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Effect of Spatial Variation on Defensive Substances of Constrictotermes Cyphergaster Soldiers (Blattaria, Isoptera)

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Abstract

The composition of chemical weaponry of termite soldiers show interspecific and intraspecific variation. However, spatial effects on the qualitative and quantitative compositions of these substances in Neotropical termites are poorly known. Hexane extracts of heads and the defensive secretion of soldiers of Constrictotermes cyphergaster from four localities in Northeast Brazil were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Chemical analysis allowed the detection of 54 compounds from the head extract and from the direct extraction of the defensive secretion of soldiers, and the percentage of common substances and the presence of exclusive substances varied depending on the spatial distance between colonies. The profile of the chemical armament of soldiers consists basically of terpenoids: monoterpenes (45.53%-71.97 - for head extract and 57.41% - 78.56 for secretion) and sesquiterpenes (19.69% - 35.78% for head extract and 18.41% - 33.31%for secretion). In general, the main component of the chemical arsenal, regardless of the methodology used for extraction, was α-pinene (27.98–50.44%). Two chemotypes were identified based on chemical differences between populations of ecoregions with distinct spatial-environmental and climate characteristics: (1) α-pinene <33%; (2) α-pinene >33% for both extracts (head and secretion). The results reveal a similar pattern of chemical differentiation for soldiers in both extracts (head and secretion), with increasing differences as a function of distance between the analyzed colonies.

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Funding

The authors thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES for a research grant; Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco - FACEPE for a research grant (grant numbers: APQ-1008-1.06/15; APQ-0476-1.06/14; APQ-0860-1.06/16) and CNPq for a research grant (proc. 304210/2017–0 and PQ-2-302860/2016–9).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Termitologia, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, 58051-900, Paraíba, Brazil

    Antonio Paulino De Mello & Alexandre Vasconcellos

  2. Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Marcilio Martins De Moraes & Cláudio Augusto Gosmes Da Câmara

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  1. Antonio Paulino De Mello
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  2. Marcilio Martins De Moraes
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  3. Cláudio Augusto Gosmes Da Câmara
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  4. Alexandre Vasconcellos
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Contributions

APM and AV formulated the research. APM, AV, MMM and CAGC defined the sample design and methodology to be used. APM performed field collections. APM and MMM performed the chemical analyses. APM, MMM, CAGC and AV participated int eh process of writing, reviewing and approving the manuscript for submission.

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Correspondence to Antonio Paulino De Mello.

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De Mello, A.P., De Moraes, M.M., Da Câmara, C.A.G. et al. Effect of Spatial Variation on Defensive Substances of Constrictotermes Cyphergaster Soldiers (Blattaria, Isoptera). J Chem Ecol 47, 544–551 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01271-0

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