Several methods, including the use of seralogy, are available for evaluating prey-predator relationships. Two basic methods involving precipitation and agglutination reactions have been utilised, both of which depend on the production of specific antisera with high titres. A critical account is presented of methods of preparing an'tisera, with particular reference to the amount of antigen required, the route of inoculation and testing antisera, together with a review of the five precipitation and two agglutination techniques available. The main limitations of A 1 7 2 p -F -L -BOREHAM and C. E. OHIAGU serological methods are the specificity of the arttisera and the difficulties in quantifying results unless assumptions are made as to the number of prey eaten at each feed. Details of studies employing serological techniques to identify the predators of specific prey and the food of invertebrates are given in two tables. The value of serological techniques is discussed in relation to the ecology of invertebrates by considering, as examples, the insect fauna on broom (Sarothamnus scoparius), predation of mosquitoes and the food of triclads. Errors in the quantification of predation may occur by including positive reactions resulting from carrion feeding or material ingested accidentally on plants by phytophagous arthropods.
Annual grass production in ungrazed plots was 2,731 kg ha, litter production was 1,619 kg ha and decomposition was 1,789 kg ha. In grazed plots the corresponding figures were 3,157 kg ha, 1,440 kg ha, and 1,475 kg ha respectively; cattle consumed 1,405 kg ha. Litter disappearance was greatest in the dry season: 1,226 kg ha (69% of the annual total) disappearing in the 4 months of December to March in the ungrazed plots, largely due to consumption (790 kg ha in December to March) by fungus-growing termites (Macrotermitinae). A positive linear relationship was found between maximum grass biomass and annual rainfall in West Africa.
Trinervitermes geminatus (Wasmann) harvests standing grass tussocks which are cut into pieces and carried back to the nest. During this activity a certain proportion is left on the soil surface as litter whilst some is ingested. Foraging is mainly accomplished during the dry season (mid-October to the end of April) for periods of 2-4 h daily, either early in the morning, in the evening, or occasionally during both morning and evening. The duration and daily pattern of foraging is partly dependent on temperature, with a lower temperature threshold of 20° C and an upper threshold of 35° C below or above which foraging is restricted.The quantity of grass cut down and carried back to the nest by a population of 737 m (3.08 g m) was estimated at 60.3 kg haa with approximately 18 kg haa cut and left as litter. Estimated consumption whilst foraging was approximately 20.4 kg haa, giving a total consumption of about 81 kg haa. Compared with a total estimated grass production of 3157 kg haa and consumption by cattle of 1404 kg haa, the quantity of grass removed by T. geminatus, amounting to only 3.1% of the net primary production, did not appear to be economically significant in this locality.
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