Abstract
Methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2)O) are greenhouse gases (GHGs) which cause global warming. Natural sources of GHGs include wetlands and termites. Previous studies have quantified GHG emissions from upland termites and no study has reported GHG emissions from seasonal wetlands (dambo) located termite mounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dambo catena position on termite mound distribution and GHG emissions. It was hypothesized that mound density and GHG emissions from Odontotermes transvaalensis mounds, vary with catena position. The evaluated catena positions were margin, mid-slope, lower slope and bottom. Mound density was significantly lower in the bottom when compared to the other catena positions. The mean GHG fluxes were 88 μg m2 hr-1, 0.78 mg m2 hr-1 and 1361 mg m2 hr-1 for N2) O, CH4 and CO2 respectively. Fluxes varied with catena position and were 0.48, 0.72, 1.35 and 0.79 mg m-2 hr-1 for CH4 , and 1173.7, 1440.7, 1798.7 and 922.8 mg m-2 hr-1 for CO2 in the margin, mid-slope, lower slope and the bottom catena position respectively. For N2) O, there were no significant differences between catena positions. It was concluded that dambo located Odontotermes transvaalensis termite mounds are an important source of GHGs, and emissions varied with catena position for CO2 and CH4.
Highlights
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are among the major causes of global warming [1]
Termite mound density was highest in the margin and mid slope when compared to the lower slope and the bottom positions
To the best of our knowledge this paper reports the first greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from dambo located Odontoterme transvaalensis termite mounds from Zimbabwe
Summary
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are among the major causes of global warming [1]. The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases; methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) trap long wavelength radiation that is reflected from the earth’s surface, affecting the balance of heat radiation through the entire atmosphere, resulting in rising temperatures. Analysis has shown that atmospheric concentrations of methane have increased by approximately 145 percent since 1800 [2] and the CH4 atmospheric mixing ratios have increased by2.5times, reaching 1750 ppbv (parts per billion by volume) in 2001 [3]. Among the three major GHGs, N2O has a bigger global warming potential (GWP). N2O is known for its long lasting greenhouse gas effect
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