Symes, CTWoodborne, S2012-07-122012-07-122011-04Symes, CT and Woodborne , S. 2011. Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios. Insect Science, vol. 18(2), pp 175-1801672-9609http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7917.2010.01344.x/pdfhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7917.2010.01344.x/fullhttp://hdl.handle.net/10204/5993Copyright: 2010 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation: Copyright Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesThe diet of the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus was investigated at two sites with distinct dietary components: C4 grasses (d13C isotope values, -13.8‰ to -14.0‰) and C3 plants (d13C isotope values, -25.6‰ to -27.1‰). By comparing observations of food items carried into the colony by the termites and carbon isotope ratios of whole termites (that determined assimilated carbon), the relative proportion of the C3 and C4 plant food components of the termite diet was estimated. There was agreement between the observational data and stable carbon isotopic data, with grass representing approximately 93% of the diet of H. mossambicus at two study sites (urban and rural) on the South African highveld. However, when correcting for mass of food items, that is, C3 and C4, carried by termites, the proportion of grass (C4) in the diet may be underestimated.enCarbon assimilationColonySuikerbosrandHarvester termiteArticleSymes, C., & Woodborne, S. (2011). Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5993Symes, CT, and S Woodborne "Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios." (2011) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5993Symes C, Woodborne S. Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios. 2011; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5993.TY - Article AU - Symes, CT AU - Woodborne, S AB - The diet of the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus was investigated at two sites with distinct dietary components: C4 grasses (d13C isotope values, -13.8‰ to -14.0‰) and C3 plants (d13C isotope values, -25.6‰ to -27.1‰). By comparing observations of food items carried into the colony by the termites and carbon isotope ratios of whole termites (that determined assimilated carbon), the relative proportion of the C3 and C4 plant food components of the termite diet was estimated. There was agreement between the observational data and stable carbon isotopic data, with grass representing approximately 93% of the diet of H. mossambicus at two study sites (urban and rural) on the South African highveld. However, when correcting for mass of food items, that is, C3 and C4, carried by termites, the proportion of grass (C4) in the diet may be underestimated. DA - 2011-04 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Carbon assimilation KW - Colony KW - Suikerbosrand KW - Harvester termite LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2011 SM - 1672-9609 T1 - Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios TI - Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5993 ER -