Seasonal and daily activity patterns of subterranean, wood-eating termite foragers

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore A. Evans ◽  
Patrick V. Gleeson
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Artificial Feeding ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Termite Species ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Foraging Pattern ◽  
Very High ◽  
Daily Activity Patterns ◽  
Seasonal Weather

Daily and seasonal changes in foraging activity of subterranean wood-feeding termites are not well known, but their subterranean habit is widely assumed to reduce the effect of the weather on their behaviour. The number of foraging Coptotermes lacteus in artificial feeding stations was examined over 24-h periods during summer and winter in temperate Australia. In summer, termites foraged disparately, with greater numbers found distant from the mounds, whereas in winter termites were clustered in very high numbers near the mounds. Daily patterns were seen in forager numbers: during summer, peaks occurred in late morning and late afternoon and troughs at dawn and noon, whereas in winter a peak occurred at noon and a trough at dawn. These patterns were associated with air and soil temperatures, which indicated that daily and seasonal weather patterns do influence subterranean wood-feeding termites. The foraging pattern is discussed with respect to predator behaviour and how the pattern might be used to infer positioning of cryptic nesting termite species.

Effect of the Stages of Floral Development and Postharvest Temperatures to Flowering of Eremurus in Israel

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 536d-536
Author(s):  
Rina Kamenetsky
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Developmental Disorder ◽  
Floral Development ◽  
The Third ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Floral Differentiation ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Very High ◽  
Development Application ◽  
Flowering Process

The influence of postharvest temperature on the flowering response of Eremurus was studied. The plants were harvested at four different stages of development and were separated into three groups. The first group was immediately exposed to 2 °C, the second group to 20 °C followed by 2 °C, and the third group to 20 °C followed by 32 °C and, subsequently, 2 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for concurrent morphological analysis of floral development. Application of 2 °C to the plants in the initial stage of floral development caused plant destruction and death, while the same treatment applied at the stage of full differentiation promoted normal flowering. Temperatures of 20 °C and, especially, 32 °C, significantly improved flowering of the plants harvested in the early stages of florogenesis, whereas the same treatment applied to the plants harvested at the end of flower differentiation did not affect the flowering process. A developmental disorder, which we term “Interrupted Floral Development” (IFD), was observed only in the plants harvested when the racemes were fully differentiated. This was probably caused by the very high air and soil temperatures that prevail in Israel during the summer. The extent of floral differentiation has a determinant role in subsequent scape elongation and flowering.

scholarly journals Trade-Off between Foraging Activity and Infestation by Nest Parasites in the Primitively Eusocial BeeHalictus scabiosae

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Lienhard ◽  
Lea Mirwald ◽  
Thomas Hötzl ◽  
Ilse Kranner ◽  
Gerald Kastberger
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Small Time ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Morning Temperature ◽  
Eastern Austria ◽  
Halictine Bees ◽  
Primitively Eusocial ◽  
Match Factor

Diurnal activities ofHalictus scabiosaebees and their nest parasites (major bee-flies, cuckoo wasps, ichneumon wasps,Sphecodesbees, and velvet ants) were investigated at a study site with 159 nests in Eastern Austria. Foraging activity correlated with ambient temperature only before midday and decreased in the afternoon. The activity of nest-infesting parasites increased during the day and correlated with ambient temperature. The match factorfmbetween the ratios of the foraging activities ofH. scabiosaeand the ratios of aspects of morning temperature was assessed on three consecutive days with different weather. The activity patterns of halictine bees and their nest parasites differed: the parasites exhibited only small time windows in which their activities were synchronised with those of their hosts. The bees exhibited an anticyclic behaviour and collected food in times of low parasite pressure and decreased foraging activity when parasite pressure increased.

Activity patterns and habitat preferences of insectivorous bats in a West African forest–savanna mosaic

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph F. J. Meyer ◽  
Christian J. Schwarz ◽  
Jakob Fahr
Keyword(s):  
Open Space ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Constant Frequency ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
Bat Activity

We studied activity patterns and habitat use by insectivorous bats in Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast. Bat foraging activity was quantified along five transects representing three different habitat types using acoustic monitoring and captures with mist nets and harp traps. Aerial insect abundance was assessed using a light trap; in addition shrub and tree arthropods were sampled. Bat activity was significantly and positively related to insect availability and ambient temperature, whereas increased visibility of the moon had a negative influence on flight activity. Together, these factors best explained both total bat activity and activity of bats hunting in open space and edge habitats. The interaction between temperature and light intensity was the best predictor of activity by species foraging in obstacle-rich forest habitats, however, the regression model had a low predictive value. Overall, a large proportion (c. 50%) of the variation in bat activity appeared to be a consequence of transect- and/or habitat-specific influences. We found a significant non-linear relationship between the activity of QCF (quasi-constant frequency) and FM–QCF (frequency modulated – quasi-constant frequency) bats and the phase of the moon, with lowest levels of activity occurring near full moon. We interpret this lunar-phobic behaviour as a reflection of a higher predation risk during moonlit periods. For FM (steep frequency modulated) and CF (constant frequency) bats, no significant correlation was found, although there was a trend suggesting that these bats at least were not negatively affected by bright moonlight. Foraging activity of bats was positively correlated with the abundance of atympanate moths; however, no such correlation was found for tympanate moths.

Seasonal and daily activity patterns in a Canadian population of the prairie rattlesnake, Crotalus viridus viridis

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. P. J. Gannon ◽  
D. M. Secoy
Keyword(s):  
Daily Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Level Of Activity ◽  
Canadian Population ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Gravid Females ◽  
Daily Activity Patterns

The seasonal and daily activity patterns of a Saskatchewan population of Crotalus viridus viridis is presented. Snakes emerged from hibernation in late April and migrated into the surrounding river valley and upland regions in early May. Adult migration preceded that of immature age-classes. Several gravid females occupied a rookery near the hibernaculum during the summer months and remained there until parturition. Females did not occupy this site in successive years and may have a biennial or greater reproductive cycle. Snakes returned to the hibernaculum in early September and remained active until early October. The behaviour of snakes in a field enclosure in response to time of day and body temperature (Tb) was recorded during the spring, summer, and fall. Significant differences in the Tb values of sunning, movement, and shading behaviours were noted. Gravid females were significantly more active in all seasons. However, no significant difference in mean Tb was found between males and females in the field, enclosure study, or laboratory thermal gradient. The observed greater level of activity may reflect the high energy demands of gravid females.

Seasonal weather patterns drive population vital rates and persistence in a stream fish

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1856-1870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoichiro Kanno ◽  
Benjamin H. Letcher ◽  
Nathaniel P. Hitt ◽  
David A. Boughton ◽  
John E. B. Wofford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stream Fish ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Seasonal Weather

The effect of daily-activity patterns on crash involvement

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1682-1688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wafa Elias ◽  
Tomer Toledo ◽  
Yoram Shiftan
Keyword(s):  
Daily Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Daily Activity Patterns
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