BIOL10001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Phasmatodea, Arthropod, Cockroach
30 Jul 2018
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Document Summary
Order: isoptera (termites: very diverse, widespread, abundant. Soil immediately around the termite nest gradually enriched with n and p. Northern australia- important due to pronounced wet-dry seasons & low nutrient soils- can"t support large numbers of endothermic grazers high energy needs. Wild life parasites health impacts, disease. Termites recycle up to 20% of carbon in tropical systems. Mastotermes: large species, worst pest termite across australia. Issues with investigating parasite life cycle in wild: Larvae & nymphs identity host if possible, or sample for questing stage: tick drags. Cockroaches: very important in nutrient recycling (many eat wood, australia- many native cockroach species. Habitat loss & fragmentation: land clearing in australia, habitat fragments. Patches of linear remnants of varying size, connectivity & spacing. Composition: remnants of original vegetation, species mix & age of vegetation variable. Habitat: woodlands with understory of sweet bursaria- lay eggs in shrubs. Caterpillars shelter in an nests near base of shrub during day.
