JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Do the foraging strategies of Odontotermes horni (Wasmann) workers on various organic matter depend on the weather parameters?

Author: N. G. KUMAR

Abstract :

The investigation delved into how worker termites of O. horni search for food sources under varying weather conditions in an undisturbed forest ecosystem. The result indicated that the maximum atmospheric temperature had a significant negative correlation with foraging patches < 25 cm. The minimum atmospheric temperature exhibited a significant negative correlation with tree damage and the height of earthen sheeting construction by the termite workers. Moreover, the maximum atmospheric relative humidity showed a significant negative correlation with tree damage and the height of earthen sheeting by the workers. Similarly, the minimum atmospheric relative humidity had a significant negative relationship with tree damage and the height of earthen sheeting construction by the workers, but a positive significant relationship with foraging patches < 25 cm. Lastly, rainfall had a significant negative relationship with tree damage and the height of earthen sheeting on the trees, while sunshine hours showed a significant positive relationship with tree damage by the workers.

References :

Ashok Kumar, C.T., 1987.Studies on the termite species occurring at the main research Station, Hebbal, Bangalore and some ecological aspects of Microtermes obesi Holmgren (Isoptera: Termitidae).Ph.D.thesis,Uni.Agril.Sci.,Bangalore,172p.

Bagine, K.N. Richard, 1984.Soil translocation by termites of the genus Odontotermes    (Holmgren) (Isoptera: Macrotermitidae) in an arid area of Northern    Kenya.Oecologia, 64:263-266.

Basappa, H.,1984. Studies on the dung feeding termites and their role in removal of dung under   dry land conditions.M.Sc. (Agri) thesis, Uni.Agril. Sciences, Bangalore, p120.

Basudev, B., Sunanda Sahoo, Swasti Sucharita Mishra and Arabinda Kusum,     2022.Physicochemical properties and biochemical activities of termitaria soil of Odontotermes spp. and surrounding soil in Sambalpur district,  Odisha, India. J.Ent.Zool.Studies, 10(2):124-128.

Beyene, T. and EmanaGetu, 2021. Physicochemical properties of termite mound soil and its    effect   on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.) under    greenhouse  conditions at    Nekemte, Western Ethiopia .Ethiop.J.Sci., 44(1):38- 46.

Bonachela, J. A., Pringle, R. M., Sheffer, T.C.,Coverdale,J.A.,Guyton,K.K.,Caylor,S.A.,Levin,C.E.andTarnita,C.E.,2015.Termite mounds can increase in robustness of dry land ecosystems to climate change. Science, 347: 651-65. 

Chhotani, O. B., 1980. Termite pests of agriculture in the Indian region and their control.Zool. Survy.  India, Manograph No. 4, 94p.            

Jouquet, P. Doubler, J., Lagerlof, J., Lavelle, P. and Lepage, M., 2006. Soil invertebrates as ecosystem engineers: Intended and accidental effects on soil and feedback loops, Appl. Soil Ecol., 32:153-164.

Jouquet, P. Janeau, J. L., Pisano, A., Tran Sy, H., Orange, D., Minh Nguyet, L. T. and Valentin, C., 2012. Soil engineers influence water runoff, soil detachment and the transfer of nutrients in a tropical steep slope fallow. Appl. Soil Ecol., 61:161-168.

Kalidas, P., 1986. Studies on termites (Odontotermes spp.) with special reference to their role  in the fertility of soil. Ph.D. thesis, Uni.Agril. Sciences, Bangalore, 123p.

Kalleshwara Swamy, C.M., 2022.Potential invasive termites in India and the importance of      integrative taxonomy. Indian J. Ent., DOI No.10.55446/IJE.2022.694.

Rajagopal, D., 1983c.Habit and habitat studies of some termites from Karnataka.J. Soil.Biol.Ecol.,3(2):108-123.       

Ranjith, M. and Kalleshwaraswamy, C.M., 2021.Termites (Blottodea: Isoptera) of South   India:   Current knowledge on distribution and systematic checklist. J. Threatened  Taxa, 13:18598-18613.

Roonwal, M. L., 1979. Termite life and termite control in tropical South Asia, Scientific   Publishers, Jodhpur, 177p.

Sudhakar, K., 1983.Relative abundance of termite species and crop losses due to them in an  agroforest ecosystem.Ph.D. thesis, Uni.Agril. Sciences, Bangalore, p.144.