Termite Tolerance to Climate Change: A Laboratory Investigation with Species of Different Nesting Habits

• Grant number: 23/18084-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Alberto José Arab Olavarrieta
• Grantee: Isabela da Costa Barreto
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Termites play essential roles in the ecosystem. However, human-induced climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation, is disrupting the vital activities of these arthropods. While morphological characteristics influence climatic tolerance in some insects, behavioral factors and habitat play equally crucial roles in determining their ability to withstand climatic variations. This proposal aims to assess the tolerance of termite species with different nesting habits to high temperatures and desiccation. Laboratory bioassays, utilizing the Critical Thermal Maximum (CTmax) for thermal tolerance and the percentage of termite body water loss for desiccation tolerance, will be conducted. Eight termite species with diverse nesting strategies will be included in the study. Based on the hypothesis of climatic variability, it is anticipated that termites nesting in more stable environments (such as inside wood or underground) will exhibit more restricted levels of thermal tolerance and desiccation compared to those nesting above ground, where climatic fluctuations are more pronounced. Despite the functional importance of termites in neotropical ecosystems, their tolerances to changes in climatic conditions remain unexplored. This project's results will hold significant implications for the conservation of termite fauna in the context of climate change.