Biology of Termites: a Modern Synthesis

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. An Introduction to Termites: Biology, Taxonomy and Functional Morphology

   • Paul Eggleton

   Pages 1-26

3. Termite Phylogenetics and Co-cladogenesis with Symbionts

   • Nathan Lo, Paul Eggleton

   Pages 27-50

4. Evolution and Function of Endogenous Termite Cellulases

   • Nathan Lo, Gaku Tokuda, Hirofumi Watanabe

   Pages 51-67

5. Altricial Development in Wood-Feeding Cockroaches: The Key Antecedent of Termite Eusociality

   • Christine A. Nalepa

   Pages 69-95

6. Eusocial Evolution in Termites and Hymenoptera

   • Kenneth J. Howard, Barbara L. Thorne

   Pages 97-132

7. Social Organisation and the Status of Workers in Termites

   • Yves Roisin, Judith Korb

   Pages 133-164

8. Ecology, Behavior and Evolution of Disease Resistance in Termites

   • Rebeca B. Rosengaus, James F.A. Traniello, Mark S. Bulmer

   Pages 165-191

9. Comparative Biology of Fungus Cultivation in Termites and Ants

   • Tânia Nobre, Corinne Rouland-Lefèvre, Duur K. Aanen

   Pages 193-210

10. Molecular Basis Underlying Caste Differentiation in Termites

    • Toru Miura, Michael E. Scharf

    Pages 211-253

11. Sexual and Asexual Reproduction in Termites

    • Kenji Matsuura

    Pages 255-277

12. Pheromones and Chemical Ecology of Dispersal and Foraging in Termites

    • Christian Bordereau, Jacques M. Pasteels

    Pages 279-320

13. Genetic Structure of Termite Colonies and Populations

    • Edward L. Vargo, Claudia Husseneder

    Pages 321-347

14. Termite Mound Architecture, from Function to Construction

    • Judith Korb

    Pages 349-373

15. Morphology, Physiology, Biochemistry and Functional Design of the Termite Gut: An Evolutionary Wonderland

    • David E. Bignell

    Pages 375-412

16. Diversity, Structure, and Evolution of the Termite Gut Microbial Community

    • Moriya Ohkuma, Andreas Brune

    Pages 413-438

17. Role of the Termite Gut Microbiota in Symbiotic Digestion

    • Andreas Brune, Moriya Ohkuma

    Pages 439-475

18. Global Biogeography of Termites: A Compilation of Sources

    • David T. Jones, Paul Eggleton

    Pages 477-498

19. Termites as Pests of Agriculture

    • Corinne Rouland-Lefèvre

    Pages 499-517

20. Invasive Termites

    • Theodore A. Evans

    Pages 519-562

Biology of Termites, a Modern Synthesis brings together the major advances in termite biology, phylogenetics, social evolution and biogeography. In this new volume, David Bignell, Yves Roisin and Nathan Lo have brought together leading experts on termite taxonomy, behaviour, genetics, caste differentiation, physiology, microbiology, mound architecture, biogeography and control. Very strong evolutionary and developmental themes run through the individual chapters, fed by new data streams from molecular sequencing, and for the first time it is possible to compare the social organisation of termites with that of the social Hymenoptera, focusing on caste determination, population genetics, cooperative behaviour, nest hygiene and symbioses with microorganisms. New chapters have been added on termite pheromones, termites as pests of agriculture and on destructive invasive species.

• Caste differentiation
• Eusociality
• Microbial symbioses
• Pest status
• Termites
• Model invertebrates

• School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom

  David Edward Bignell

• Behavioural & Evolutionary Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium

  Yves Roisin

• School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

  Nathan Lo

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