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Relation between termite numbers and the size of their mounds

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Abstract

This article provides a meta-analysis of quantitative data available in literature regarding the relation between termite numbers and the volume of their mounds for 24 species belonging to 13 genera. The leading question behind this analysis is: “how do the respiratory gas exchanges regulate the size of termite mounds?” This question is answered through the analysis of the log–log regression between the volume of the mound and the number of inhabitants. The most confident data support the hypothesis of a respiratory regulation that can be achieved through a relation between the termite numbers and (1) the volume of their mounds (slope of the regression near 1, Noditermes), (2) the surface of the outer walls of their mounds (slope of the regression near 0.67, Termitinae and Nasutitermes) or (3) a compromise between the surface of the outer walls of their mounds and some linear structures of their nests (slope of the regression between 0.67 and 0.33, Trinervitermes and Macrotermes). The way this is achieved is linked with the architecture of the mound. A confident relation was found between the number of individuals and the epigeal volume of their mounds for 18 species for which the most reliable data were provided. Three more accurate models are proposed for estimating the termite population based on the nest material and architecture and on the size of the termites.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to Dr. J.P.E.C. Darlington for permission to use some of her unpublished data. We wish to thank an anonymous referee for helpful comments and suggestions on an earlier version. We are grateful to our colleagues, J. Deligne, Y. Roisin, T. Bourguignon and J.-C. Verhaeghe, and to the late professor A. Bouillon for their useful and constructive discussions. We thank the Royal Museum of Central Africa at Tervuren for access to their collection of termite mounds.

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  1. Département de Biologie des Organismes, Université Libre de Bruxelles, C.P. 160/13, 50 av. F.D. Roosevelt, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    G. Josens

  2. Departamento do Biologia, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Republica de Angola

    K. Soki

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  1. G. Josens
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Correspondence to G. Josens.

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Josens, G., Soki, K. Relation between termite numbers and the size of their mounds. Insect. Soc. 57, 303–316 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-010-0085-2

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