Landscape interactions with subterranean termite (Isoptera: Reticulitermes) communities in Missouri: Patterns of invasion as subdivisions are developed and age

In Missouri, subterranean termite (Isoptera: Reticulitermes) community composition differs between forested and urban landscapes.  Reticulitermes hageni (Banks) occurs in greater proportions than other subterranean termite species in forested landscapes, while Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar occurs in greater proportions than other subterranean termite species in urban landscapes.  Thus, it appears that subterranean termite communities change as landscapes are developed.  It is not known, however, when Reticulitermes communities change in response to urbanization, or how termite populations invade subdivisions in an altered urban landscape.  It is possible that subterranean termite colonies are eliminated as vegetation is removed and landscape soil is graded, early in the construction of subdivisions.  It also seems likely that colonies may respond to changing moisture and temperature regimes or new biotic associations that accompany anthropogenic disturbances and altered landscape. The purpose of this research is to examine how landscape factors are associated with community changes and patterns of invasion by subterranean termites as undeveloped landscapes are converted to urban subdivisions.  Subterranean termites were collected from 25 areas in Columbia, Missouri that were classified along a gradient of urbanization to include 1) undeveloped landscapes; 2) anthropogenically disturbed landscapes; 3) 10 y.o. subdivisions; and 4) 20 y.o. subdivisions.  Subterranean termite community compositions in these landscapes were assessed by identifying species using PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP).   The interaction between landscape features and subterranean termite communities was assessed spatially using GIS software.