Fig 1.
Decreasing numbers of soldiers, per second, attending a breach on the wall of nests of increasing volume in Constrictotermes cyphergaster termites.
Each dot represents a single trial performed on a distinct nest. Curves denote distinct fits, each with a given exponent. Both curves differ significantly from the null hypothesis of no correlation (p < 0.05) and do not differ from each other (p = 0.781). The obligate inquiline Inquilinitermes microcerus is found in nests above 13.6 L (“inq”) [19]. Hatched rectangle marks the volume range of additional nests in which population census was performed, as depicted in Fig 2.
Table 1.
Effect of nest volume and experimental method on patrolling rates by C. cyphergaster termite individuals.
Table 2.
Effects of nest size on several descriptors of the density of soldiers in C. cyphergaster colonies.
Fig 2.
Soldier density relative to (top to bottom) (i) total nest volume, (ii) total number of soldiers plus workers, and (iii) total number of workers, in C. cyphergaster nests.
Bars refer to classes of nest size relative to the threshold value for the establishment of obligate inquilines [19]. Small nests: volume < 13.6 L. Large nests: volume > 13.6 L. This range of nest volumes is depicted as a hatched rectangle in Fig 1.