The diversity, abundance and biomass of termites under differing levels of disturbance in the Mbalmayo Forest Reserve, southern Cameroon

Abstract

This paper presents data on the abundance, biomass and species richness of termites in the Mbalmayo Forest Reserve, southern Cameroon. Five plots of differing disturbance level (near primary forest, old secondary forest, young plantation, weeded Chromolaena fallow, and completely cleared forest) were sampled for termites in two successive years (July 1992 and July 1993, giving a total of ten sampling areas, plus one in the completely cleared plot in November 1992). A stratified sampling regime of soil pits, wood samples, mound samples and soil scrape samples was used. Estimated abundance and biomass were extremely high in the near primary and old secondary plot (maximum estimated abundance, old secondary sampling area 1, 10488 m -2 , maximum biomass density, near primary sampling area 1,123.2 g m -2 ). In all cases termite abundance was highly clumped. Disturbance had apparently little effect on termite abundances and biomass in forested plots, but there were clear reductions in abundance and biomass in the cleared plots. In the completely cleared plot, abundance and biomass fell sharply from year 1 to year 2, presumably because colonies left after clearance had dried out and died. There were large differences in the taxonomic-, nesting- and feeding-group composition of the plots, with soil feeding termites being especially strongly affected by disturbance. The sources of error associated with this sampling programme are discussed. It is argued that the near primary forest plot may have higher microhabitat and concomitant termite assemblage heterogeneity than the more disturbed plots. In most cases over 90 % of the overall abundance in a sampling area was due to a few species; extinction, and will make areas. This may be due to the unpredictable dynamics of colony foundation and extinction, and will make estimations of the effect of termites on overall ecosystem processes (from abundance and biomass data alone) problematical. There is no evidence of immigration of savanna termites into the forest reserve, and thus cleared areas have depauperate forest assemblages. It is concluded that this is the most accurate estimation of termite assemblage parameters yet attempted.

Influence of human activities on diversity and abundance of insects in Akure Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria

“…The findings agree with Eggleton et al (1996) and Watt et al (1997) who reported that the replacement of intact forest with other land uses will result in the decrease in the abundance of several groups of arthropods. The findings are however, contrary to that of Watt et al (1997) in Cameroon who reported that the number of termites is markedly higher in disturbed forest.…”

Termite assemblages in dry tropical forests of Northeastern Brazil: Are termites bioindicators of environmental disturbances?

“…From the results of relative abundance, average richness per transect, and the accumulation curve, it is possible to suggest that the richness and abundance of termites can be changed by altering habitat, being directly related to the conservation of the area, in agreement with results observed in other researches on termites, in Savannah (Dosso et al, 2012;Cunha & Orlando, 2011;Carrijo et al, 2009;Brandão & Souza, 1998), Humid Tropical Forests (Ackerman et al, 2009;Eggleton et al, 1996;DeSouza & Brown, 1994;Bandeira & Torres, 1985) or Caatinga (Alves et al, 2011;Vasconcellos et al, 2010;Bandeira et al, 2003). Termite species richness and relative abundance (encounters) by feeding group, in three areas of Caatinga under different levels of disturbance, Sergipe State, Brazil.…”

Diversity, phenology and distribution of Termitomyces species in Côte d’Ivoire

“…This could be explained by the ecology of its respective host termites (Aanen and Eggleton 2005; Koné 2013). Indeed, the local specific richness of termites is strongly influenced by the variability of environmental factors including altitude (Gathorne-Hardy et al 2001), vegetation type (Jones, 2000), anthropogenic disturbances (De Souza and Brown 1994; Eggleton et al 1995, 1997, 2002) and climate (Eggleton and Bignell 1995). Termites of the genus Ancistrotermes are endemic to savannahs in the afrotropical region (Eggleton 2000).…”