Land use effects on termite assemblages in Kenya

Abstract

Termites perform key ecological functions and they also cause crop damage. Land use change resulting from agricultural intensification can result in changes in termite species diversity and abundance. Termite species occurring in natural vegetation, maize monocrop and maize-beans intercrop macrohabitats were investigated in Embu and Machakos Counties, Kenya. Influence of soil properties and seasons was also evaluated. Across the two Counties, seven termite species were recorded with Machakos County having the highest number. Additive diversity partitioning of species richness and Simpson diversity showed that, α component contributed to 98.3% and 99.1% of the total diversity, respectively. Population densities of three termite species significantly varied between land use types in Machakos County but there were no differences in termite species abundance in Embu County. In addition, there were no significant differences in species richness between macrohabitats within each County. In Embu, season significantly influenced the abundance of Macrotermes subhyalinus , M. herus , and Coptotermes formosanus which occurred in greater numbers during the wet season. There was a significant influence of land use on Trinervitermes gratiosus and C. formosanus in Machakos with both species occurring in higher numbers in natural vegetation. Trinervitermes gratiosus was negatively associated with Mn and positively correlated to pH and sand. Macrotermes subhyalinus and M. herus showed a positive association with P and silt while C. formosanus was positively correlated to Ca and Mg. These findings provide an insight into the effects of land use change from natural vegetation to maize agro-ecosystems on termite diversity. It also provides a baseline for further studies on termite diversity in Kenya and their ecological significance.

Numerical classification of termite-mediated soils along toposequences and rangeland use influenced soil properties in southeast Ethiopia

“…The results in Table 3 are in contrast to Bera et al [ 80 ], who reported that the height, masses, density, and regeneration rate of termite mounds increased with vegetation density in the order of grassland, dispersed, and dense vegetation. This discrepancy might be explained as certain land use practices affect the abundance and richness of termite communities, which could lead to the loss of functional groups in some cases [ 15 , 81 ]. According to Anyango et al [ 77 ], the abundance, occurrence, diversity, and foraging activities of termites also depend on soil depth, available feeding types, soil moisture, cropping season, and environmental location.…”

“…For Odontotermes and Macrotermes species, Kaiser et al [ 14 ] estimated about 216 and 32 t of soil material per ha per month on rehabilitative and barren land, respectively. This is because land use change results in termite species and diversity alterations [ 15 ]. Accordingly, when termites are involved in surface deposition and subsequent erosion from the mounds [ 16 ] with further downslope displacement, the soil ecosystem will be complex at the landscape scale, and termite pedoturbation will become more apparent.…”

Toxic Effects of <i>Ficus benghalensis</i> Latex Based Combinatorial Formulations on Various Enzymatic Parameters in Indian White Termite <i>Odontotermes obesus</i>

“…Termites are destructive polyphagous insects that cause serious damage to crops. Termites seriously infest garden trees, timber, building materials, stored products, paper and clothing and cause enormous economic damage to them [8]. Termites infest the plant at different stages of growth [9].…”

Effect of <i>Ficus benghalensis</i> Latex Based Combinatorial Formulations on Various Bio-Molecules in Indian White Termite <i>Odontotermes obesus</i>

“…Termites are highly destructive polyphagous pests that cause severe damage to crops [1]. Termites can seriously infect garden trees, timber, building materials, supplies, paper and clothing, causing enormous economic losses.…”

“…toxicity than synthetic pesticides (Figures[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. It is well known that stored lipids are the most important and convenient stores of metabolic energy, meeting the long-term energy needs of insects under stress.…”