Survey of the Termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae) of Nicaragua

Scheffrahn, Rudolf H.; Krecek, Jan; Maharajh, Boudanath; Chase, James A.; Mangold, John R.; Moreno, Joëlle Anne; Bayardo, Herrera

doi:10.1653/0015-4040(2005)88[549:sottik]2.0.co;2

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…However, T. hispaniolae was found inside dead branches, feeding on sound wood. The fact that this species is widespread in the West Indies (Scheffrahn et al 1994) is also consistent with its ability to live inside of wood and disperse by rafting over water gaps (Eggleton and Tayasu 2001). The occurrence of T. hispaniolae in the canopy is interesting for two reasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Vertical stratification of the termite assemblage in a neotropical rainforest

et al. 2006

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The importance of termites as decomposers in tropical forests has long been recognized. Studies on the richness and diversity of termite species and their ecological function have flourished in more recent times, but these have been mostly conducted in a thin stratum within a standing man's reach. Our aims were to evaluate the specific richness and composition of the termite assemblage in the canopy of a tropical rainforest and to determine its originality with respect to the sympatric ground-level fauna. We conducted systematic searches for canopy termites, together with conventional sampling of the sympatric ground-level fauna, in the San Lorenzo forest, Panama. We hypothesized that (1) the canopy accommodates two categories of wood-feeding termites (long-distance foragers and small-colony "one-piece" species) and possibly soil-feeders in suspended soil-like habitats; (2) due to the abundance of soil-feeders, the overall diversity of the ground fauna is higher than that of the canopy; (3) differences in microclimate and resource accessibility favour vertical stratification among wood-feeders. Sixty-three canopy samples yielded ten species of termites, all wood-feeders. Five of these were not found at ground level, although a total of 243 ground samples were collected, representing 29 species. In addition to long-distance foragers (Microcerotermes and Nasutitermes spp.) and small-colony termites (mostly Kalotermitidae), the canopy fauna included Termes hispaniolae, a wood-feeding Termitidae from an allegedly soil-feeding genus, living in large dead branches. Soil-feeders were absent from the canopy, probably because large epiphytes were scarce. As predicted, the ground fauna was much richer than that of the canopy, but the species richness of both habitats was similar when only wood-feeders were considered. Vertical stratification was strongly marked among wood-feeders, as all common species, apart from the arboreal-nesting Microcerotermes arboreus, could unequivocally be assigned to either a ground or a canopy group. The canopy, therefore, contributes significantly to the total species richness of the termite assemblage, and the diversity, abundance and ecological importance of canopy termites in tropical rainforests may be higher than previously recognized.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Vertical stratification of the termite assemblage in a neotropical rainforest

et al. 2006

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“…The extant fauna is rather well surveyed for the Caribbean (Roisin et al, 1996;Scheffrahn and Křeček, 1993;Scheffrahn et al, 1994;Scheffrahn and Roisin, 1995;Scheffrahn et al, 1998Scheffrahn et al, , 2003Scheffrahn et al, , 2006Snyder, 1956). The paleofauna preserved in Dominican amber, however, is undoubtedly a fraction of the entire paleofauna from Hispaniola.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…*from Scheffrahn et al, 1994 Careful study of a termite in amber requires meticulous preparation. Particularly for Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae, identifying imagoes to genus and distinguishing among species depends upon proportions and shapes of the head, eyes, ocelli, clypeus, and pronotum.…”

Section: Fossil Livingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae (Isoptera) in Dominican Amber

Krishna¹,

Grimaldi²

2009

American Museum Novitates

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The most diverse and best-preserved paleofauna of the higher termites heretofore known, all found in Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic, is described. The imago of Coptotermes priscus Emerson is redescribed, and the soldier of C. priscus, the first known fossil soldier of this genus, is described. The fauna includes the following 29 new species, all in existing genera, with Krishna and Grimaldi as authors of each: in the Rhinotermitidae, two new species based on imagoes of each-Coptotermes hirsutus and C. paleodominicanus; in the Termitidae, 23 new species based on imagoes-Amitermes lucidus, Anoplotermes bohio, A. cacique, A. carib, A. maboya, A. naboria, A. nitaino, A. quisqueya, A. taino, Atlantitermes antillea, A. caribea, A. magnoculus, Microcerotermes insulanus, M. setosus, Nasutitermes amplioculatus, N. incisus, N. magnocellus, N. medioculatus, N. pilosus, N. seminudus, Subulitermes hispaniola, S. insularis, and Termes primitivus; in the Nasutitermitinae four new species based on nasute soldiers-Caribitermes hispaniola, Nasutitermes rotundicephalus, Parvitermes longinasus, and Velocitermes bulbus. This brings the total termite fauna in Dominican amber to four families, 17 genera, and 39 species, a number that exceeds that of the present-day fauna of Hispaniola. Biogeographical, paleoecological, and phylogenetic implications of the Dominican amber termites are discussed.

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“…In recent years, termite diversity surveys in the Caribbean region (Scheffrahn and Křeček 1999;Scheffrahn et al 1990Scheffrahn et al , 2003aScheffrahn et al , b, 2005aScheffrahn et al , 2006) yielded only C. brevis from structural lumber or furniture that was protected from precipitation or other sources of free water and from hot direct sunshine. Records from the University of Florida termite collection, which specializes in termites of the Caribbean basin but has worldwide holdings, include approximately 11,500 samples of Kalotermitidae of which 761 were collected from structures and the remainder from outdoor habitats (urban to pristine).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic origin and vast anthropogenic dispersal of the West Indian drywood termite

et al. 2008

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Cryptotermes brevis is a common pest of structural lumber and sheltered wood in much of the non-Asian tropics. Until now, no endemic locality, as confirmed by regenerating outdoor populations, was known. A termite survey of the northern coastal desert of Chile and the vicinity of Lima, Peru, yielded 61 outdoor populations of C. brevis taken from 23 different native and exotic species of host woods at 19 localities. We review the taxonomic and biogeographic history of C. brevis and suggest climatic and biological factors that favor or limit C. brevis distribution. We also propose a scenario implicating a post-Colombian release of C. brevis by shipboard infestations and the movement of infested wood during the early Spanish Empire to the present time.

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Survey of the Termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae) of Nicaragua

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 14 publications

References 3 publications

Vertical stratification of the termite assemblage in a neotropical rainforest

Vertical stratification of the termite assemblage in a neotropical rainforest

Diverse Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae (Isoptera) in Dominican Amber

Endemic origin and vast anthropogenic dispersal of the West Indian drywood termite

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