Effect of Soil Type and Moisture Availability on the Foraging Behavior of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Effect of Soil Type and Moisture Availability on the Foraging Behavior of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
复制标题
DOI：
10.1603/ec09250
复制
发表时间：
2010-06-01
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Osbrink, Weste L. A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cornelius, Mary L.;Osbrink, Weste L. A.
研究了土壤类型和水分有效性对白蚁觅食行为的影响。土的物理性质对隧道掘进行为和盾构施工都有影响。白蚁在沙子中挖洞比在表层土壤和粘土中挖洞快。在有表层土壤和粘土的容器中，白蚁在容器的侧面建造了庇护管。在有沙子的容器中，白蚁直接在空气中建造了庇护管，并在容器的侧面覆盖了一层沙子。土壤类型和水分有效性的相互作用影响白蚁的运动、取食和生存。在潮湿土壤的试验中，白蚁更有可能聚集在盆栽土和泥炭苔藓的表层土上。然而，白蚁更有可能搬进有干泥炭苔藓和盆栽土的容器，而不是有干沙子和粘土的容器。白蚁也更有可能进入干燥盆栽土的容器，而不是干燥的表层土。在干燥土壤的试验中，白蚁的死亡率很高，尽管白蚁能够在潮湿的沙子和干燥的土壤之间自由移动，可能是由于与干燥土壤接触引起的干燥。盆栽土壤和泥炭苔藓的蒸发导致白蚁大量死亡，而白蚁能够在表层土壤、沙子和粘土中保持足够的水分存活25 d。土壤类型和水分有效性的相互作用影响了微生境中觅食白蚁的分布。
This study examined the influence of soil type and moisture availability on termite foraging behavior. Physical properties of the soil affected both tunneling behavior and shelter tube construction. Termites tunneled through sand faster than top soil and clay. In containers with top soil and clay, termites built shelter tubes on the sides of the containers. In containers with sand, termites built shelter tubes directly into the air and covered the sides of the container with a layer of sand. The interaction of soil type and moisture availability affected termite movement, feeding, and survival. In assays with moist soils, termites were more likely to aggregate in top soil over potting soil and peat moss. However, termites were more likely to move into containers with dry peat moss and potting soil than containers with dry sand and clay. Termites were also significantly more likely to move into containers with dry potting soil than dry top soil. In the assay with dry soils, termite mortality was high even though termites were able to travel freely between moist sand and dry soil, possibly due to desiccation caused by contact with dry soil. Evaporation from potting soil and peat moss resulted in significant mortality, whereas termites were able to retain enough moisture in top soil, sand, and clay to survive for 25 d. The interaction of soil type and moisture availability influences the distribution of foraging termites in microhabitats.