Altered Mobility and Accumulation of Inefficient Workers in Juvenile Hybrid Termite Colonies

Lee, Sang Bin; Chouvenc, Thomas; Patel, Jayshree S; Su, Nan‐Yao

doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.589762

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…high density or relatively low genetic diversity [51]). Moreover, colony foundation experiments have confirmed that hybrid colonies can last greater than 2 years [52]. Research on female pheromone production and male following ability of hybrid adults will tell us the inheritance mechanism of movement coordination in termites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coordination of movement via complementary interactions of leaders and followers in termite mating pairs

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In collective animal motion, coordination is often achieved by feedback between leaders and followers. For stable coordination, a leader's signals and a follower's responses are hypothesized to be attuned to each other. However, their roles are difficult to disentangle in species with highly coordinated movements, hiding potential diversity of behavioural mechanisms for collective behaviour. Here, we show that two Coptotermes termite species achieve a similar level of coordination via distinct sets of complementary leader–follower interactions. Even though C. gestroi females produce less pheromone than C. formosanus , tandem runs of both species were stable. Heterospecific pairs with C. gestroi males were also stable, but not those with C. formosanus males. We attributed this to the males' adaptation to the conspecific females; C. gestroi males have a unique capacity to follow females with small amounts of pheromone, while C. formosanus males reject C. gestroi females as unsuitable but are competitive over females with large amounts of pheromone. An information-theoretic analysis supported this conclusion by detecting information flow from female to male only in stable tandems. Our study highlights cryptic interspecific variation in movement coordination, a source of novelty for the evolution of social interactions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coordination of movement via complementary interactions of leaders and followers in termite mating pairs

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Since having multiple reproductives within colonies may favor the establishment and spread of invasive social insects (Eyer and Vargo 2021), the observation of multiple secondary reproductives in Hybrid F colonies suggested that they are able to display reproductive plasticity, which could be adaptive. In addition, as we observed multiple secondary reproductives in Hybrid F colonies, even in the presence of both primary reproductives, it reveals a potential altered regulation in developmental pathways or physiological alterations in such hybrid mating combinations (Lee et al 2020), as reflected in the variable soldier ratio observed in hybrid colonies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Equivalent Colony Growth of Hybrids of Two Invasive Coptotermes Species Can Threaten Urban Areas

Patel

Lee

Chouvenc

et al. 2023

Journal of Economic Entomology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and C. gestroi (Wasmann) are economically important structural pests in urban areas. Due to anthropogenic activity, both species have been introduced into the United States, with their respective invasive ranges now overlapping in Florida, and the two species have the capability to hybridize. The potential for structural damage from subterranean termite colonies primarily depends on colony size. However, long-term colony growth and wood consumption capabilities of hybrid Coptotermes colonies remain to be investigated, to determine the potential pest status of field-established hybrid colonies. In this study, we investigated long-term colony development over four years to determine if aging hybrid colonies display vigor in terms of colony growth. In addition, we compared wood consumption rate of hybrid colonies to compare their potential impact as structural pests with the two parental species. In aging colonies (four-year-old), both hybrid mating types displayed a colony growth equivalent to C. formosanus. However, the wood consumption rates of four-year-old colonies of the two parental Coptotermes species and their hybrids were similar, indicating equal damaging potential. We also found multiple secondary reproductives in hybrid colonies, even in the presence of primary reproductives, which may favor their potential establishment and spread. Although hybrid colonies or hybrid alates have yet to be detected in the field, our results suggest that such hybrid colonies would be an additional termite threat in the future if they were established in the field.

show abstract

“…Moreover, colony foundation experiments have confirmed that hybrid colonies can last > 2 years [44], raising questions about potential behavioral changes of hybrid adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further investigation is needed to determine if properties of the invasive population (e.g., high density or relatively low genetic diversity [43]) are causes of behavioral change in C. formosanus from Florida. Moreover, colony foundation experiments have confirmed that hybrid colonies can last > 2 years [44], raising questions about potential behavioral changes of hybrid adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coordination of movement via complementary interactions of leaders and followers in termite mating pairs

Mizumoto

Lee

Valentini

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leadership of animal group movements depends on social feedback, hence leader′s signals and follower′s responses should be attuned to each other. However, leader and follower roles are difficult to disentangle in species with high levels of coordination. To overcome this challenge, we investigated a simple case of movement coordination: termite pairs in which a female leads a male as they search for a nest site. To tease apart leader and follower roles, we created conspecific and heterospecific pairs of Coptotermes gestroi and C. formosanus, which share a pairing pheromone so that males follow females of either species. Conspecific pairs were stable for both species, even though C. gestroi females produce less pheromone than C. formosanus. Heterospecific pairs with C. gestroi males were also stable, but not those with C. formosanus males. We attributed this difference to the C. gestroi male′s unique capacity to follow females that release small amounts of pheromone; C. formosanus males cannot follow or reject C. gestroi females as unsuitable. This conclusion was supported by an information-theoretic analysis that detected information flow from C. formosanus females to C. gestroi males as in conspecific pairs, but not from C. gestroi females to C. formosanus males. Despite their following ability, C. gestroi males lost to C. formosanus males in competitions to follow C. formosanus females. Thus, partner selection has shaped the species-specific association of mating pairs. Our results demonstrate that a similar level of coordination can emerge from distinct sets of complementary sender-receiver interactions.

show abstract

Altered Mobility and Accumulation of Inefficient Workers in Juvenile Hybrid Termite Colonies

Cited by 10 publications

References 45 publications

Coordination of movement via complementary interactions of leaders and followers in termite mating pairs

Coordination of movement via complementary interactions of leaders and followers in termite mating pairs

Equivalent Colony Growth of Hybrids of Two Invasive Coptotermes Species Can Threaten Urban Areas

Coordination of movement via complementary interactions of leaders and followers in termite mating pairs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About