Disturbance‐modulated symbioses in termitophily

Abstract

Symbiosis, the living‐together of unlike organisms, underlies every major transition in evolution and pervades most ecological dynamics. Among examples of symbioses, the simultaneous occupation of a termite nest by its builder termites and intruding invertebrate species (so‐called termitophily) provides suitable macroscopic scenarios for the study of species coexistence in confined environments. Current evidence on termitophily abounds for dynamics occurring at the interindividual level within the termitarium, but is insufficient for broader scales such as the community and the landscape. Here, we inspect the effects of abiotic disturbance on termitophile presence and function in termitaria at these broader scales. To do so, we censused the termitophile communities inhabiting 30 termitaria of distinct volumes which had been exposed to increasing degrees of fire‐induced disturbance in a savanna‐like ecosystem in southeastern Brazil. We provide evidence that such an abiotic disturbance can ease the living‐together of termitophiles and termites. Putative processes facilitating these symbioses, however, varied according to the invader. For nonsocial invaders, disturbance seemed to boost coexistence with termites via the habitat amelioration that termitaria provided under wildfire, as suggested by the positive correlation between disturbance degree and termitophile abundance and richness. As for social invaders (ants), disturbance seemed to enhance associational defenses with termites, as suggested by the negative correlation between the presence of ant colonies and the richness and abundance of other termitarium‐cohabiting termitophiles. It is then apparent that disturbance‐modulated distinct symbioses in these termite nests.

Fire? They don't give a dung! The resilience of dung beetles to fire in a tropical savanna

“…Unlike plants, many animals exhibit behavioural traits for avoiding death by burning in flammable environments, such as the ability of most animals to move and escape from fire. Most studies have recognised animals that have a diet adapted to fire-resistant vegetation, a flexible diet, or a high capacity to move towards unburned areas, or even below ground, thus reducing the population death rate (Monteiro et al, 2017;Vasconcelos et al, 2017). Additionally, many organisms lost in a fire event can be replaced via metapopulation/metacommunity dynamics from populations/communities in surrounding areas (Brotons et al, 2005).…”

Termitariophily: expanding the concept of termitophily in a physogastric rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

“…By finding evidence for a link between these termitophiles and the physical structure of the termitarium, we will add factual evidence to early speculation by Araujo (1970). Such findings will also contribute to the focus on abiotic factors as additional determinants of symbiosis, which is gaining momentum among contemporary researchers into termitophily (Leponce et al, 1999;Cristaldo et al, 2012;DeSouza et al, 2016;Marins et al, 2016;Monteiro et al, 2017). By contrast, the absence of joint effects between biotic and abiotic factors as drivers of termitophily in these beetles could tip the balance in favour of a completely distinct set of research questions.…”

“…It seems unwarranted, however, to consider tactile mimicry as the sole driver of this termitophily, as the physical structure of the termitarium has also been shown to affect termitophile communities Marins et al, 2016;Monteiro et al, 2017). Indeed, C. melantho individuals are reported to engage in frequent allogrooming and trophallactic interactions with their blind worker termite hosts.…”

“…The corollary of such evidence is that in order to understand termitophily in full, one would need to consider the dynamics occurring at the inter-individual level along with factors operating at broader levels, as proposed by Monteiro et al (2017).…”

“…Indeed, C. melantho individuals are reported to engage in frequent allogrooming and trophallactic interactions with their blind worker termite hosts. It seems unwarranted, however, to consider tactile mimicry as the sole driver of this termitophily, as the physical structure of the termitarium has also been shown to affect termitophile communities Marins et al, 2016;Monteiro et al, 2017). Nor does it seem correct to consider physogastry as essential to intimate, tactile host-guest interactions, because non-physogastric staphylinids can also engage in such contacts .…”