The nature of alarm communication in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Blattodea: Termitoidea: Termitidae): the integration of chemical and vibroacoustic signals
Typ dokumentu
článek v časopisejournal article
Peer-reviewed
publishedVersion
Autor
Cristaldo P. F.
Jandák V.
Kutalová K.
Rodrigues V. B.
Brothánek M.
Jiříček O.
DeSouza O.
Šobotník J.
Práva
openAccessMetadata
Zobrazit celý záznamAbstrakt
Alarm signalling is of paramount importance to communication in all
social insects. In termites, vibroacoustic and chemical alarm signalling
are bound to operate synergistically but have never been studied
simultaneously in a single species. Here, we inspected the functional
significance of both communication channels in Constrictotermes
cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), confirming the hypothesis
that these are not exclusive, but rather complementary processes. In
natural situations, the alarm predominantly attracts soldiers, which
actively search for the source of a disturbance. Laboratory testing
revealed that the frontal gland of soldiers produces a rich mixture of
terpenoid compounds including an alarm pheromone. Extensive testing
led to identification of the alarm pheromone being composed of
abundant monoterpene hydrocarbons (1S)-α-pinene and myrcene,
along with a minor component, (E)-β-ocimene. The vibratory alarm
signalling consists of vibratory movements evidenced as bursts; a series
of beats produced predominantly by soldiers. Exposing termite groups to
various mixtures containing the alarm pheromone (crushed soldier
heads, frontal gland extracts, mixture of all monoterpenes, and the alarm
pheromone mixture made of standards) resulted in significantly higher
activity in the tested groups and also increased intensity of the vibratory
alarm communication, with the responses clearly dose-dependent.
Lower doses of the pheromone provoked higher numbers of vibratory
signals compared to higher doses. Higher doses induced long-term
running of all termites without stops necessary to perform vibratory
behaviour. Surprisingly, even crushed worker heads led to low (but
significant) increases in the alarm responses, suggesting that other
unknown compound in the worker’s headis perceived and answered by
termites. Our results demonstrate the existence of different alarm levels
in termites.
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Kolekce
- Publikační činnost ČVUT [1312]