On the Mound of Macrotermes michaelseni as an Organ of Respiratory Gas Exchange
On the Mound of Macrotermes michaelseni as an Organ of Respiratory Gas Exchange
复制标题
论作为呼吸气体交换器官的迈克尔白蚁丘
DOI：
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发表时间：
2001
影响因子：
1.6
通讯作者：
J. S. Turner
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
J. S. Turner
用示踪法研究了大白蚁丘和巢内空气运动的模式和速率。风是为巢穴通风提供动力的重要能源来源，尽管土墩是一个完全封闭的结构。巢的通风是由风速和风向的时间变化所驱动的气流潮汐运动。足够陡峭的密度梯度，以驱动自然对流的大块流动将是罕见的。然而，代谢诱导的浮力可能与风能相互作用，促进土丘大气的动态平衡。
Patterns and rates of air movements in the mounds and nests of Macrotermes michaelseni were studied using tracer methods. Wind is a significant source of energy for powering nest ventilation, despite the mound being a completely enclosed structure. Nests are ventilated by a tidal movement of air driven by temporal variation in wind speed and wind direction. Density gradients sufficiently steep to drive bulk flow by natural convection will be rare. However, metabolism‐induced buoyant forces may interact with wind energy in a way that promotes homeostasis of the mound atmosphere.