Foraging in subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): how do Heterotermes tenuis and Coptotermes gestroi behave when they locate equivalent food resources?

dc.contributor.authorLima, J. T. [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorCosta-Leonardo, A. M. [UNESP]
dc.contributor.institutionUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
dc.date.accessioned2014-12-03T13:11:00Z
dc.date.available2014-12-03T13:11:00Z
dc.date.issued2014-08-01
dc.description.abstractA previous research suggests that when subterranean termites locate equivalent food they consume the initial food resource. However, little is known about the movement of foragers among these food sources. For this reason, this study analyzed the feeding behavior of Heterotermes tenuis and Coptotermes gestroi in the presence of equivalent foods. The experimental arenas were composed of a release chamber connected to food chambers. The consumption of each wood block and percentage of the foraging individuals recruited for the food chambers were observed in relation to the total survival rate. The results showed that in the multiple-choice tests, wood block consumptions and the recruitment of individuals did not differ between replicates of each termite species. However, in different tests of tenacity, the chambers with the first food presented higher feeding rates by both H. tenuis and C. gestroi and resulted in a higher recruitment of workers and soldiers. In these conditions, it may be concluded that foragers of either species do not concentrate their efforts on the consumption of only one food resource when they are able to reach multiple cellulosic sources simultaneously. Additionally, the data concerning tenacity tests suggest that there is a chronologic priority of consumption in relation to the discovery of available food sources. Knowledge about the foraging biology of subterranean termites is important for future studies of their feeding behavior, and it is indispensable for improving control strategies.en
dc.description.affiliationUniv Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Biol, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
dc.description.affiliationUnespUniv Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Biol, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
dc.description.sponsorshipFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
dc.description.sponsorshipConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
dc.description.sponsorshipIdFAPESP: 06/55828-0
dc.format.extent525-533
dc.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007485314000297
dc.identifier.citationBulletin Of Entomological Research. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Press, v. 104, n. 4, p. 525-533, 2014.
dc.identifier.doi10.1017/S0007485314000297
dc.identifier.issn0007-4853
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11449/112718
dc.identifier.wosWOS:000338105900013
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherCambridge University Press
dc.relation.ispartofBulletin of Entomological Research
dc.relation.ispartofjcr1.721
dc.relation.ispartofsjr0,805
dc.rights.accessRightsAcesso restrito
dc.sourceWeb of Science
dc.subjectfeeding behavioren
dc.subjectforaging behavioren
dc.subjectresource fidelityen
dc.subjectsubterranean termitesen
dc.subjecttenacityen
dc.subjectwood consumptionen
dc.titleForaging in subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): how do Heterotermes tenuis and Coptotermes gestroi behave when they locate equivalent food resources?en
dc.typeArtigo
dcterms.licensehttp://journals.cambridge.org/action/displaySpecialPage?pageId=4676
dcterms.rightsHolderCambridge Univ Press
unesp.author.lattes3384554771252347[2]
unesp.author.orcid0000-0002-8874-5538[2]
unesp.campusUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Instituto de Biociências, Rio Claropt

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