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PLoS One

Title:		Mutual use of trail-following chemical cues by a termite host and its inquiline
Author(s):		Cristaldo PF; Desouza O; Krasulova J; Jirosova A; Kutalova K; Lima ER; Sobotnik J; Sillam-Dusses D;
Address:		"Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil ; Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic. Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic ; Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic ; Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement, Unite Mixte de Recherche 211 Biogeochimie et Ecologie des Milieux Continentaux, Interactions Biologiques dans les Sols, Bondy, France ; Laboratoire d'Ethologie Experimentale et Comparee, Equipe d'accueil 4443, Universite Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Villetaneuse, France"
Journal Title:		PLoS One
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140121
Issue:		1
Page Number:		e85315 -
DOI:		10.1371/journal.pone.0085315
ISSN/ISBN:		1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Termite nests are often secondarily inhabited by other termite species ( = inquilines) that cohabit with the host. To understand this association, we studied the trail-following behaviour in two Neotropical species, Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) and its obligatory inquiline, Inquilinitermes microcerus (Termitidae: Termitinae). Using behavioural experiments and chemical analyses, we determined that the trail-following pheromone of C. cyphergaster is made of neocembrene and (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol. Although no specific compound was identified in I. microcerus, workers were able to follow the above compounds in behavioural bioassays. Interestingly, in choice tests, C. cyphergaster prefers conspecific over heterospecific trails while I. microcerus shows the converse behaviour. In no-choice tests with whole body extracts, C. cyphergaster showed no preference for, while I. microcerus clearly avoided heterospecific trails. This seems to agree with the hypothesis that trail-following pheromones may shape the cohabitation of C. cyphergaster and I. microcerus and reinforce the idea that their cohabitation is based on conflict-avoiding strategies"
Keywords:		*Animal Communication Animal Distribution Animals Choice Behavior/physiology *Cooperative Behavior *Cues Female Isoptera/*physiology Pheromones/physiology Polyenes/metabolism;
Notes:		"MedlineCristaldo, Paulo Fellipe Desouza, Og Krasulova, Jana Jirosova, Anna Kutalova, Katerina Lima, Eraldo Rodrigues Sobotnik, Jan Sillam-Dusses, David eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/01/28 PLoS One. 2014 Jan 21; 9(1):e85315. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085315. eCollection 2014"