PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Termite nest repairs are considered a defensive conduct as they reduce the colony\'s exposure to the external environment. Repair activities are carried out by worker castes that can be polymorphic, representing a relationship between polymorphism and divisions of functions that can enhance task completion. Repairs are influenced by the extent of damage, nest volume, and the population dynamics of the building species, which regulate the recruitment of individuals for this activity. Our objective was to verify the performances (recruitment for repair) of dimorphic workers of Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) during the damage repair activities performed on the external walls of termite nests of different sizes. We found a significant difference in the presence of dimorphic workers that performed repairs, with greater recruitment of the small morphotype, and observed an alternation of morphotypes between initial and final repair activities, with no influence of morphotype on the replacement pattern. Our results also showed that the total number of recruited workers decreased with increasing nest volume. These results help to better understand the social organization of a Nasutitermitinae termite species and the strategies adopted to protect its colonies.
摘要：
白蚁巢穴修复被认为是一种防御性行为，因为它们减少了殖民地对外部环境的暴露。修复活动由工人种姓进行，这些种姓可以是多态的，表示可以增强任务完成的功能的多态性和划分之间的关系。修理受损坏程度的影响，巢体积,以及建筑物种的种群动态，它规范了这项活动的个人招募。我们的目标是验证Constrictotermescyphergaster（Silvestri，1901）在对不同大小的白蚁巢的外壁进行的损伤修复活动中。我们发现在进行维修的二态工人中存在显着差异，随着小形态型的更多招募，并观察到初始和最终修复活动之间的形态型交替，形态型对替代模式没有影响。我们的结果还表明，招募工人的总数随着巢穴数量的增加而减少。这些结果有助于更好地了解Nasuttermitinae白蚁物种的社会组织以及保护其殖民地的策略。
