Animal Research International (2018) 15(1): 2918 – 2925 2918 ACTIVITY OF MOUND - BUILDING MACROTERMES BELLICOSUS (ISOPTERA: TERMITIDAE) AROUND KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS GUINEA SAVANNAH ECOZONE, NIGERIA 1 AJAO, Adeyemi Mufutau, 2 OLADIMEJI, Yusuf Usman, 1 OLADIPO, Segun Olayinka and 1 ADEPOJU, Suraju Adeshina 1 Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1044 , Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria . Corresponding Author: Ajao, A. M. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria. Email : [email protected] Phone: +234 8035058904 ABSTRACT This study was designed to investigate Macrotermes bellicosus , nes ting mounds, abundance and activity in the savannah ecological zone of Kwara State, North - Central, Nigeria. The research was conducted at four randomly selected villages around and including Kwara S tate U niversity. A systematic survey of visible mounds of M. bellicosus was carried out over the entire study area. Also, the heights of mounds were measured using a measuring tape. M. bellicosus collection was conducted using bait ed traps consisting of cardboard, toilet tissue, wooden stakes and wood shaving . These were embedded or placed on ground within plots at a regular distance of 10 m and checked twice weekly. The samples collected per bait ed trap per plot per location were pre served in 90 % ethanol and identified. Similarly, survey of physically damaged items was conducted and recorded to observe termite activity. The result from the four diff erent locations of the study show ed that the number of M. bellicosus mounds in urban area was the highest in urban site (74.33 ± 5.93) and was significant when compare d to the other locations . Farmland ha d the tallest M. bellicosus mound (17.3 cm) followed by uncultivated land mass (15 cm) , while the least mean height (12 cm) was encounter ed at the urban area . The abundance and distribution of the M. bellicosus show ed no significant difference when comparing the study locations except in urban site. Proper precautions on protection of the building and barns are recommended. Keywords : Macrotermes bellicosus , Nesting mounds, Importance , Savannah ecological zone , Da mage INTRODUCTION center of many tropical ecosystems ( Backwell and d ’ Errico , 2001 ). Most species are abundant Macrotermes bellicosus is a species of and diverse in many tropical soils, and Macrotermes , which is the largest termite particularly in forests (Eggleton , 2000). They known . T he queen measures about 110 mm are major agents of decomposition, and play an long, workers about 3.6 mm and soldiers important part in nutrient and carbon fixation between 18 – 19 mm for the major soldier, as (Bignell , 2006) . The recycl ing of soils organic there is sexual dimorphism for both workers and matter, improve soil physical and chemical soldiers . About 2000 species are distributed in properties and improve water - absorbing tropical countries. Termites are predominantly capacity ( Eggleton, 2001 ; Korb and Linsenmair, tropical in di stribution and are at the ecological 2001) . T ermites are a source of vegetation and ISSN: 1597 – 3115 ARI 2018 15(1): 2918 – 2925 www.zoo - unn.org Ajao et al . 2919 tree diversity. Their sensitivity to habitat on dead plant material, while relatively few disturbance causes changes in their species species feed on living plant tissue ( Lesnik, richness, composition and functional 2014 ) . characteristics ( Aanen et al . , 2002 ; Binate et al ., Many studies have focused on mounds 2008 ; Engel et al ., 2011 ). because they are relatively easy to locate and The forests of West Africa have been they can be dominant feature of the land scape, reported to have the highest t ermite species particularly in savanna ( Abe et al . , 2009 b ). Very richness ( Donovan et al., 2000; Eggleton , large intra - specific variations in mound density 2000 ). For example, in the forests of southern across seemingly homogenous savann a systems Cameroon, termites are one of the most are often observed, like for Macrotermes common of all arthropod groups (Tilahun et al ., bellicosus in central Africa ( Lys and Leuthold , 2012 ). In cultivated systems derived from 1991) . woodland and savanna in West Africa, Approximately 2 , 650 species of termites Ma crotermes is an abundant pest. In the wet have been described to date, and less than 3 % season, M a crotermes were usually concentrated of these cause significant economic damage to in the upper 25 cm, whereas the proportion of buildings or related manmade structures . Similar the population below 50 cm greatly increased in proportions are serious pes ts of crops . The the dry season as t hey moved deeper in the soil termite fauna of urban environments is usually ( Gessner and Leuthold , 2001) . highly depauperate and characterized by wood - In Nigerian riparian forest, report have feeding species, unlike natural habitats that shown that most termites were in the top 25 cm often support much greater species and of the soil profile and had no significant functional diversity. The influence of termites’ difference in abundance across season s (Sileshi on ec osys tem processes a t any site depend s on et al ., 2010) . I n dri er or more seasonal the species composition and abundance of the habitats, v ertical distribution varies with species, local termite assemblage ( Eggleton, 2000 ; Obi soil type and season . This effect wa s probably and Ogunkun le , 2009). However, studies on less pronounced in tropical forests where the termite species , nesting mounds, abundance canopy limits fluctuations in soil temperature . and their act ivity are scanty for the savannah Movement of termites may also be linked to ecological zone of Nigeria particularly around rainfall events. In a seasonal humid forest in Kwara State University campus Guinea Cameroon, Korb (200 3 ) found that both species savannah , Kwara S tate, North - Central, Nigeria . richness and abundance in 10 cm deep soil This research was therefore designed to fill this samples were generally higher in dry periods gap in knowledge. compared with wet periods . Termite activity, such as mound building , subterranean tunneling MATERIALS AND METHODS and soil feeding, improves soil structure and quality. They feed on dead plant material at Study Area: The study was conducted at the different stages of decomposition ( Abe et al., Kwara State Uni versity (KWASU) Malete a nd its 2009a ). They live predominantly in tropical environs. Malete in Moro Local Government regions, where they are by far the most Area is situated within Longitude 8°42'0" N and important decomposer animal. They cause Latitude 4°28'0" E ( Figure 1) (Ajao, 2017) . The damage to trees, wooden structures, earthen State is located in the tropical zone of North - dams, underground electrical cables, wooden Central Nigeria with a land area of 36,825 buildings, wooden furnishings and items made square kilometers and a population of 2,591,555 of pape r ( Yamada et al., 2005 ; Ekpo and (KWADP, 2008). The area experiences two Onigbinde , 2007). seasons, tropical wet and dry climate. The dry Termites have a wide range of dietary, season is from October to March and the wet foraging and nesting habits, with many species season is from March to Sep tember. Kwara showing a high degree of resource State has an annual rainfall range of 1000 mm speciali zation . The vast majority of species feed to 1500 mm. Animal Research International (201 8 ) 1 5 ( 1 ): 2918 – 2925 Mound - building Macrotermes bellicosus in Kwara State University campus 2920 embedded or placed on ground within plots at a regular distance of 10 m . T raps w ere checked twice weekly for the next six weeks . The termites collected per bait ed trap per plot per location were preserved in preserved in 90% ethanol, in vials , sorted, counted and identified . Identification of the collected samples was done with the aid of a hand lens and a dissecting micros cope based on the morp hology of the soldier caste. Features of importance include: Figure 1: Map of Kwara State University, colour , appearance, shape of mandibles, shape Malete showing the study area (Ajao, 2017) of head capsule , number o f abdominal segment s, type of mandible and prese nce of Temperature is uniformly high and ranges teeth on mandibles based on established keys between 25 °C and 30 °C in the wet season (Ahmad, 1950 ; Chhotani, 1997 ; Engel et al. , throughout the season except in July – August 2007 ; Lawal and Banjo, 2007). Similarly, s urvey when the cloud of the sky prevents direct of M. bellicosus activity w as conducted and heatstroke while in the dry season; it ranges recorded on physically damaged or currently fed between 33 °C to 34 °C. The annual upon items as evidenced by mud tunnel, half temperature range s from 22.8 °C to 34.9 °C consumed and trees with observable outer and and the rainfall is abo ut 107.3 mm per month . underground termite activity. Research Design and Sampling Data Analysis : Data analyses were carried out Techniques: The experimental design was an using the Statistical Package for Soc ial Sciences ecological survey carried out in four locations; (SPSS) version 20.0. Descriptive statistics KWASU campus Malete (urban), Jenkunu (frequencies and percentages) was used to (uncultivated area), Apodu (forested) and summarize the occurrence of M. bellicosus in Sunkuso (farmland). Three sampling points study areas. Analysis of variance was used to were taken and was carried out randomly in compare the occurrence of M. bellicosus in each of the localities including Kwara State different site location. University campus. These locations were grouped based on nature of vegetation and RESULTS human activity . The result from the four different locations in Survey of M acrotermes bellicosus Mounds the study show ed that the number of M.