Abstract
In tropical ecosystems, termites as organic decomposers, play a key role in modifying the biotic and abiotic environment. The present study aimed to investigate how the termite diversity and assemblages differed among habitats. Three sites in North Wayanad, Kerala, India,- a teak plantation, a coffee plantation and a semi-evergreen forest, that were structurally different and with varying land use histories- were chosen for this study. Belt transect method was used to sample the termites. The study recorded a total of 10 species in 7 genera belonging to 4 subfamilies under one family. Termite assemblages and feeding group structure differed significantly among habitats. Two functional groups were recorded- Type II (fungus growing wood feeders/litter feeders, micro epiphytes) and Type III (organic rich soil feeders/ humus feeders). Fungus growing wood/litter feeders were dominant in plantations whereas organic rich soil/humus feeders were dominant in forest region. Plantations seem to host more, species like Odontotermes obesus Rambur, Odontotermes anamallensis Holmgren and Holmgren and Odontotermes yadevi Thakur, the species being good colonizers, favoured by disturbance and also those with the potential of becoming pests. The species diversity, richness, evenness as well as beta diversity were computed for the three habitats. Assemblages of species from the teak and coffee plantations yielded the highest similarity index (42%). Overall, the termite assemblages and structural attributes of coffee & teak plantations and semi-evergreen forest advocated termites as good biological indicators of habitat quality. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 26 (3): 456 – 467 (2015)
Highlights
The termites are the most dominant arthropod decomposers in the tropical forests (Wood and Sands, 1978; Matsumoto and Abe, 1979; Collins, 1983) and they show high diversity and abundance (Bignell and Eggleton, 2000)
Termites have been used as indicator species to study the effect of land use conversion on biodiversity in several areas (Eggleton et al, 1996, Dibog et al, 1999)
The present study by comparing the termite assemblages of a semi-evergreen forest with those of two plantations namely coffee and teak, aimed to investigate how the termite diversity and assemblages differed among habitats
Summary
The termites are the most dominant arthropod decomposers in the tropical forests (Wood and Sands, 1978; Matsumoto and Abe, 1979; Collins, 1983) and they show high diversity and abundance (Bignell and Eggleton, 2000). Termites play a key role in modifying the biotic and abiotic environment. They become economic pests when their appetite for wood and wood products extends to human homes, building materials, forests, and other commercial products (Meyr, 2009). Termite Assemblages in Coffee & Teak Plantations and Semi-Evergreen Forest species of termites are known globally, but only 10% of known species has been reported as pests (Wood, 1996). The present study by comparing the termite assemblages of a semi-evergreen forest with those of two plantations namely coffee and teak, aimed to investigate how the termite diversity and assemblages differed among habitats. The results advocate the potential of termites as efficient ecological indicators
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