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Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays
Includes bibliographical references.
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613247942688768 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Muna, Natashia |
| author2 | O'Ryan, Colleen |
| author_browse | Muna, Natashia O'Ryan, Colleen |
| author_facet | O'Ryan, Colleen Muna, Natashia |
| author_sort | Muna, Natashia |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9300 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:07.122Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Department of Molecular and Cell Biology |
| publisherStr | Department of Molecular and Cell Biology |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9300 Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays Muna, Natashia O'Ryan, Colleen Picker, Mike Includes bibliographical references. This thesis presents the first investigation of the population structure of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator (Family: Hodotermitidae), by assessing the genetic state and behavioural interactions within and between twelve colonies, from four areas across the Western Cape of South Africa. This study also critically debates the relationship between M. viator and heuweltjies (small Mima-like earth mounds), with regards to their origins and age. By critically analysing what is known, and debating the merits and shortcomings of various published hypotheses, this thesis concludes that heuweltjies are unequivocally attributable to the constructions and foraging activities of M. viator. However, the age and longevity of heuweltjies remains contentious. Several studies have attempted to ascertain age, using radiometric carbon dating on the basal calcrete layer found below mature heuweltjies, but there is disparity between results, primarily due to the challenges associated with dating calcrete. Therefore, an alternative method better equipped to mitigate these challenges, such as U-series isochron dating, is suggested for future research. 2014-11-07T09:15:11Z 2014-11-07T09:15:11Z 2014 Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9300 eng application/pdf Department of Molecular and Cell Biology Faculty of Science University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Muna, Natashia Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays |
| title_full | Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays |
| title_fullStr | Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays |
| title_short | Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays |
| title_sort | sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite microhodotermes viator via genetic and behavioural bioassays |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9300 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT munanatashia sociogeneticinvestigationofthesouthernharvestertermitemicrohodotermesviatorviageneticandbehaviouralbioassays |