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Resource suitability modulating spatial co‐occurrence of soil‐forager termites (Blattodea: Termitoidea)
Author(s) -
Araújo Ana P Albano,
Cristaldo Paulo F,
Florencio Daniela F,
Araújo Fernanda S,
DeSouza Og
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
austral entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.502
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 2052-1758
pISSN - 2052-174X
DOI - 10.1111/aen.12226
Subject(s) - blattodea , foraging , quadrat , ecology , litter , biomass (ecology) , biology , null model , range (aeronautics) , co occurrence , resource (disambiguation) , rainforest , environmental science , computer network , materials science , shrub , artificial intelligence , cockroach , computer science , composite material
Resource can regulate animal foraging range, which in turn determines the chances of species co‐occurrence. Here, we addressed the question of whether resource determines the co‐occurrence of soil‐forager termite species (i.e. those foraging in subterranean tunnels). Eight quadrats (4 × 4 m) were marked in seven sites of Brazilian Atlantic rainforests, giving a total area sampled of 896 m 2 . Inside each quadrat, we measured the co‐occurrence of soil forager species and the resource suitability (N:C ratio of the soil and litter biomass). The number of records of more than one soil‐forager termite species at a single foraging spot, relative to the total number of foraging spots detected in each forest, was taken as a surrogate for spatial co‐occurrence. We tested whether termite co‐occurrence was mediated by random or nonrandom processes. Data were subjected to linear regression to test how the termite species co‐occurrence responds to resources. We compared this method with a null model analysis. Soil‐forager termites comprised 885 records, 20 species and 14 genera. From those records, 29% indicated species co‐occurrence. Co‐occurrence was not random: occurred more frequently when resource suitability was very high or very low. This result suggests an optimised use of space by termite communities.