Nonrandom Search Geometry in Subterranean Termites

Robson, Simon K. A.; Leśniak, Marta; Kothandapani, R. V.; Traniello, James F. A.; Thorne, Barbara L.; Fourcassi�, V.

doi:10.1007/s001140050228

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…For instance, Su and collaborators (2004) studied the galleries excavated by termites (Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes) in a thin layer of sand and observed that in spite of being constrained to dig in two dimensions, the number of loops remained low, compared with what was produced in computer simulations of termite digging. In fact, specific digging 'rules' such as initiating new galleries at angles as large as possible from each other (Robson et al, 1995), or maintaining a digging direction oriented away from the point of initiation of the tunnel (Bardunias and Su, 2009), are mechanisms that also allow the appearance of loops to be minimised.…”

Section: A Variety Of Formsmentioning

confidence: 99%

When social behaviour is moulded in clay: on growth and form of social insect nests

Perna

Théraulaz

2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The nests built by social insects are among the most complex structures produced by animal groups. They reveal the social behaviour of a colony and as such they potentially allow comparative studies. However, for a long time, research on nest architecture was hindered by the lack of technical tools allowing the visualisation of their complex 3D structures and the quantification of their properties. Several techniques, developed over the years, now make it possible to study the organisation of these nests and how they are built. Here, we review present knowledge of the mechanisms of nest construction, and how nest structure affects the behaviour of individual insects and the organisation of activities within a colony.

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Section: A Variety Of Formsmentioning

confidence: 99%

When social behaviour is moulded in clay: on growth and form of social insect nests

Perna

Théraulaz

2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…There are simple mechanisms that may allow animals to minimize the number of cycles in their transportation networks. One potential mechanism consists of initiating new galleries at angles as large as possible from each other [30]. Bardunias & Su [31] found that Coptotermes formosanus termites were able to maintain a digging direction oriented away from the point of initiation of the tunnel, a mechanism that also allows to minimize the appearance of cycles.…”

Section: The Transportation Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal transportation networks

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Latty

2014

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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Many group-living animals construct transportation networks of trails, galleries and burrows by modifying the environment to facilitate faster, safer or more efficient movement. Animal transportation networks can have direct influences on the fitness of individuals, whereas the shape and structure of transportation networks can influence community dynamics by facilitating contacts between different individuals and species. In this review, we discuss three key areas in the study of animal transportation networks: the topological properties of networks, network morphogenesis and growth, and the behaviour of network users. We present a brief primer on elements of network theory, and then discuss the different ways in which animal groups deal with the fundamental trade-off between the competing network properties of travel efficiency, robustness and infrastructure cost. We consider how the behaviour of network users can impact network efficiency, and call for studies that integrate both network topology and user behaviour. We finish with a prospectus for future research.

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“…This type of arena originated with Luscher (1949), who proposed a "glass plate-termitary" consisting of two glass plates separated by spacers that create a space in between the plates, which are held together by clips, and where termites can be placed, and that can allow continuous observation of termite groups for extended periods. These arenas have only recently been used for laboratory bioassays on foraging behaviors of subterranean termites (Robson et al 1995;Reinhard et al 1997;Hedlund & Henderson 1999;Pitts-Singer & Forschler 2000;Campora & Grace 2001;Puche & Su 2001;Su & Puche 2003;Tucker et al 2004;Su 2005a;Lee et al 2007;Nobre et al 2007;Whitman & Forschler 2007;Li & Su 2008, 2009Bardunias & Su 2009.…”

Section: Planar Arenas For Use In Laboratory Bioassay Studies Of Subtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Change in Tunnel Heading in the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Response to Movement Through Opened Space

Bardunias

2010

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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Subterranean termites excavate tunnel patterns that radiate outward from a point of origin along vectors generated by path integration. Upon encountering open space, the tunnel heads away from the new site. In this study we forced termite excavators to travel from an introduction chamber through a tube with a 90° bend before entering a sand-filled arena, an opened chamber with perpendicular openings that forced a 90° turn before access to the arena, or an open chamber with an odor trail left by previous termites traveling through the opened chamber connecting the perpendicular openings. When forced to move through an opened chamber with no odor trail, the termites tunnelled away from the second chamber, not the introduction chamber. In contrast, when a path is either constrained inside a tube or demarcated by odor trail the path was more likely to head away from the first chamber, suggesting that they are not responding to a cue derived from an intrinsic value of open space. The discontinuation of their perceived path as they traveled through the open space seems to have caused an updating of the path integrator. The location of the deposition of excavated sand from the arena within the tube and chamber system varied, with sand found only in the second chamber when the path was broken. The cues that cause an updating of the path integrator also may stimulate sand deposition.

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Nonrandom Search Geometry in Subterranean Termites

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

When social behaviour is moulded in clay: on growth and form of social insect nests

When social behaviour is moulded in clay: on growth and form of social insect nests

Animal transportation networks

Change in Tunnel Heading in the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Response to Movement Through Opened Space

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