Effect of climate change on seasonal foraging activity of termites (Isoptera).

BD Kasseney, LJ Li Jing, WJQ Wei JiQian… - 2011 - cabidigitallibrary.org
BD Kasseney, LJ Li Jing, WJQ Wei JiQian, MJC Mo JianChu
2011cabidigitallibrary.org
Seasonal foraging activity of termites depends principally on air temperatures which are
increasing in recent years due to global warming. To examine the seasonal foraging activity
of termites, a walking belt transects of 1 m wide was randomly laid every two weeks in four
plots. Inside the frame of each plot, 100 wood logs were examined for the presence or
absence of termites during one year. To determine the effect of temperature on termite
foraging activity, the relation between the monthly mean temperatures (maximum and …
Abstract
Seasonal foraging activity of termites depends principally on air temperatures which are increasing in recent years due to global warming. To examine the seasonal foraging activity of termites, a walking belt transects of 1 m wide was randomly laid every two weeks in four plots. Inside the frame of each plot, 100 wood logs were examined for the presence or absence of termites during one year. To determine the effect of temperature on termite foraging activity, the relation between the monthly mean temperatures (maximum and minimum) and the termite foraging activity were analyzed. The effect of climate change on this activity was analyzed by comparing our results with a previous study. In our study period, termites foraged throughout all the year. Their activities were low (but occurred) in winter. Foraging increased significantly in summer, reaching a maximum in autumn (especially for Odontoterms formosanus). Odontotermes species were the most active termites in our study sites. The species of this genus attacked 23% of the examined wood logs. Odontotermes dimorphus was also recorded for the first time in Hangzhou. The foraging activity of termites was positively correlated with air temperature. The occurrence of termite activity in winter and the presence of O. dimorphus in our study sites could be a result of global warming. We suggest that any management strategy against termites in these sites should be carried out at the period of high foraging activity.
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