title: Allometric Scaling of Patrolling Rate and Nest Volume in Constrictotermes cyphergaster Termites: Hints on the Settlement of Inquilines.
abstract: Structural and functional traits of organisms are known to be related to the size of individuals and to the size of their colonies when they belong to one. Among such traits, propensity to inquilinism in termites is known to relate positively to colony size. Larger termitaria hold larger diversity of facultative inquilines than smaller nests, whereas obligate inquilines seem unable to settle in nests smaller than a threshold volume. Respective underlying mechanisms, however, remain hypothetical. Here we test one of such hypotheses, namely, that nest defence correlates negatively to nest volume in Constrictotermes cyphergaster termites (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). As a surrogate to defence, we used 'patrolling rate', i.e., the number of termite individuals attending per unit time an experimentally damaged spot on the outer wall of their termitaria. We found that patrolling rate decayed allometrically with increasing nest size. Conspicuously higher patrolling rates occurred in smaller nests, while conspicuously lower rates occurred in larger nests presenting volumes in the vicinity of the threshold value for the establishment of inquilinism. This could be proven adaptive for the host and guest. At younger nest age, host colonies are smaller and presumably more vulnerable and unstable. Enhanced defence rates may, hence, prevent eventual risks to hosts from inquilinism at the same time that it prevents inquilines to settle in a still unstable nest. Conversely, when colonies grow and maturate enough to stand threats, they would invest in priorities other than active defence, opening an opportunity for inquilines to settle in nests which are more suitable or less risky. Under this two-fold process, cohabitation between host and inquiline could readily stabilize.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Termitologia, Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Og
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: DeSouza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Albano
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agrotecnologia e Ciências Sociais, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Faria
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Florencio
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Iturama, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cassiano Sousa
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Termitologia, Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marins
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Termitologia, Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.|Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Tangará da Serra, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo Andrade
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Termitologia, Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Barros
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Fellipe
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Cristaldo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D020049:Isoptera / Q000502:physiology*