Termites play an important ecological role in ecosystems, mainly as decomposers. However, some species under certain conditions may become pests, causing damage in forests and cultivated fields. Termites are associated with native forests, forest plantations and croplands. Despite this, information regarding taxonomy, management, economic and ecological termite impacts for these land uses categories is not widely known. This study aimed to assess termite’s distribution, incidence, damage, diversity, and affinity in different land use categories. In circular 0.28ha plots in native vegetation and croplands and 1ha rectangular plots in forest plantations, termites capture was performed and, tree infestation assessed by visual inspection. Plot allocation was random-stratified by land use category. Twenty-one termite species, from nine genera and two families (Termitidae and Rhinotermitidae) were found. Of these species, fourteen, thirteen, ten and nine were respectively associated with miombo woodlands, fallow, cultivated areas and forest plantations, suggesting that species richness decreases with increasing habitat disturbance. Termite incidence is highest in plantation forests, followed by native woodlands, fallow and croplands. In forests, fallow areas, and croplands, damage severity was low, while in forest plantations it ranged from low to moderate. These results suggest that in miombo woodlands, fallow areas, and croplands, termite incidence does not necessarily imply economic damage. Economic losses in Eucalyptus plantations reach up to US$ 542.13/ha, reducing with increased plantation age, reaching 1.77 m3/ha in plantations two years old or less, and 0.73 m3/ha in 6-year age plantations. Efforts to combat termites are needed at early plantation stages.
| Published in | American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 10, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16 |
| Page(s) | 33-44 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Croplands, Eucalyptus Plantations, Infestation, Miombo Woodlands, Termites
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APA Style
Nhiuane Osorio Eufrasio Jose, Cumbula Sergio, Tetine Belincia, Sidumo Ivete, Buene Cesaltina, et al. (2022). Termites Distribution and Diversity in Different Land Uses in Mozambique: Implications for Management. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 10(1), 33-44. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16
ACS Style
Nhiuane Osorio Eufrasio Jose; Cumbula Sergio; Tetine Belincia; Sidumo Ivete; Buene Cesaltina, et al. Termites Distribution and Diversity in Different Land Uses in Mozambique: Implications for Management. Am. J. Agric. For. 2022, 10(1), 33-44. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16
AMA Style
Nhiuane Osorio Eufrasio Jose, Cumbula Sergio, Tetine Belincia, Sidumo Ivete, Buene Cesaltina, et al. Termites Distribution and Diversity in Different Land Uses in Mozambique: Implications for Management. Am J Agric For. 2022;10(1):33-44. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16
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author = {Nhiuane Osorio Eufrasio Jose and Cumbula Sergio and Tetine Belincia and Sidumo Ivete and Buene Cesaltina and Mondlane Marcela and Chirinzane-Manhica Cacilda and Rombe Bandeira Romana},
title = {Termites Distribution and Diversity in Different Land Uses in Mozambique: Implications for Management},
journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {33-44},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20221001.16},
abstract = {Termites play an important ecological role in ecosystems, mainly as decomposers. However, some species under certain conditions may become pests, causing damage in forests and cultivated fields. Termites are associated with native forests, forest plantations and croplands. Despite this, information regarding taxonomy, management, economic and ecological termite impacts for these land uses categories is not widely known. This study aimed to assess termite’s distribution, incidence, damage, diversity, and affinity in different land use categories. In circular 0.28ha plots in native vegetation and croplands and 1ha rectangular plots in forest plantations, termites capture was performed and, tree infestation assessed by visual inspection. Plot allocation was random-stratified by land use category. Twenty-one termite species, from nine genera and two families (Termitidae and Rhinotermitidae) were found. Of these species, fourteen, thirteen, ten and nine were respectively associated with miombo woodlands, fallow, cultivated areas and forest plantations, suggesting that species richness decreases with increasing habitat disturbance. Termite incidence is highest in plantation forests, followed by native woodlands, fallow and croplands. In forests, fallow areas, and croplands, damage severity was low, while in forest plantations it ranged from low to moderate. These results suggest that in miombo woodlands, fallow areas, and croplands, termite incidence does not necessarily imply economic damage. Economic losses in Eucalyptus plantations reach up to US$ 542.13/ha, reducing with increased plantation age, reaching 1.77 m3/ha in plantations two years old or less, and 0.73 m3/ha in 6-year age plantations. Efforts to combat termites are needed at early plantation stages.},
year = {2022}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Termites Distribution and Diversity in Different Land Uses in Mozambique: Implications for Management AU - Nhiuane Osorio Eufrasio Jose AU - Cumbula Sergio AU - Tetine Belincia AU - Sidumo Ivete AU - Buene Cesaltina AU - Mondlane Marcela AU - Chirinzane-Manhica Cacilda AU - Rombe Bandeira Romana Y1 - 2022/02/09 PY - 2022 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16 DO - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16 T2 - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry JF - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry JO - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry SP - 33 EP - 44 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-8591 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20221001.16 AB - Termites play an important ecological role in ecosystems, mainly as decomposers. However, some species under certain conditions may become pests, causing damage in forests and cultivated fields. Termites are associated with native forests, forest plantations and croplands. Despite this, information regarding taxonomy, management, economic and ecological termite impacts for these land uses categories is not widely known. This study aimed to assess termite’s distribution, incidence, damage, diversity, and affinity in different land use categories. In circular 0.28ha plots in native vegetation and croplands and 1ha rectangular plots in forest plantations, termites capture was performed and, tree infestation assessed by visual inspection. Plot allocation was random-stratified by land use category. Twenty-one termite species, from nine genera and two families (Termitidae and Rhinotermitidae) were found. Of these species, fourteen, thirteen, ten and nine were respectively associated with miombo woodlands, fallow, cultivated areas and forest plantations, suggesting that species richness decreases with increasing habitat disturbance. Termite incidence is highest in plantation forests, followed by native woodlands, fallow and croplands. In forests, fallow areas, and croplands, damage severity was low, while in forest plantations it ranged from low to moderate. These results suggest that in miombo woodlands, fallow areas, and croplands, termite incidence does not necessarily imply economic damage. Economic losses in Eucalyptus plantations reach up to US$ 542.13/ha, reducing with increased plantation age, reaching 1.77 m3/ha in plantations two years old or less, and 0.73 m3/ha in 6-year age plantations. Efforts to combat termites are needed at early plantation stages. VL - 10 IS - 1 ER -
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