Abstract
The consumption of lichens by Constrictotermes cyphergaster termites is suggested in the literature, but not yet with concrete evidence. We examined the use and richness of lichens consumed by C. cyphergaster during both the dry and rainy seasons in a semiarid environment in northeastern Brazil by monitoring the foraging of five termite colonies for ten consecutive days during each period. Twenty-nine species of corticolous lichens were consumed by C. cyphergaster, with seasonal variations in the richness of their ingestion. Chrysothrix xanthine, Pertusaria flavens, and Dirinaria confluens were the lichen species most consumed. TLC analyzes of termite gut contents revealed twelve secondary lichen compounds ingested in both seasons, while staining showed fragments of fungal hyphae, green algae, and typical lichen spores. This study represents the first systematic survey of the abundances of lichens that compose the diet of C. cyphergaster and indicates the seasonal selectivity of that resource related to the chemical compositions of the lichen stalks.
Highlights
Termites are eusocial insects and the most important decomposers in tropical forest, savanna, and desert ecosystems (Lo & Eggleton, 2011)
Except for the energy roles of lichens in termite diets, little is known about interactions between those organisms, their foraging strategies, or the species richness of lichens that make up their diet
In order to demonstrate the consumption of lichens by C. cyphergaster, we surveyed the diversity of lichen species ingested by that termite in an area of Caatinga vegetation in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil and tested the hypothesis that this consumption would be influenced by seasonal factors
Summary
Termites are eusocial insects and the most important decomposers in tropical forest, savanna, and desert ecosystems (Lo & Eggleton, 2011). According Miura and Matsumoto (1997), lichens can provide 10 to 60 times more nitrogen to those insects than wood (their main food source). The termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae), found in the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes in Brazil, has been described as a potential lichen consumer (Bordereau & Pasteels, 2011; Mathews, 1977), but there is no firm evidence to date of that behavior. Moura and Vasconcellos (2006) observed that the termite C. cyphergaster maintained contact with lichens during foraging, but those authors were unable to conclude if the lichens were being consumed. In order to demonstrate the consumption of lichens by C. cyphergaster, we surveyed the diversity of lichen species ingested by that termite in an area of Caatinga vegetation in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil and tested the hypothesis that this consumption would be influenced by seasonal factors
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