Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation (한국시뮬레이션학회논문지)

The Korea Society for Simulation (한국시뮬레이션학회)
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A Simulation Model for the Study of the Territorial Behavior of Subterranean Termites

흰개미 테리토리행동 연구를 위한 시뮬레이션 모델

  • 전원주 (국가수리과학연구소 융복합수리과학부 가상생태계팀) ;
  • 이상희 (국가수리과학연구소 융복합수리과학부 가상생태계팀)
  • Received : 2011.06.16
  • Accepted : 2012.06.05
  • Published : 2012.06.30
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Abstract

Subterranean termites forage by constructing tunnel networks in soil and encounter food resources during tunnel excavation. Some species of termites can travel up to 150 m underground. They often travel to the surface to find wood cellulose to feed their colony, which in turn causes extensive damage to wooden architecture, such as timber-frame houses. This type of damage has been constantly increasing along with global warming because higher temperatures provide an ecological niche for termites. The damage is closely related to termite territory size and distribution. Recently, as a way to research termite control, the necessity of a mathematical model to simulate termite territory formation in relation to damage has increased. So far, however, few studies have been conducted on the development of a model because it is difficult to quantify or characterize the relationship between territorial behavior and field conditions including complicated environmental factors. In the present study, we suggest a simulation model of the territoriality of the Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), based on empirical data. The model consists of 2 procedures. One describes tunnel network growth for each colony, and the other represents territoriality based on tunnel-tunnel interactions between different colonies. Using the model, we show changes in territorial competition according to the termination probability of tunnel growth.

흰개미는 땅 아래 서식하면서 네트워크형태의 터널 구조물을 만들어 먹이자원을 획득한다. 종에 따라서는 지하 150m 깊이까지 터널을 형성하기도 하고, 목재의 섬유질을 찾기 위해 종종 지표면까지 이동하기도 하는데, 이로 인해 목재로 지어진 건축물 특히 가옥에 엄청난 피해를 끼친다. 지구 온난화에 의한 온도상승으로 흰개미가 활동하기에 적합한 고온 지역이 넓어지며 이와 같은 피해는 꾸준히 증가하고 있다. 이 피해규모는 흰개미 테리토리영역의 크기 및 그 분포와 밀접한 관련을 가지고 있다. 흰개미 본 연구에서는 흰개미 두 종(Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) 와 Reticulitermesflavipes (Kollar))에 대한 테리토리행동을 시뮬레이션 할 수 있는 실험치 기반의 모델을 제안하였다. 모델은 콜로니별로 형성하는 터널네트워크의 성장부분과, 서로 다른 콜로니 사이의 터널교차를 고려한 영역성 부분, 이렇게 두 부분으로 구성된다. 본 모델을 이용하여 터널 성장확률에 따라 테리토리간 경쟁이 어떻게 변하는지에 대한 간단한 결과를 보여 주었다.

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