Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T22:03:33.417Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Trap response and genetic structure of eastern subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2012

Melissa Raffoul
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
Stephen J. Hecnar
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada P7B 5E1
Stephanie Prezioso
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
Darlene R. Hecnar
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada P7B 5E1
Graham J. Thompson*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).

Abstract

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) is best known throughout southwestern counties of Ontario, Canada, as an urban pest. Little is known, however, of the presence of this termite in nonurban settings in Ontario. In this study, we confirmed the existence of a population of R. flavipes on the shores of Lake Erie within Point Pelee National Park. A systematic trap survey conducted along the park's semi-vegetated west beach revealed several zones of termite activity. An analysis of trap response at one location indicated an association between termite activity and smaller sized, moderately decayed woody debris. Further, microsatellite DNA analysis suggested the presence of at least three genetically distinct colonies, each likely headed by multiple inbred reproductives. Together these data suggest that termite activity is linked to food quality, and that single colonies are potentially long-lived through multiple generations of inbreeding. Assuming it is derived from a population reported from Point Pelee in 1929, the study population is the oldest known eastern subterranean termite population in Ontario.

Résumé

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) est connue dans les comtés Sud-ouest de l'Ontario comme étant un ravageur urbain. Très peu d'information est disponible cependant sur sa présence naturelle dans des environnements non-urbains en Ontario. Dans cette étude, nous rapportons l'existence d'une population de R. flavipes sur les rives du lac Erié dans le parc national Point Pelee. Par un piégeage systématique mené le long de la plage ouest semi-végétale du parc, nous avons révélé plusieurs régions avec de l'activité de termites. Une analyse des résultats de piégeage à un endroit indique une association entre l'activité des termites et des petits débris de bois modérément pourris. De plus, une analyse des microsatellites de l'ADN suggère qu'il y a au moins trois colonies génétiquement distinctes, chacune d'elle fondée par plusieurs événements consanguins. Ensemble, ces données suggèrent que l'activité des termites est associée à la qualité de la nourriture présente, et que les colonies individuelles peuvent potentiellement vivre longtemps par le biais de plusieurs générations consanguines. En supposant que les termites situées à Point Pelee proviennent d'une population documentée dans la région en 1929, elle est la population connue de termite sous-terraine la plus âgée en Ontario.

Type
Biodiversity & Evolution
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bulmer, M.S.Adams, E.S.Traniello, J.F.A. 2001. Variation in colony structure in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 49: 236243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cutten, G.M. 1988. Termite control in Ontario. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto, Ontario.Google Scholar
Environment Canada. 2011. Canadian climate normals 1971–2000 [online]. Available from http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals [accessed 29 July 2010].Google Scholar
Esenther, G.R. 1969. Termites in Wisconsin. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 62: 12741284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodisman, M.A.D.Crozier, R.H. 2002. Population and colony genetic structure of the primitive termite Mastotermes darwiniensis. Evolution, 56: 7083.Google ScholarPubMed
Grace, J.K. 1989. A modified trap technique for monitoring Reticulitermes subterranean termite populations (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 65: 381384.Google Scholar
Grace, J.K. 1996. Temporal and spatial variation in caste proportions in a northern Reticulitermes flavipes colony (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology, 28: 225231.Google Scholar
Hecnar, S.J.M'Closkey, R.T. 1998. Effects of human disturbance on five-lined skink, Eumeces fasciatus, abundance and distribution. Biological Conservation, 85: 213222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Husby, W.D. 1980. Biological studies on the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Dictyoptera, Rhinotermitidae) in southern Ontario. M.Sc. thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.Google Scholar
Kirby, C.S. 1965. The distribution of termites in Ontario after 25 years. The Canadian Entomologist, 97: 310314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirby, C.S.Harnden, A.A. 1963. Termites in Ontario. Bi-monthy Progress Report, Canada Department of Forestry, Forest Entomology and Pathology Branch, 19: 1Google Scholar
Lainé, L.V.Wright, D.J. 2003. The life cycle of Reticulitermes spp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): what do we know? Bulletin of Entomological Research, 93: 267278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lenz, M. 1994. Food resources, colony growth and caste development in wood-feeding termites. In Nourishment and evolution in insect societies. Edited by Hunt, J.H.Nalepa, C.A.. Westview Press, Oxford, and IBH Publishing, Boulder, Colorado, and New Delhi, India. pp.159209.Google Scholar
Myles, T.G. 1999. Review of secondary reproduction in termites (Insecta: Isoptera) with comments on its role in termite ecology and social evolution. Sociobiology, 33: 191.Google Scholar
Myles, T.G. 2008. Termite report 2007 Building Services, City of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.Google Scholar
Nei, M. 1987. Molecular evolutionary genetics. Columbia University Press, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reinhard, J.Hertel, H.Kaib, M. 1997. Systematic search for food in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes santonensis De Feytaud (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Insectes Sociaux, 44: 147158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robson, S.K.Lesniak, M.G.Kothandapani, R.V.Traniello, J.F.A.Thorne, B.L.Fourcassie, V. 1995. Nonrandom search geometry in subterranean termites. Naturwissenschaften, 82: 526528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rousset, F. 2008. GENEPOP ‘ 007: a complete re-implementation of the GENEPOP software for Windows and Linux. Molecular Ecology Resources, 8: 103106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thompson, G.J.Hebert, P.D.N. 1998. Probing termite social systems through allozyme and mtDNA analysis: a case study of Nasutitermes nigriceps and Nasutitermes costalis (Isoptera, Termitidae). Insectes Sociaux, 45: 289299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, G.J.Lenz, M.Crozier, R.H.Crespi, B.J. 2007. Molecular-genetic analyses of dispersal and breeding behaviour in the Australian termite Coptotermes lacteus: evidence for non-random mating in a swarm-dispersal mating system. Australian Journal of Zoology, 55: 219227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thorne, B.L.Traniello, J.F.A.Adams, E.S.Bulmer, M. 1999. Reproductive dynamics and colony structure of subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae): a review of the evidence from behavioral, ecological, and genetic studies. Ethology, Ecology and Evolution, 11: 149169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Urquhart, F.A. 1953. The introduction of the termite into Ontario. The Canadian Entomologist, 85: 292293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vargo, E.L. 2000. Polymorphism at trinucleotide microsatellite loci in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Molecular Ecology, 9: 817820.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vargo, E.L. 2006. Genetic analysis of breeding systems and population structure in species of Reticulitermes from the eastern U.S. In Proceedings of the XV Congress of the International Union of the Study of Social Insects. Edited by International Union for the Study of Social Insects. Omni Press, Madison, Wisconsin. 30 July – 4 August 2006, Washington, D.C. No. 56. [Abstr.].Google Scholar
Vargo, E.L.Husseneder, C. 2009. Biology of subterranean termites: insights from molecular studies of Reticulitermes and Coptotermes. Annual Review of Entomology, 54: 379403.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Watson, E.B. 1949. Further notes on termites. Bi-monthly progress report, Canada Dominion Department of Agriculture, Division of Entomology, 5: 2Google Scholar
Weesner, F.M. 1970. Termites of the Neartic region. In Biology of termites. Edited by Krishna, K.Weesner, F.M.. Academic Press, New York. pp.477525.Google Scholar