| Project/Area Number |
01041029
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | Field Research |
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| Research Institution | College of Arts & Sciences, the University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
MATSUMOTO Tadao Professor, College of Arts & Sciences, the University of Tokyo, 教養学部, 教授 (90106609)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
SPRADBERY J. P. Research Stuff, Division of Entomology, CSIRO, 主任
CROZIER R. H. Professor, New South Wales University, 教授
HIGASHI Seigo Instructor, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hokkaido University, 環境科学, 助手 (90133777)
YAMANE Soichi Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Ibaraki Univ., 教育学部, 助教授 (40091871)
ABE Takuya Associate Professor, Faculty of Sciences, Kyoto University, 理学部, 助教授 (00045030)
IMAI Hirotami Associate Professor, National Institute of Genetics, 細胞遺伝, 助教授 (10000241)
ITO Yoshiaki Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Nagoya University, 農学部, 教授 (50115531)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1989 – 1990
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 1990)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥9,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1990: ¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
Fiscal Year 1989: ¥7,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,100,000)
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| Keywords | Australia / Social insects / Wasp / Ant / Termite / Subsocial cockroach / Social behavior / Karyological survey / 09Huge nest aggregation |
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| Research Abstract |
This research project aims to clarify the nature of social insects (wasps, ants, termites) and subsocial cockroach in Australia by combining ecological and taxonomical survey. The research was carried out in 1989-1990 continued the first project (1986-1988).
1. Social behavior of Ropalidia Plebeiana female within a huge nest aggregation was observed under a bridge in Cabbage Tree Creek of New South wales. Each comb was defended by a group of particular females, and intercomb drift of females was not frequent. Nest survival rates and reproductive rates of females were studied.
2. Karyological and taxonomical survey of the Myrmecia (Pilosula) group were carried out. Species of the group were found to be karyologically highly differentiated. Significant but subtle morphological divergence has also been observed. It is now clear that the Myrmecia (pilosula) complex includes at least 5 separate, similar species.
3. Eight termitophilous ant specied were studied with special reference to the relationship between their nest-site dependence to the termite mounds and their termitariadefence rate against meat ant Irydomyrmex. Many termite colonies cohabiting with the ants of defensive type were vigorous, suggesting that this ant-termite relationship is mutualistic.
4. Termite community in the tropical rain forest northeastern Queensland was studied. It is clear that species composition, population density, feeding habits and life type composition in Australian rain forests were quite different from those in the tropical rain forest of Africa, Southeast Asia and America.
5. Subsocial cockroaches which feed on rotten wood were investigated with special reference to the familial association, growth of nymphs and population density. Macropanesthia rhinoceros living un underground makes the family groups in spring time. The intimate adult female-offspring relationship may continue for a year.
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