Relation between termite numbers and the size of their mounds

Josens, Guy; Soki, Kue-Di-Kuenda

doi:10.1007/s00040-010-0085-2

Cited by 30 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The negative allometry between colony size and nest volume found for the three studied species agrees with the general pattern reported for termites (Josens & Soki, ), although correlational data alone are not sufficient to infer the precise allometric mechanism; it may involve nest respiratory constraints, as suggested by the latter authors, but also several other mechanisms, such as decreased queen fertility (Lepage & Darlington, ). While this issue requires further study, the increase in the strength of the correlation between total biomass and number of nests as the species scaling exponent decreased is consistent with the idea that colony‐nest allometry is linked to intra‐specific variability in colony size.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…However, Lepage () quantified nests and biomass of Macrotermes bellicosus Smeathman in five plots in the Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast. This species has one of the lowest termite scaling exponents between colony size (in number of individuals) and nest volume, 0.4 (Josens & Soki, ). Thus, we expected variation in its biomass to largely reflect nest numbers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The scaling of colony size with nest volume in termites: a role in population dynamics?

Pequeno

Franklin

Venticinque

et al. 2013

Ecological Entomology

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Colony size is often attributed a key role in social insect population ecology. However, in nest‐building termites, colony size is a power function of nest volume, so that colonies of species with low scaling exponents tend to grow less as their nests are expanded. Thus, in such species, intercolonial differences in colony size may be less likely to develop, and changes in species total biomass may largely reflect those in colony numbers rather than colony sizes. The scaling of colony biomass with nest volume in three termite species, namely Anoplotermes banksiEmerson, Neocapritermes braziliensis Snyder and Labiotermes labralis Holmgren was determined. Then, their nests were counted and their total biomass in plots across an Amazonian rainforest landscape was estimated. Finally, whether the strength of the relationship between total biomass and number of nests reflected species scaling exponents was examined. Scaling exponents were 0.47 for N. braziliensis, 0.57 for A. banksi, and 0.83 for L. labralis. On the other hand, the strength of the relationship between total biomass and the number of nests (r2) followed the opposite trend: 0.93 for N. braziliensis, 0.92 for A. banksi, and 0.53 for L. labralis. It is suggested that the scaling of colony size with nest volume may mediate termite population dynamics: as the scaling exponent decreases across species, changes in total biomass would increasingly reflect changes in colony numbers, with an accompanying increase in the importance of colony births and deaths as opposed to colony growth.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The scaling of colony size with nest volume in termites: a role in population dynamics?

Pequeno

Franklin

Venticinque

et al. 2013

Ecological Entomology

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“…At a height greater than 2.0 m, mounds seem to be able to enlarge their chimney rapidly (within some days), but the chimney also becomes more vulnerable, with a higher risk of breaking. The above-mentioned positive correlation between the size of a colony or its egg production with mound height (Darlington and Dransfield, 1987;Kaib et al, 2001) holds not only for M. michaelseni, but also for further Macrotermes species (Darlington, 1990;Darlington et al, 1992;Meyer et al, 2000) and also for several different termite groups (see reviews by Lepage and Darlington, 2000;Josens and Soki, 2010).…”

Section: General Distribution Patternmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-scale pattern analysis of a mound-building termite species

et al. 2010

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Termite mounds are a widespread feature in most African savannas. These structures exhibit high nutrient contents and often host a special vegetation composition. In this study, we analysed mound distribution patterns of a fungus-growing termite species, Macrotermes michaelseni, an important ecosystem engineer in the savannas of Namibia. Inhabited mounds taller than 0.7 m were regularly distributed. We view this pattern as a result of intraspecific competition. The heights of mounds taller than 0.7 m were correlated positively with their distance, such that mounds closer together, i.e. up to inter-mound distances of approximately 50 m, tended to be smaller than average. This indicates that intraspecific competition for foraging areas controls mound distribution pattern and colony size. Differences between mound heights increased on the spatial scale up to inter-mound distances of 80 m. We assume that the foundation of new colonies is only possible in unoccupied patches. In such patches, young colonies are able to occur close together as they have a relatively low foraging demand and therefore a low spatial demand. In contrast, their critical distance to taller colonies with higher foraging demands is rather large, which leads to the observed increasing difference of mound heights with increasing distances between them.

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“…Finally, we estimated the total termite number in our 1-ha plot for each year using the following formula, established by Josens and Soki (2010) for A. banksi on the basis of Martius and Ribeiro's (1996) data: for any given nest, log 10 N = 4.73 + 0.67 log 10 V , with N being the number of individuals and V the nest volume. To test whether the average nest volume differed between years, we carried out a Kruskal-Wallis test using estimated nest volume as data input.…”

Section: Demographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Are the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil-feeding termite colonies shaped by intra-specific competition?

Bourguignon

Leponce

Roisin

2011

Ecological Entomology

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1. Soil-feeding termites are abundant and diversified in neotropical forests, where they are among the major decomposers of the soil macrofauna. While niche specialisation along the humification gradient may reduce inter-specific competition, some species are represented by numerous colonies likely to be involved in intraspecific competition, but the subterranean nesting habits of most species of soil-feeding termites make direct observations difficult.2. The soldierless species Anoplotermes banksi Emerson was studied, which, unlike other Anoplotermes-group species, builds arboreal nests that can be easily detected. To infer the biological processes driving the spatial distribution of this species, we conducted a 3-year survey of the dynamics of colonisation of a 1-ha plot by A. banksi. Ripley's L-function, detecting aggregation or dispersion at various spatial scales, was used to investigate the distribution pattern of A. banksi nests, as well as the distribution of new and established nests.3. Only one-fourth of the nests recorded the first year were still alive after 3 years, highlighting a rapid turnover of the A. banksi nest population. Age classes were differentially affected by mortality, which was higher in young nests than in large, established nests.4. Established nests were overdispersed at a short range, whereas young nests had a random or clumped distribution. Young nests tended to be overdispersed from established ones and were more abundant in areas with recently dead nests. Dead nests predominantly occurred where A. banksi nests were particularly abundant. Altogether, the present results indicate a negative interaction between neighbouring colonies suggesting intra-specific competition.

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Relation between termite numbers and the size of their mounds

Cited by 30 publications

References 37 publications

The scaling of colony size with nest volume in termites: a role in population dynamics?

The scaling of colony size with nest volume in termites: a role in population dynamics?

Multi-scale pattern analysis of a mound-building termite species

Are the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil-feeding termite colonies shaped by intra-specific competition?

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