The recolonization of the Krakatau islands by termites (Isoptera), and their biogeographical origins

Abstract

Thc termite asscmblages of the Krakatau islands and five sites in Sumatra and Java were investigatcd, using a standardized transcct sampling method. Five species were found on the Krakatau islands that have not been collected there bcfore. The total number of tcrrnites recorded on the islands since the 1883 volcanic eruption is nokv twelve species, all of which are wood feeders. No termitcs nesting in or feeding on the soil were found on the Krakataus, suggesting that rafting in wood is the primary method by which the termites recolonized the islands.

The effect of remnant forest on insect successional response in tropical fire-impacted peatland: A bi-taxa comparison

“…Soldier and worker termites were collected and stored in 80% ethanol until they were identified. The termites were sorted to species level based on identification keys of the termite fauna of the Indo-Malayan region [32,33,34,35,36]. To sample ants, pitfall traps were set along 100 m transect of 10 m intervals for 48 h. The pitfall traps were filled with soapy water to prevent the trapped insects from escaping.…”

Termite salinity tolerance and potential for transoceanic dispersal through rafting

“…Notably, G. satsumensis exhibited dehydration symptoms, and its survival was significantly affected by saline water, which does not support the oceanic rafting hypothesis proposed by Ikehara (1966), Abe (1987), andGathorne-Hardy andJones (2000). Glyptotermes is the largest genus in Kalotermitidae, which encompasses a total of 127 living species (Krishna et al, 2013), and resides in various habitats (Hill, 1942).…”

“…Studies have extensively reported transoceanic dispersal of termites (Krishna et al, 2013); moreover, several studies have hypothesized that oceanic rafting is the mechanism underlying the transoceanic dispersal of termites (Abe, 1984;Gathorne-Hardy & Jones, 2000;Eggleton & Tayasu, 2001;Bourguignon et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2019), particularly for genera widely distributed on islands of most geographical regions, such as Cryptotermes, Prorhinotermes, and Heterotermes (Emerson, 1955;Krishna et al, 2013). Abe (1984), Abe (1987) and Gathorne-Hardy and Jones (2000) have revealed that Glyptotermes, Cryptotermes, and Prorhinotermes have recolonized Southeast Asian islands that were previously defaunated due to volcano eruptions approximately 30 years ago. These studies have also proposed that Glyptotermes, Cryptotermes, and Prorhinotermes are dispersed through driftwood.…”

“…Glyptotermes is the largest genus in Kalotermitidae, which encompasses a total of 127 living species (Krishna et al, 2013), and resides in various habitats (Hill, 1942). The oceanic rafting hypothesis was proposed for three Glyptotermes spp., namely, G. fuscus (Ikehara, 1966), G. caudomunitus Kemner (Abe, 1987), and G. brevicaudatus (Haviland) (Gathorne-Hardy & Jones, 2000), which are mostly distributed in island and coastal areas (Krishna et al, 2013). By contrast, G. satsumensis has predominantly been observed in the mountains of Taiwan and the inland areas of China (Krishna et al, 2013).…”

“…Alternatively, human transportation, dispersal through land bridges, and dispersal through ocean rafting have been hypothesized to represent the major mechanisms underlying the oceanic dispersal of termites (Evans, 2010;Bourguignon et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2019). For example, research has proposed that Hodotermopsis (Family: Archotermopsidae)-a relic genus common in high, mountainous areas or temperate areas in Oriental regions-is dispersed through land bridges (Maekawa et al, 1998;Krishna et al, 2013) and that Glyptotermes (Family: Kalotermitidae) and Prorhinotermes (Family: Rhinotermitidae) are dispersed through ocean rafting (Emerson, 1955;Abe, 1984Abe, , 1987Gathorne-Hardy & Jones, 2000): Both Glyptotermes and Prorhinotermes species have been observed on islands previously destroyed by volcanic eruptions. Prorhinotermes is a genus that infests driftwood and coconut shells and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, including islands with no human activity (Emerson, 1955;Abe, 1987).…”