#25 ants and termites - terrestrial invertebrates

Question 1

what family is ants in

Answer 1

Formicidae

Question 2

how diverse are ants in australia

Answer 2

• mophologically diverse
  australia has 1/3 of genera in the world
• we have lots of species however we dont know how many

Question 3

where do ants live

Answer 3

• every habitat depending on the ant
• wet dry, arid, alpine, temperate
  there is the highest species diversity in the east coast of QLD and NSW - they preference wetter cooler areas

Question 4

how do ants communicate with each other

Answer 4

use pheremones to communicate

sense the pheremones with their antennas

Question 5

discuss ant castes

Answer 5

all workers are sterile females - no worker males
one queen produces all workers and eggs
males are only produced to make a new nest or mate - then die
males are winged females are not
replete ants are used to store food and to feed workers

Question 6

where are ant nests generally

Answer 6

underground

they are central to colony function

Question 7

how can ants live in plants

Answer 7

some ants can live in plants in the tunnels
symbiosis as ant excretion feeds the plant, and the ants get a home
they both benefit

Question 8

how can ants have a mutualistic relationship with plants

Answer 8

some ant species will take the plant seed underground and eat the eliasosome. the seed will be dispersed and be able to grow underground. the ant gets food
this is a mutualistic relationship with the plant
gives the seed optimal environment to grow

Question 9

how does the lycaenid butterfly have a mutualism with ants

Answer 9

• butterfly larvae laid in acacia foliage where ants live
  ants protect and tend the larvae
• larvae secrete waste which feeds the ants

Question 10

what order are termites

Answer 10

isoptera

Question 11

how diverse are termites in australia

Answer 11

termites are very diverse - very species rich

they are widespread and abundant in australia

Question 12

do termites have castes

Answer 12

yes they do
their workers are sterile males and females
they have one queen and one king

Question 13

what are the features of termite nests

Answer 13

most are in timber or underground -some can be above ground
termites function around their nests
termites actively maintain temperature and humidity in the nest

Question 14

what are magnetic termite mounds

Answer 14

• above ground nest
• north/south facing orientation which helps maintain an even nest internal temperature
• high humidity in the nest also
• nest is above ground so it does not become flooded

Question 15

what is the termite diet

Answer 15

live and dead plant material
often poor quality and low in nutrients and water
plant material contains cellulose so termites have a symbiotic relationship with a protist called trichonympha in their gut which digests cellulose

Question 16

how can termites exploit poor and drought prone environments

Answer 16

• have low energy needs as they’re small
• ectotherms - low energy requirements
• nest maintained at an even temperature and humidity: means lower water stress
• store food in their nest

Question 17

what role do termites play in ecosystems

Answer 17

• they feed on dead plant material / wood etc
• their symbiotic relationships with their protist allows them exploit poor nutrient food sources
• they play an important role in nutrient recycling
• enrich soils with nitrogen and phosphate
• soil around their nest is gradually enriched with nutrients which spreads out over time
• important in places with low nutrient soils

Question 18

what role do termites play in tropical systems

Answer 18

tropicial savannahs cant support high density of grazing vertebrates
but they can support termites
termites recycle up to about 20% of carbon tropical systems
they are a critical part of the ecosystem

Question 19

how many invertebrates are endangered?

Answer 19

1/5 of the worlds invertebrates are endangered

Question 20

why are invertebrates an important group

Answer 20

they play a role in nutrient recycling

recyclers in the environment

Question 21

why are invertebrates threatened?

Answer 21

habitat loss from forest clearing, for houses and agriculture
habitat fragmentation - creates patches of vegetation. makes it hard for species to move and mix - can become isolated

Question 22

discuss the eltham copper butterfly

Answer 22

lives in bursaria plant
caterpillars will shelter in ant nests near base of the shurb during the day, move up and feed on plants at night
ants guard the caterpillars which feed on the caterpillar secretion
they are vulnerable to extinction
threats are habitat isolation, fire, pests
they can only live where the ants live and the ants are being fragmented

Question 23

discuss the lorde howe phasmid

Answer 23

• was thought of as extinct
• is found again
  threatened by the introduction of feral rats onto he island
  currently conservation program underway