Abstract
Subterranean termites (Isoptera: Reticulitermes) are common structural pests, but it is not well known how landscape factors are associated with urban colonization. This study examined patterns of subterranean termite colonization in 13 mid-Missouri residential subdivisions. Ten- and 20-year-old homes built on historically agricultural and forested landscapes were inspected for treatment by termiticide application or bait stations. Contemporary and historical aerial imagery were analyzed using GIS software, and patterns of colonization were compared among subdivisions. The genetic structure of termite colonies collected in undeveloped landscapes and residential subdivisions was compared using microsatellite DNA. Twenty-year-old subdivisions had significantly higher treatment proportions than 10-year-old subdivisions. At year 10, historically forested subdivisions had a higher treatment proportion than historically agricultural subdivisions. By year 20, there was no significant difference in treatment proportion between historical landscape types, indicating that subdivisions built on agricultural landscapes eventually catch up to subdivisions built on forest landscapes. Although there was not strong statistical support, treated homes in historically agricultural subdivisions tended to be close to forest patches, but there was less of an association in historically forested subdivisions. Colonies in undeveloped landscapes were more inbred compared to colonies in residential subdivisions, indicating that colonies sampled in subdivisions had fewer secondary reproductive and were potentially younger than those sampled in undeveloped landscapes. This study provides some correlative support for the role of dispersing alates as urban colonizers, because treatments were often located at relatively long distances from undisturbed forest patches in historically agricultural subdivisions.
Highlights
Urban development alters natural processes including hydrologic regimes, soil chemistry and fertility, overall plant distribution, and fragmentation of the landscape (McDonnell & Pickett, 1990; Turner et al, 2001)
Residential subdivisions were chosen based on the following classifications: 1) 10-year-old subdivisions built on historically forested landscapes (3 subdivisions surveyed); 2) 10-year-old subdivisions built on historically agricultural landscapes (4 subdivisions surveyed); 3) 20-yearold subdivisions built on historically forested landscapes (3 subdivisions surveyed); or 4) 20-year-old subdivisions built on historically agricultural landscapes (3 subdivisions surveyed)
We found that subterranean termite treatment proportion was positively associated with subdivision age, as well as historical landscape-type for newer subdivisions
Summary
Urban development alters natural processes including hydrologic regimes, soil chemistry and fertility, overall plant distribution, and fragmentation of the landscape (McDonnell & Pickett, 1990; Turner et al, 2001). Arthropod populations in urban landscapes are potentially relicts from pre-urban landscapes but may colonize via dispersal from external habitats or anthropogenic introductions (Sattler et al, 2011). Despite their abundance in urban landscapes, little research has focused on the response of many arthropod groups to urban development (McIntyre, 2000). In forests, termites are beneficial because they break down woody debris, which contributes to nutrient cycling and soil fertility
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