Ecological and Taxonomical Studies of Social Insects in Australia

澳大利亚社会昆虫的生态学和分类学研究

• 批准号: 63043019
• 负责人: MATSUMOTO Tadao
• 金额: $ 1.22万
• 依托单位: College of Arts & Sciences, The university of Tokyo
• 依托单位国家: 日本
• 项目类别: Grant-in-Aid for Overseas Scientific Research
• 财政年份: 1986
• 资助国家: 日本
• 起止时间: 1986 至 1988
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-63043019/
• 关键词: Social insects; Australia; Social behavior; Huge nest aggregation; Karyological survey; Termitophilous ant; Termite community; 亜社会性

This research project aims to clarify the nature of social insects (wasp, ant, termite and subsocial cockroach) in Australia by combining ecological and taxonomic survey. The research was carried out in 1986-1987 in eastern part of Australia.1. Social behaviour of Ropalidia plebeiana females within a huge nest aggregation was observed under a bridge in Cabbage Tree Creek of New South Wales. Each comb was defended by a group of particular females, and intercomb drift of females was not frequent. Nest survival rates and reproductive rates of females were studied. The huge aggregations of nests are probably benefical for this species by enabling the realization of high reproductive rates.2. Karyological and taxonomic survey of the Myrmecia (pilosula) group were carried out. Species of the group were found to be karyologically highly differentiated. Significant but subtle morphological divergence has also been observed. It is now clear that the M.(pilosula) complex includes at least 5 separate, similar species.3. Eight termitophilous ant species were studied with special reference to the relationship between their nest-site dependence to the termite mounds and their termitaria-defence rate against meat ant. Many termite colonies cohabiting with the ants of defensive type were vigorous, suggesting that this ant-termite relationship is mutualistic.4. Termite community in the tropical rain forest of northeastren Queensland was surveyed. It is clear that fauna, density, feeding habits and life type composition in Australia were quite different from those in the tropical rain forest of Africa, Asia and America.5. Subsocial cockroaches which feed on rotten wood or leaf litter were investigated with special reference to familial association, growth of nymphs and population density. The field evidence shows Macropanesthia make the family groups in spring and the intimate adult female-offspring relationships may continue for a year.

该研究项目旨在通过结合生态和分类学调查来阐明澳大利亚社会性昆虫（黄蜂、蚂蚁、白蚁和亚社会性蟑螂）的性质。该研究于1986-1987年在澳大利亚东部地区进行。 1．在新南威尔士州卷心菜树溪的一座桥下观察到了巨大巢群中雌性 Ropalidia plebeiana 的社会行为。每个梳子都由一群特定的雌性保卫，并且雌性梳子之间的漂移并不常见。研究了雌性的巢存活率和繁殖率。巨大的巢穴聚集可能有利于该物种实现高繁殖率。2．对 Myrmecia (pilosula) 群体进行了核学和分类学调查。发现该群体的物种在核学上具有高度分化。还观察到显着但微妙的形态差异。现在已经清楚，M.(pilosula)复合体包括至少5个独立的、相似的物种。3．研究了八种嗜白蚁蚂蚁，特别是它们的巢穴对白蚁丘的依赖性与其对肉蚁的白蚁防御率之间的关系。与防御型蚂蚁同居的白蚁群落数量较多，表现出旺盛的生命力，说明蚁蚁关系是互利共生的。 4．对昆士兰州东北部热带雨林中的白蚁群落进行了调查。很明显，澳大利亚的动物区系、密度、食性和生活类型组成与非洲、亚洲和美洲的热带雨林有很大不同。5．对以腐木或落叶为食的亚社会蟑螂进行了调查，特别关注家族关联、若虫的生长和种群密度。现场证据表明，Macropanesthia 在春季形成家庭群体，成年雌性与后代的亲密关系可能会持续一年。