Reproductive mechanisms and dynamics of habitat colonization in Microcerotermes biroi (Isoptera: Termitidae)
1996
Leponce, M. | Roisin, Y. | Pasteels, J.M.
1. Previous studies on the arboreal termite community in coconut plantations of northern New Guinea showed that Microcerotermes biroi is the most abundant species, despite the fighting superiority of two competitor species Nasutitermes princeps and N. novarumhebridarum. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the success of M. biroi is due to its efficiency at colonizing new habitats following nuptial flights. 2. We demonstrated experimentally the ability of M. biroi colonies to replace their reproductives when removed, or to produce reproductives in satellite nests when isolated from the remainder of the colony. Replacement reproductives were always neotenics, derived from nymphs or workers. 3. Despite the ability of neotenics to differentiate within their home colonies, 84% of field colonies were headed by dealated imagos. This value constitutes a minimum estimate of the proportion of field colonies founded independently by imagos after the nuptial flight. 4. The monitoring of a young plantation during the first 3 1/2 years of its colonization by arboreal nesting termites revealed its invasion by M. biroi, which colonized 63% of the trees while neither Nasutitermes species appeared. 5. Our results demonstrate that M. biroi is actually a pioneer species, able to invade a new habitat by means of nuptial flights. They outline the importance of each species' reproductive strategy in shaping the arboreal-nesting termite community.
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