Exploring landscape structure effect on termite territory size using a model approach

The foraging territory of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, was simulated by using a lattice model in order to study how landscape structure affects the foraging territory. Three kinds of landscape were generated on lattice space: ideal, random and fractal landscape. Each lattice cell had a value ranging from 0.0 to 1.0, interpreted as transition probability, Ptrans, which represents spatially distributed property of the landscapes. The heterogeneity of the fractal landscape was characterized by a parameter, H, controlling aggregation of lattice cells with higher value of Ptrans. Higher H values corresponded to higher aggregation levels. The model made use of minimized local rules based on empirical data that determines the development of the foraging territory. Additionally, seasonal cycle (summer and winter season), and obstacles which hinder the growth of the territory were incorporated in the model as environmental variables. Territory size was largest in the ideal landscape while it was larger in the random landscape than in the fractal landscape. As obstacle density increased, the territory size decreased. In the fractal landscape, the territory size increased, decreased, and increased again as H increased.