{"id":{"repo_id":"cape-town","oai_identifier":"oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9300"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cape-town/oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9300","repository":{"repo_id":"cape-town","name":"University of Cape Town","base_url":"https://open.uct.ac.za/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays","abstract":"This thesis presents the first investigation of the population structure of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator (Family: Hodotermitidae), by assessing the genetic state and behavioural interactions within and between twelve colonies, from four areas across the Western Cape of South Africa. This study also critically debates the relationship between M. viator and heuweltjies (small Mima-like earth mounds), with regards to their origins and age. By critically analysing what is known, and debating the merits and shortcomings of various published hypotheses, this thesis concludes that heuweltjies are unequivocally attributable to the constructions and foraging activities of M. viator. However, the age and longevity of heuweltjies remains contentious. Several studies have attempted to ascertain age, using radiometric carbon dating on the basal calcrete layer found below mature heuweltjies, but there is disparity between results, primarily due to the challenges associated with dating calcrete. Therefore, an alternative method better equipped to mitigate these challenges, such as U-series isochron dating, is suggested for future research.","abstract_html":"This thesis presents the first investigation of the population structure of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator (Family: Hodotermitidae), by assessing the genetic state and behavioural interactions within and between twelve colonies, from four areas across the Western Cape of South Africa. This study also critically debates the relationship between M. viator and heuweltjies (small Mima-like earth mounds), with regards to their origins and age. By critically analysing what is known, and debating the merits and shortcomings of various published hypotheses, this thesis concludes that heuweltjies are unequivocally attributable to the constructions and foraging activities of M. viator. However, the age and longevity of heuweltjies remains contentious. Several studies have attempted to ascertain age, using radiometric carbon dating on the basal calcrete layer found below mature heuweltjies, but there is disparity between results, primarily due to the challenges associated with dating calcrete. Therefore, an alternative method better equipped to mitigate these challenges, such as U-series isochron dating, is suggested for future research.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Muna, Natashia"],"institution":"Department of Molecular and Cell Biology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["O'Ryan, Colleen","Picker, Mike"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014","date_published":"2014","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:23:06Z","subjects":[],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9300","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["O'Ryan, Colleen","Picker, Mike"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Muna, Natashia"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2014-11-07T09:15:11Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-11-07T09:15:11Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2014"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Department of Molecular and Cell Biology"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cape Town"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Doctoral Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["PhD"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9300"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Includes bibliographical references."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis presents the first investigation of the population structure of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator (Family: Hodotermitidae), by assessing the genetic state and behavioural interactions within and between twelve colonies, from four areas across the Western Cape of South Africa. This study also critically debates the relationship between M. viator and heuweltjies (small Mima-like earth mounds), with regards to their origins and age. By critically analysing what is known, and debating the merits and shortcomings of various published hypotheses, this thesis concludes that heuweltjies are unequivocally attributable to the constructions and foraging activities of M. viator. However, the age and longevity of heuweltjies remains contentious. Several studies have attempted to ascertain age, using radiometric carbon dating on the basal calcrete layer found below mature heuweltjies, but there is disparity between results, primarily due to the challenges associated with dating calcrete. Therefore, an alternative method better equipped to mitigate these challenges, such as U-series isochron dating, is suggested for future research."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["O'Ryan, Colleen","Picker, Mike"],"dc:creator":["Muna, Natashia"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2014-11-07T09:15:11Z"],"dc:date.available":["2014-11-07T09:15:11Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2014"],"dc:description":["Includes bibliographical references."],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis presents the first investigation of the population structure of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator (Family: Hodotermitidae), by assessing the genetic state and behavioural interactions within and between twelve colonies, from four areas across the Western Cape of South Africa. This study also critically debates the relationship between M. viator and heuweltjies (small Mima-like earth mounds), with regards to their origins and age. By critically analysing what is known, and debating the merits and shortcomings of various published hypotheses, this thesis concludes that heuweltjies are unequivocally attributable to the constructions and foraging activities of M. viator. However, the age and longevity of heuweltjies remains contentious. Several studies have attempted to ascertain age, using radiometric carbon dating on the basal calcrete layer found below mature heuweltjies, but there is disparity between results, primarily due to the challenges associated with dating calcrete. Therefore, an alternative method better equipped to mitigate these challenges, such as U-series isochron dating, is suggested for future research."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9300"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher.department":["Department of Molecular and Cell Biology"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Cape Town"],"dc:title":["Sociogenetic investigation of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, via genetic and behavioural bioassays"],"dc:type":["Doctoral Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["PhD"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:23:06Z"}