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Chuni Chiu - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Foraging Phenology of the Fungus-Growing Termite Odontotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Termitidae)
'Oxford University Press (OUP)', 2019Co-Authors: Chuni ChiuAbstract:[[abstract]]Fungus-growing termites are major contributors to litter decomposition and an agriculture pest in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. The foraging behavior of fungus-growing termites was hypothesized to be seasonal and may associate with climatic factors and the occurrence of natural enemies. In this study, we tested the effects of climatic factors and the presence of ants on the foraging activity of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Blattodea: Termitidae). Termite-foraging activities were quantified monthly based on the number of wood stakes occupied, amount of wood consumed, and foraging population size. The rate of wood-stake decomposition was measured by monitoring 484 wood stakes in a tropical forest over the course of nearly 6 yr. The results revealed that temperature and rainfall are the major climatic factors influencing the foraging seasonality of O. formosanus. Termites occupied fewer wood stakes during hot–wet seasons when fewer ants were present. The results of a path analysis supported that termite-foraging seasonality correlated mainly with climatic factors rather than the presence of ants. A new foraging hypothesis, the eat-and-run strategy, is proposed to explain the inconsistent seasonal foraging behaviors observed in fungus-growing termites.[[notice]]補正完
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foraging phenology of the fungus growing termite Odontotermes formosanus blattodea termitidae
Environmental Entomology, 2018Co-Authors: Chuni Chiu, Pailing Li, Mingjer Tsai, Houfeng LiAbstract:: Fungus-growing termites are major contributors to litter decomposition and an agriculture pest in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. The foraging behavior of fungus-growing termites was hypothesized to be seasonal and may associate with climatic factors and the occurrence of natural enemies. In this study, we tested the effects of climatic factors and the presence of ants on the foraging activity of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Blattodea: Termitidae). Termite-foraging activities were quantified monthly based on the number of wood stakes occupied, amount of wood consumed, and foraging population size. The rate of wood-stake decomposition was measured by monitoring 484 wood stakes in a tropical forest over the course of nearly 6 yr. The results revealed that temperature and rainfall are the major climatic factors influencing the foraging seasonality of O. formosanus. Termites occupied fewer wood stakes during hot-wet seasons when fewer ants were present. The results of a path analysis supported that termite-foraging seasonality correlated mainly with climatic factors rather than the presence of ants. A new foraging hypothesis, the eat-and-run strategy, is proposed to explain the inconsistent seasonal foraging behaviors observed in fungus-growing termites.
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colony founding success of pleometrosis in a fungus growing termite Odontotermes formosanus
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2018Co-Authors: Chuni Chiu, Kokboon NeohAbstract:Cooperative colony foundation (pleometrosis) has evolved in independent groups of social insects and enhances the growth rate and survival of a colony, but it is associated with a cost because intracolonial aggression may be higher in pleometrotic than in haplometrotic colonies. We studied 647 colony-founding groups consisting of one to four pairs of reproductives of Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) in our laboratory to examine the benefits and costs of pleometrosis by analyzing its effects on nest excavation, degree of aggression, mortality, and colony growth. The results indicate that pleometrosis significantly reduced the time required for searching for a nesting site and increased the tunnel depth. Furthermore, the nest-excavation success rate was increased 35–50% in pleometrotic colonies. Pleometrosis also increased the fecundity and colony-survival rates. However, it increased individual mortality, probably because the reduction in the available space per individual intensified intracolonial aggression, particularly when more than three pairs of reproductives founded the colonies. Overall, the laboratory bioassays revealed that although pleometrosis benefited the colony-founding success of small groups (two pairs), it was costly for large groups (three pairs). The results are consistent with those of a field survey of O. formosanus, which showed that small pleometrotic groups (three or four reproductives) exhibit longevity, whereas large groups (more than four reproductives) are rare in the colony-founding stage. Hence, we conclude that the colony-founding success of pleometrosis depends on group size: pleometrosis benefits a small group but is costly for a large group. The evolution of cooperative colony foundation (pleometrosis) in social insects is believed to have been favored because of its beneficial effects on the survival and growth of colonies. In this study, we demonstrated the costs and benefits of pleometrosis in colonies of O. formosanus, a fungus-growing termite. Pleometrosis benefits survival in the following three ways: improving performance in nest excavation, preventing colony collapse following the death of a single reproductive, and increasing the growth rate. However, colony-founding success depends on group size. Pleometrosis benefits small groups (two reproductive pairs) more than it does large groups (three reproductive pairs). We hypothesize that pleometrosis in termites evolved after eusociality was achieved because it represents a trait that is common in fungus-growing termites.
Rhitoban Raychoudhury - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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in vitro studies reveal that pseudomonas from Odontotermes obesus colonies can function as a defensive mutualist as it prevents the weedy fungus while keeping the crop fungus unaffected
Microbial Ecology, 2021Co-Authors: Renuka Agarwal, Manisha Gupta, Abin Antony, Ruchira Sen, Rhitoban RaychoudhuryAbstract:Insects that farm monocultures of fungi are canonical examples of nutritional symbiosis as well as independent evolution of agriculture in non-human animals. But just like in human agriculture, these fungal crops face constant threat of invasion by weeds which, if unchecked, take over the crop fungus. In fungus-growing termites, the crop fungus (Termitomyces) faces such challenges from the weedy fungus Pseudoxylaria. The mechanism by which Pseudoxylaria is suppressed is not known. However, evidence suggests that some bacterial secondary symbionts can serve as defensive mutualists by preventing the growth of Pseudoxylaria. However, such secondary symbionts must possess the dual, yet contrasting, capabilities of suppressing the weedy fungus while keeping the growth of the crop fungus unaffected. This study describes the isolation, identification, and culture-dependent estimation of the roles of several such putative defensive mutualists from the colonies of the wide-spread fungus-growing termite from India, Odontotermes obesus. From the 38 bacterial cultures tested, a strain of Pseudomonas showed significantly greater suppression of the weedy fungus than the crop fungus. Moreover, a 16S rRNA pan-microbiome survey, using the Nanopore platform, revealed Pseudomonas to be a part of the core microbiota of O. obesus. A meta-analysis of microbiota composition across different species of Odontotermes also confirms the widespread prevalence of Pseudomonas within this termite. These lines of evidence indicate that Pseudomonas could be playing the role of defensive mutualist within Odontotermes.
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pseudomonas can prevent the parasitic fungus while keeping the crop fungus unaffected in the gardens of Odontotermes obesus
bioRxiv, 2021Co-Authors: Renuka Agarwal, Manisha Gupta, Abin Antony, Ruchira Sen, Rhitoban RaychoudhuryAbstract:Insects that farm monocultures of fungi are canonical examples of nutritional symbiosis as well as independent evolution of agriculture in non-human animals. But just like in human agriculture, these fungal crops face constant threat of invasion by weeds which, if unchecked, takes over the crop fungus. In fungus-growing termites, the crop fungus (Termitomyces) faces such challenges from the parasitic fungus Pseudoxylaria. The mechanism by which Pseudoxylaria is suppressed is not known. However, evidence suggests that some bacterial secondary symbionts can serve as defensive mutualists by preventing the growth of Pseudoxylaria. However, such secondary symbionts must possess the dual, yet contrasting, capabilities of suppressing the weedy fungus while keeping the growth of the crop fungus unaffected. This study describes the isolation, identification and culture-dependent estimation of the roles of several such putative defensive mutualists from the colonies of the wide-spread fungus-growing termite from India, Odontotermes obesus. From the 38 bacterial cultures tested, a strain of Pseudomonas showed significantly greater suppression of the weedy fungus than the crop fungus. Moreover, a 16S rRNA pan-microbiome survey, using the Nanopore platform, revealed Pseudomonas to be a part of the core microbiota of Odontotermes obesus. A meta-analysis of microbiota composition across different species of Odontotermes also confirms the wide-spread prevalence of Pseudomonas within this termite. These evidence indicate that Pseudomonas could be playing the role of defensive mutualist within Odontotermes.
Deffi Surya Ningsih - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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JENIS-JENIS RAYAP (ISOPTERA) PADA KAWASAN CAGAR ALAM LEMBAH ANAI KABUPATEN TANAH DATAR SUMATERA BARAT
2015Co-Authors: Deffi Surya NingsihAbstract:Penelitian tentang Jenis-Jenis Rayap (Isoptera) Pada Kawasan Cagar Alam Lembah Anai di Kabupaten Tanah Datar telah dilakukan dari bulan Mei sampai September 2014 dengan menggunakan metode survey sepanjang jalur pendakian pada ketinggian 400-580 m dpl. Empat belas jenis rayap yang tergolong pada dua famili telah didapatkan yaitu Macrotermes malaccensis Haviland, Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki, Odontotermes sarawakensis Holmgren, Bulbitermes contrictus Haviland, Bulbitermes flavicans Holmgren, Bulbitermes neopusillus Snyder & Emerson, Bulbitermes subulatus Holmgren, Nasutitermes havilandi Desneux, Nasutitermes matangensis Haviland, Nasutitermes neoparvus Thapa, Pericapritermes dolichocephalus John, Globitermes globosus Haviland (Termitidae), Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann, Schedorhinotermes rectangularis Ahmad (Rhinotermitidae). Jumlah jenis terbanyak didapatkan pada jalur pendakian I dengan ketinggian 400-500 m dpl sebanyak 10 jenis dan pada jalur pendakian II dengan ketinggian 500-580 m dpl sebanyak 5 jenis
Rahayu Resti - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Jenis-Jenis Rayap (Isoptera) Pada Kawasan Cagar Alam Lembah Anai Kabupaten Tanah Datar Sumatera Barat
Univ. Tadulako, 2015Co-Authors: Ningsih, Deffi Surya, Dahelmi Dahelmi, Rahayu RestiAbstract:Rayap merupakan serangga sosial pemakan selulosa yang berfungsi sebagai indikator perubahan lingkungan. Serangga ini hidup pada kayu kering, kayu lembab dan tanah. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui jenis-jenis rayap yang terdapat pada Kawasan Cagar Alam Lembah Anai di Kabupaten Tanah Datar. Penelitian dilakukan mulai bulan Mei sampai September 2014 dengan menggunakan metode survey sepanjang jalur pendakian pada ketinggian 400-580 m dpl. Empat belas jenis rayap yang tergolong pada dua famili telah didapatkan yaitu Macrotermes malaccensis Haviland, Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki, Odontotermes sarawakensis Holmgren, Bulbitermes contrictus Haviland, Bulbitermes flavicans Holmgren, Bulbitermes neopusillus Snyder & Emerson, Bulbitermes subulatus Holmgren, Nasutitermes havilandi Desneux, Nasutitermes matangensis Haviland, Nasutitermes neoparvus Thapa, Pericapritermes dolichocephalus John, Globitermes globosus Haviland (Termitidae), Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann, Schedorhinotermes rectangularis Ahmad (Rhinotermitidae). Jumlah jenis terbanyak didapatkan pada jalur pendakian I dengan ketinggian 400-500 m dpl sebanyak 10 jenis dan pada jalur pendakian II dengan ketinggian 500-580 m dpl sebanyak 5 jenis
Michel Lepage - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Ecosystem services of termites (Blattoidea : Termitoidae) in the traditional soil restoration and cropping system Zai in northern Burkina Faso (West Africa)
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2017Co-Authors: Dorkas Kaiser, Michel Lepage, Souleymane Konate, Karl Eduard LinsenmairAbstract:Abstract The present study provides evidence of the effectiveness of some termite species in restoring barren soil and in maintaining long-term soil productivity, thereby facilitating sustainable agriculture in sub-Saharan West Africa. Fungus-growers, in particular, move large quantities of soil to cover their food sources with ‘soil sheetings’, which protect the termites during foraging. We selected study sites in northern Burkina Faso from four age-stages of the traditional restoration system Zai, thus spanning three decades of soil restoration—barren, crusted land, a millet field, and two reforested sites. In a randomized block design, termites were attracted to different organic materials. The aim was to assess the impact of their foraging structures (soil sheetings, foraging holes) on the restoration progress. We quantified soil turnover by termites, macroporosity, water infiltration rate, and physicochemical soil properties. Fungus-growing Odontotermes and Macrotermes species were the decisive soil engineers throughout the year, but only Odontotermes initiated the restoration process. The dry weight of soil bioturbated during the dry season ranged between 216 and 32 tons ha−1 mon−1 in the most rehabilitated Zai forest and the barren area, respectively. By creating tunnels, the foraging activity of termites increased the water infiltration rate by a factor of 2 to 4. Sheetings built on compost and hay showed significant increase in most parameters relevant for plant growth, especially during the dry season. However, the benefits resulting from the termites’ tunnelling activities (improved water availability and soil aeration via macropores, soil turnover) are in the early stages of Zai restoration likely to be more essential than the increased nutrient contents in sheeting soil, since water deficit leads to sapling mortality much faster than nutrient shortage. Our study revealed that the impact of termites is dependent on the particular species and their ecological requirements. Further studies in other areas are urgently required to clarify how generally valid our results are.
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Impact of subterranean fungus-growing termites (Isoptera, Macrotermitiane) on chosen soil properties in a West African savanna
Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2005Co-Authors: Pascal Jouquet, Michel Lepage, Pierre Barré, Bruce VeldeAbstract:Fungus-growing termites (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) play an important role in tropical ecosystems in modifying soil physical properties. Most of the literature regarding the impact of termites on soil properties refers to termite epigeous mounds. In spite of their abundance and activity in African savannas, few studies deal with the properties of underground nest structures (fungus-comb chambers) built by subterranean Macrotermitinae termites. We tested whether these termites significantly modify the soil physico-chemical properties within their nests in a humid tropical savanna and whether these effects are different for two termite species with differing building behaviour. Termite-worked soil material was collected from fungus-comb chamber walls of two widespread species: Ancistrotermes cavithorax, which builds diffuse and ephemeral nests and Odontotermes nr pauperans, which most often builds concentrated and permanent nests for a comparatively much longer period of time. Neither species influenced soil pH but both significantly modified soil texture and C-N content in their nest structures. A strong impact on clay-particle size was also detected but no significant differences in clay mineralogy. Thus Odontotermes has a greater effect on soil properties, that could be explained by its building behaviour and the concentration in space of its nest units. Therefore, spatial pattern and life-span of fungus-comb chambers should be an important parameter to be considered in the functional role of subterranean Macrotermitinae termites in the savanna.
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association between subterranean termites and grasses in a west african savanna spatial pattern analysis shows a significant role for Odontotermes n pauperans
Applied Soil Ecology, 2004Co-Authors: Pascal Jouquet, Nicolas Boulain, Jacques Gignoux, Michel LepageAbstract:Abstract Fungus-growing termites (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) play an important role in tropical ecosystems: they modify soil physical properties and thereby make food available for other organisms. These impacts justify considering the fungus-growing termites as ecosystem engineers. Fungus-growing termites have been classified in the same group because of their influence on soil properties. The aim of this work was to compare the influence of three fungus-growing termite species on the spatial pattern of some savanna grass species in a Guinean savanna (Cote d’Ivoire). Our study illustrates differences in the relationship between termite-built structures (fungus-comb chambers and lenticular mounds) and grasses. We suggest that Odontotermes n. pauperans can strongly influence the pattern of some grass species. Conversely, Microtermes toumodiensis and Ancistrotermes cavithorax appear to have no or little influences on grass species distribution, at the scale studied. Consequently, fungus-growing termites should not be regarded as a single functional group when considering their influence on grass communities.
