Diversity and spatial distribution of epigean nest termite communities in semi-deciduous forest areas of Cameroon

Abstract

This study aimed to assess diversity and the spatial pattern of some epigeous nesting termites species. Data were collected in the localities of Lobo and Sep1 respectively. At each site, the experimental set-up consisted of a 100 m x 100 m plot in which X and Y Cartesian coordinates were defined. On each coordinate axis, reference points were placed at 10m intervals to easily locate nests. These data enabled us to collect 14 termites’ species, including 7 at each sampling site. Cubitermitinae were represented by 72.72% of total species collected. With regard to nest density, on average we observed 42.5±12.02 nests ha-1 and 49.41% of these were inactive. Predation pressure from Dorylus sp. ants is assumed to be the cause of this high percentage of inactive nests. The termite species associated with these nests did not interact, despite the colonies' spatial distribution being aggregated in the plots. This would be caused by the feeding behavior of some soil-feeding termites’ species which feed on distinct soil components, as well as by niche filtering, which is the process that allows the species to cohabit.