Dynamics of foraging trails in the Neotropical termite Velocitermes heteropterus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Foraging behavior in termites varies with the feeding habits of each species but often occurs through the formation of well-defined trails that connect the nest to food sources in species that build structured nests. We studied the formation of foraging trails and the change in caste ratio during foraging in the termite Velocitermes heteropterus. This species is widespread in Cerrado vegetation where it builds epigeal nests and forages in open-air at night. Our aim was to understand the processes involved in the formation of foraging trails, from the exploration of new unmarked areas to the recruitment of individuals to food and the stabilization of traffic on the trails, as well as the participation of the different castes during these processes. Foraging trails were videotaped in the laboratory and the videos were then analyzed both manually and automatically to assess the flow of individuals and the caste ratio on the trails as well as to examine the spatial organization of traffic over time. Foraging trails were composed of minor workers, major workers, and soldiers. The flow of individuals on the trails gradually increased from the beginning of the exploration of new areas up to the discovery of the food. The caste ratio remained constant throughout the foraging excursion: major workers, minor workers and soldiers forage in a ratio of 8:1:1, respectively. The speed of individuals was significantly different among castes, with major workers and soldiers being significantly faster than minor workers. Overall, our results show that foraging excursions in V. heteropterus may be divided in three different phases, characterized by individual speeds, differential flows and lane segregation.

Effects in mechanical properties and structure of the soil tillage with rotary paraplow

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do tempo de resposta de um controlador de fluxo com DGPS submetido à variação de velocidade de voo em condições de voo simulado em laboratório

The application of pesticides is one of the most important steps in the agricultural production process. The spray volume can directly affect application success, and this parameter is directly dependent on the displacement speed of the sprayer. In conventional systems, the operator has to maintain a constant speed to ensure uniform application along the tracks. In order to improve over application quality and preserve levels of precision for applied doses; the use of electronic flow control systems allows for automatic adjustment of volume applied over the area when there is a change in velocity during application. The objective of this research was to study the response times of a flow controller with DGPS for aerial application subjected to variations of velocity in laboratory simulated flight conditions. For this purpose, a bench test has been developed including software for simulating DGPS signals, which was used to simulate different flight speeds and conditions. The results showed the average response time from the flow controller to a change in velocity to be between 6 and 20 seconds. Variations in total flow and the controller setting had a significant influence on response time with situations where there was interaction between the factors being evaluated. There was a tendency for better response times using a constant setting for the control algorithm other than that specified by the manufacturer. The flow controller presented an average error rates below 2% in all evaluated operating conditions, providing satisfactory accuracy in determining the output of product in different test situations.

Effects in mechanical properties and structure of the soil after tillage with rotary paraplow

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Profundidades de semeadura e espaçamentos entre plantas na cultura do milho

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)