Chemical species, evolutionary variation

The variation that occurs in the nature of the defensive secretions of Reticu-litermes lucifugus has parallels among nasute termites (see below). The correlation that occurs between this variation, the distribution of esterase alleles and geographical distribution could be explained as an adaptation to a different spectrum of principal predators which occur in the different ecosystems or climatic zones. We may find that, because of co-evolutionary pressures, specialized ant predators are immune to the secretions, and opportunistic predators are most affected. The development of chemical ecology of termites thus depends upon the study of the comparative effects of defensive secretions on a range of predatory species. 

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