Comparing The Diversity Geographic Distribution And Intraspecific Variation Of Subterranean Termites Reticulitermes Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Occuring In Woodlands And Urban Environments Of Missouri Using Morphology And 16s Mtdna

Author : Paul Steven Botch
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 259 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (898 download)

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Download or read book Historical Landscape Interactions and Patterns of Invasion by Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Reticulitermes) in Subdivisions of Different Ages written by Paul Steven Botch and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The subterranean termite genus Reticulitermes includes some of the most economically destructive termites in the United States, where it is estimated that costs associated with prevention and control may reach $11 billion annually. Despite their economic importance, there are large gaps in our understanding of subterranean termite ecology, due to their cryptic nature and the inherent difficulties of studying subterranean activity. In Missouri, subterranean termite communities differ between undeveloped forested and urban landscapes. Reticulitermes hageni Banks occurs in greater proportions than other subterranean termite species in forested landscapes, while Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) occurs in greater proportions than other subterranean termite species in urban landscapes. Thus, it appears that subterranean termite communities change as landscapes are converted from undeveloped to urban. It is not known, however, when Reticulitermes communities change in response to urbanization, or how termite populations invade subdivisions in an altered urban landscape. It is possible that resident subterranean termite populations are eliminated when soils are graded to prepare subdivision sites for construction. It also seems likely that colonies may respond to changing moisture and temperature regimes, or new biotic associations that accompany anthropogenic disturbances and altered landscapes. The purpose of this research is to examine how landscape factors are associated with subterranean termite communities and patterns of invasion as subdivisions are constructed and age over time. Subterranean termites were collected from 25 areas in Columbia, Missouri that were classified along a gradient of urbanization to include 1) undeveloped landscapes; 2) anthropogenically disturbed landscapes; 3) 10-year-old subdivisions; and 4) 20-year-old subdivisions. Subterranean termite communities were assessed by identifying species using PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Because secondary reproductive termites can differentiate as colonies mature and age, microsatellite DNA was used to compare breeding structure of colonies from different aged subdivisions to determine whether there is a relationship between colony maturity and the age of subdivisions. Patterns of subterranean termite invasion in subdivisions were further evaluated by examining homes for evidence of termite treatment. The interaction between landscape features and subterranean termite activity was assessed using GIS software. Relative proportions of Reticulitermes spp. in communities occurring in forest landscapes and urban areas are similar to previous reports for the State of Missouri. Termite communities appear to be eliminated in the landscape when undeveloped landscapes are disturbed by subdivision site preparation, although remnant colonies can persist in areas that are not disturbed. Reticulitermes flavipes appears to invade subdivisions quickly regardless of historical landscape; however, R. hageni invasions generally become more common as subdivisions age and forest area increases. Reticulitermes colonies in undeveloped forests are more inbred and likely have more secondary reproductive than colonies in urban subdivisions. Therefore, colonies in forests probably tend to be older than colonies in subdivisions, which may have resulted from recent invasions. Infestation frequencies are lower in historically agricultural subdivisions than historically forested subdivisions at year 10, but frequencies are almost equal by year 20. Infestation frequencies in historically agricultural subdivisions appear to catch up to frequencies in historically forested subdivisions over time, and this is likely correlated with an increase in forest land cover as subdivisions age.