The dilemma between colony growth and survival: an experiment on food resource selection with a nasute termite

Abstract

Decrease the risk of being killed and increase the food intake is an important feature of the foraging behavior of most animals. In general, foragers are vulnerable and the ability to trade-off benefits (food quantity) against costs (risk of being killed) may provide a considerable ecological advantage. Despite the increasing number of studies, the effects of food quantity and risk signals on resource selection in eusocial insect is not well understood. Here, we investigated the combination of distinct levels of food quantity and risk signals on resource selection of a Neotropical termite, Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Manipulative bioassays with binary and multiple choices were conducted over time to check the recruitment of termite groups among resources containing different levels of food quantity and risk signals. Overall, the quantity of food resource was more important than the risk signals during the resource selection by N. corniger groups. However, termites were able to perceive the risk choosing resource with high benefits (high amount of food) and low costs (low risk signal) when it was conducted multiple bioassays with empty arenas. This work contributes to a better understanding of habitat use by termite species. Furthermore, it shows for the first time the combined effects of food quantity and risk signals on resource selection of an important ecological and economic termite species.