Simulation study on the tunnel networks of subterranean termites and the foraging behavior
Authored by Sang-Hee Lee, Nan-Yao Su
Date Published: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2010.01.003
Sponsors:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Most subterranean termites forage for food by creating tunnel galleries
underground. These tunnel networks reflect a compromise between foraging
efficiency and other environmental constraints, such as soil hardness
and moisture content. Thus, understanding tunnel networks is important
for understanding foraging behavior. Due to the difficulties in direct
observation of tunneling patterns in the field, we used a theoretical
approach for this analysis. We first constructed a lattice model to
simulate the tunnel networks of Coptorermes formosanus Shiraki and
Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) on the basis of the experimental data
provided by Su et al. (Su, N.-Y., Stith, B.M., Puche, H., Bardunias, P., 2004. Characterization of tunneling geometry of subterranean termites
(Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) by computer simulation. Sociobiology 44 (3), 471-483.). Using this model and two of its modified versions, we
explored the relationship between the food encounter rate and food
distributions and analyzed how this relationship is influenced by
changes in the tunnel characteristic constituents, such as the branching
tunnel length and frequency. Additionally, we investigated the effects
of landscape heterogeneity on the foraging efficiency. In the
discussion, we briefly introduced our novel individual-based model
comprising individual termites and their surroundings, and we addressed
the necessity of this model in the functioning of the network and the
formation of the network in relation to foraging behavior. (C) Korean
Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and
Malaysian Plant Protection Society, 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. All
rights reserved.
Tags
movement
population
Hymenoptera
Size
Isoptera
Rhinotermitidae
Food encounter rate
Trail-following behavior
Search patterns
Drywood
termite