Thermoregulation of Anoplotermes pacificus (Termitidae) Termite Nests in Response to Climate Change

• Grant number: 24/14089-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Alberto José Arab Olavarrieta
• Grantee: Eduardo Santos Barbosa Ferreira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/15703-9 - Termites in a World of Climate Change: An Ecological, Functional, and Molecular Approach, AP.R

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the thermoregulation capacity of Anoplotermes pacificus termite nests (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae) in response to climate change. Termites, like other eusocial insects, build nests that serve essential functions for the colony, including protection against climatic variations. However, the ability of these nests to maintain a stable microclimate, especially under global warming conditions, is not yet fully understood. To explore this issue, the study involves collecting nests from fragments of the Atlantic Forest, followed by experiments in bioclimatic chambers and in the field. The thermal tolerance of the termites, internal humidity regulation of the nests, and the morphological responses of the insects to temperature fluctuations and dehydration will be evaluated. The goal is to understand how these termites and their nests react to simulated environmental conditions, providing insights into the resilience of these insects to climate change and their implications for the ecosystems where they play a role in organic matter decomposition and soil nutrient cycling.