본문 바로가기 메뉴바로가기

Papers

A mathematical model for the territorial competition of the subterranean termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

  • AuthorWonju Jeon, Sang-Hee Lee.
  • JournalApplied entomology and zoology 49(4), 579-590 (2014
  • Classification of papersSCI
The foraging territories of two subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), were simulated using a two-dimensional model to explore how territorial competition changes according to two variables characterizing territory formation: the total number of territories, and the blocking probability. Meanwhile, the blocking probability quantitatively describes the likelihood that a tunnel will be terminated when another tunnel is encountered. In our previous study, we introduced an interference coefficient c to characterize territorial competition, and obtained c as a function of the total number of territories and the blocking probability for a single termite species by model simulation. In the field, the territorial competition of more than two termite species is frequently observed. Here, we extended the c function to be able to explain the competition between the two species by applying statistical regression to the simulation data. Further, we statistically checked the extended c function by comparing the c function for a single species. We also discuss another approach to mathematically derive the extended c function, which can be easily generalized for use in cases of territorial competition involving more than two termite species.
The foraging territories of two subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), were simulated using a two-dimensional model to explore how territorial competition changes according to two variables characterizing territory formation: the total number of territories, and the blocking probability. Meanwhile, the blocking probability quantitatively describes the likelihood that a tunnel will be terminated when another tunnel is encountered. In our previous study, we introduced an interference coefficient c to characterize territorial competition, and obtained c as a function of the total number of territories and the blocking probability for a single termite species by model simulation. In the field, the territorial competition of more than two termite species is frequently observed. Here, we extended the c function to be able to explain the competition between the two species by applying statistical regression to the simulation data. Further, we statistically checked the extended c function by comparing the c function for a single species. We also discuss another approach to mathematically derive the extended c function, which can be easily generalized for use in cases of territorial competition involving more than two termite species.