Termite brains can grow in anticipation of a single moment of flight and
light

Date:
October 20, 2021
Source:
Drexel University
Summary:
In a dampwood termite colony only a select few will, quite
literally, see the light. The insects are unique due to their
mating flights and the adaptability of their role within the
colony, which is based on the overall needs of the group. King
and queen termites must leave the nest and are the only members
to go outside -- briefly --to partner off and tunnel into a new
location to start another colony. Researchers investigated how
this group of individuals, who are destined to leave the nest,
evolve differently in the brain region that processes vision.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
New research on dampwood termites (Zootermopsis angusticollis and
A. nevdensis) shows select members of the colony will experience brain
changes in anticipation of cognitive demand.


==========================================================================
In a dampwood termite colony only a select few will, quite literally,
see the light. The insects are unique due to their mating flights and
the adaptability of their role within the colony, which is based on
the overall needs of the group. King and queen termites must leave the
nest and are the only members to go outside -- briefly -- to partner off
and tunnel into a new location to start another colony. Researchers at
Drexel University investigated how this group of individuals, who are
destined to leave the nest, evolve differently in the brain region that processes vision.

The new study, published in The Science of Nature, measured developmental differences in the relative sizes of visual processing brain regions,
called optic lobes, among dampwood termite castes to test whether optic
lobe investment matches caste differences in exposure to visually complex environments.

"The term 'caste' when applied to insect societies -- is the idea that
you have specialized individuals that play different roles," explains
Sean O'Donnell, PhD, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and
lead author of the study. O'Donnell's team used developmental knowledge
of the dampwood termites to make predictions about their needs for
different brain tissues depending on their role. The researchers found
that the insect's investment in brain regions matched their cognitive
demands -- but the changes in their brain happened before the change in cognitive demand.

"Neuroecology explores how brains evolve and develop with the idea
that the brain structure of an individual is going to be shaped by
the demands it faces," says O'Donnell. "Learning that the kings and
queens have different visual investment is important, but not super
surprising -- what is special was our ability to identify and measure
the developmental stage that is the precursor to an individual molting
into a king or queen." While the first three stages of termite life do
not tend to vary much, when nymphs reach the fourth stage they can molt
into a number of different forms.

These different forms play different roles in the colony, including
the possibility to become a winged reproductive king or queen, worker,
solider or a wingless reproductive.

"Some nymphs have tiny developed wing pads -- this stage does not leave
the nest, they are not technically a king or queen yet, but changes in
the brain architecture in that stage are happening and setting up the
brain for the capacity to be used in a light bright environment. The brain change happened earlier in development than needed," says O'Donnell. "This
is surprising and exciting, as this kind of anticipatory brain development
is not seen very often, as well as the fact that, with some accuracy,
we can predict the developmental future of an individual and it looks
as though the brain is tracking that trajectory, although it's not
being used yet." This evidence shows that some dampwood termites
are experience-expectant, meaning changes in the brain are happening
before they are needed. Honeybee brains have also demonstrated some experience-expectant plasticity -- but overall, this occurrence is rare.

Looking forward, the team wonders whether or how the neural tissue
investment may be offset prior to accruing cognitive payoffs. O'Donnell suspects anticipatory brain growth may be favored when the brain needs
to be primed to respond to new challenges on short notice. In the case
of dampwood termites, mating flights could occur soon after Kings and
Queens reach adulthood.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Drexel_University. Original written
by Emily Storz. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sean O'Donnell, Susan Bulova, Meghan Barrett. Experience-expectant
brain
plasticity corresponds to caste-specific abiotic challenges
in dampwood termites (Zootermopsis angusticollis and
Z. nevadensis). The Science of Nature, 2021; 108 (6) DOI:
10.1007/s00114-021-01763-9 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135936.htm

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