLIO DE MESQUITA FILHO” INSTITUTO DE BIOCIÊNCIAS – RIO CLARO unesp CURSO DE ESPECIALIZAÇÃO EM ENTOMOLOGIA URBANA: TEORIA E PRÁTICA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA DA BIOLOGIA DOS CUPINS E METODOLOGIAS UTILIZADAS NO CONTROLE, COM ÊNFASE NAS PRINCIPAIS ESPÉCIES QUE OCORREM NA CIDADE DE SÃO PAULO Fábio Antonio de Barros Monografia apresentada ao Instituto de Biociências do Campus de Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de Especialista em Entomologia Urbana. CURSO DE ESPECIALIZAÇÃO EM ENTOMOLOGIA URBANA: TEORIA E PRÁTICA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA DA BIOLOGIA DOS CUPINS E METODOLOGIAS UTILIZADAS NO CONTROLE, COM ÊNFASE NAS PRINCIPAIS ESPÉCIES QUE OCORREM NA CIDADE DE SÃO PAULO Fábio Antonio de Barros Profa. Dra. Ana Eugenia de Carvalho Campos Monografia apresentada ao Instituto de Biociências do Campus de Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de Especialista em Entomologia Urbana. 595.736 Barros, Fábio Antonio de B277r Revisão bibliográfica da biologia dos cupins e metodologias utilizadas no controle com ênfase nas principais espécies que ocorrem na cidade de São Paulo / Fábio Antonio de Barros – Rio Claro, 2016 83 f. : il., figs., fots. Trabalho de conclusão de curso (especialização – Entomologia urbana: teoria e prática) – Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro Orientador: Ana Eugênia de Carvalho Campos 1. Térmita. 2. Coptotermes Rhinotermitidae Coptotermes gest. 3. cupins de madeira úmida. 4. Coptotermes gestroi. I. Título Ficha Catalográfica elaborada pela STATI - Biblioteca da UNESP Campus de Rio Claro/SP Fábio Antonio de Barros REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA DA BIOLOGIA DOS CUPINS E METODOLOGIAS UTILIZADAS NO CONTROLE, COM ÊNFASE NAS PRINCIPAIS ESPÉCIES QUE OCORREM NA CIDADE DE SÃO PAULO Monografia apresentada ao Instituto de Biociências do Campus de Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de Especialista em Entomologia Urbana.
    [Show full text]
  • Termite Control
    Termite Control - Visit www.termite.ph Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera (see taxonomy below , but are now accepted as the infraorder Isoptera, of the cockroach order !lattodea. "#$"%$ &hile termites are commonly known, especially in 'ustralia, as (white ants), they are for practical purposes unrelated to the ants. Like ants, and some bees and wasps—which are all placed in the separate order ,ymenoptera—termites divide labor among castes, produce o-erlapping generations and take care of young collectively. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung, and about #./ of the estimated 4,... species (about 3,#.2 taxonomically known are economically significant as pests that can cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests. Termites are major detritivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions, and their recycling of wood and other plant matter is of considerable ecological importance. 's eusocial insects, termites li-e in colonies that, at maturity, number from se-eral hundred to se-eral million individuals. 4olonies use decentralised, self-organised systems of activity guided by swarm intelligence which exploit food sources and en-ironments una-ailable to any single insect acting alone. ' typical colony contains nymphs (semimature young , workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals of both sexes, sometimes containing se-eral egg-laying queens. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ ———————————- Termite Social Organization Termite Control &orkers &orker termites undertake the labors of foraging, food storage, brood and nest maintenance, and some defense duties in certain species.
    [Show full text]
  • TERMITE SOCIAL EVOLUTION by Timothy George Myles a Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT of ENTOMOLOGY in Part
    Termite social evolution Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Myles, Timothy George Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 06/10/2021 05:46:53 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/558092 TERMITE SOCIAL EVOLUTION by Timothy George Myles A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 19 8 8 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Timothy George Myles_____________________ entitled TERMITE SOCIAL EVOLUTION and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement Doctor of Philosophy the Degree of Robert L. Date / Diana E. Wheele, Date William B. Heed Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement .y/ ' Dissertation Director William L. Nutting D a t e / 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library.
    [Show full text]