Termites and Sustainable Management: Volume 1 - Biology, Social Behaviour and Economic Importance PDF
Preview Termites and Sustainable Management: Volume 1 - Biology, Social Behaviour and Economic Importance
Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection Md. Aslam Khan Wasim Ahmad Editors Termites and Sustainable Management Volume 1 - Biology, Social Behaviour and Economic Importance Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection Series editor Aurelio Ciancio, Sezione di Bari, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante, Bari, Italy More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/13031 Md. Aslam Khan • Wasim Ahmad Editors Termites and Sustainable Management Volume 1 - Biology, Social Behaviour and Economic Importance Editors Md. Aslam Khan Wasim Ahmad Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Department of Zoology, Section of Jazan University Nematology Jazan, Saudi Arabia Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection ISBN 978-3-319-72109-5 ISBN 978-3-319-72110-1 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72110-1 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017957654 © Springer International Publishing AG 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. 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Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Foreword Insects have been calling attention over years due to their ecological roles. Termites are the most dominant arthropod decomposer and show high diversity. Their abun- dance in any ecosystem drastically change the below ground biodiversity and are considered to enhance ecosystem productivity. Ecologically, termites act as ecosys- tem engineers as they influence processes and properties of soil structure as well as organic matter decomposition. They also contribute to the establishment of new soil in eroded areas. Over long periods of time, termites can modify the physical proper- ties of soil. Termites are decisive for the functioning and yield of terrestrial ecosys- tems thus important for agricultural sustainability. Majority of the termite are helpful to mankind and are one of the effective organisms in food webs. Despite importance in many ecosystems, destructive activities of termites as a result of their feeding habits cannot be overemphasized. Even though damage con- trol measures have been developed all over the world, termite management is still in infancy, because very little is known about their biology. Therefore, detailed studies related to their biology and behaviour need to be carried out to achieve success in termite management. This edited volume focuses on the biology, social behaviour and economic importance of this cryptic insect. Different chapters in this book provide valuable information in this regard. The editors of this volume together with the authors of the individual chapters have made a remarkable contribution towards inclusion of information and latest research results in this aspect. This information could be use- ful for researchers, educators and students for understanding that most of the termite species are not a pest; they play a vital role in the ecosystem as well as for agricul- tural sustainability. This book comprehensively addresses various issues related to the biology, social behaviour and economic importance of this social insect through the expertise of leading authors worldwide. Finally, this volume in the series Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection is highly innovative in covering together different issues. v vi Foreword I am sure that a new generation of researchers will benefit much from this book. I congratulate the editors and various authors of this volume for such a splendid contribution on this social insect. Kolkata, India K. Venkataraman Former Director, Zoological Survey of India Preface This is the first of two volumes on termites presented in the series Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection. This book deals with the biology, social behaviour and economic importance of this group of insects. The editors and authors have focussed on many basic and applied aspects of termites, including the main factors underpin- ning their ecological role and interactions with humans. The volume includes 12 chapters providing reviews or experimental data on ter- mites’ biology. These deal with their systematics, taxonomy and ecology, their interactions with the surrounding environment, and the role of the gut microbiota and pheromones. Termites are described as a significant source of proteins and fat, used as food in some social contexts. Finally, the ecology and the helpful role of termitaria in minerals’ exploration are revised, in relation to soil removal and displacement. Given the large amount of contributions that the editors were able to assemble, several aspects of management have been moved to the second volume on ter- mites, published within this series. It includes chapters spanning from eco-friendly approaches in termite control to management in organic agriculture and biocontrol, or through botanicals and other products. Since the last decades of the twentieth century, biodiversity conservation and environment protection represent unavoidable steps in many human activities. Although termites are considered only as pests, they are also useful organisms. Only a small fraction of the species in this lineage produce indeed a negative impact on the cultivated field and urban or peri-urban space. On the contrary, many termite groups have a positive impact on the environment, playing a key role in sustaining many ecological processes, including nutrients’ recycling and transport, or acting as primary soil engineers. The present-day challenge is to increase food production by raising the average productivity per unit surface. Most fertile soils are already employed in agriculture, and deforestation has already crossed the acceptable limit. To sustainably increase productivity, we need to effectively expand our knowledge. In particular, we need to increase the expertise about how to replace energy-based production cycles (i.e. vii viii Preface relying on massive use of energy-demanding pesticides or fertilizers) by information- based, more conservative and sustainable approaches. In this perspective, dealing with a complex and successful group of invertebrates, a compendium of information and data on termites appears very helpful. The amount of information provided is impressive and based on the research data pro- duced by the laboratory and fieldwork of many authors. The scientists, who have contributed to and edited the volume, are at a leading edge in the field, both in terms of their experience and scientific production. Their long-term experience may arouse the reader’s interest in their contributions, which are integrated with exten- sive bibliographies. The editors’ endeavour is highly appreciated in the preparation of these two vol- umes that were a result of their endless effort and exhaustive support provided to the contributors. These volumes provide a clearer insight on the biology and role of termites, allowing a better comprehension and knowledge about this diverse and fundamental group of invertebrates. Aurelio Ciancio IPSP-CNR Bari, Italy SUPP Series Editor Preface Termites play a vital role in the ecosystem by recycling waste material at every stage of decomposition. They have an extraordinary ecological impact, playing a key role in global carbon cycle, decomposition processes and nutrients recycling, as a result of their multi-level co-evolution with microorganisms that allows a superefficient utilization of lignocellulosic materials. They alter soil composition and structure, improve drainage and provide soil aeration due to burrowing activities, enhancing soil fertility when the mounds, rich in minerals and nutrients, are crushed down and incorporated into the soil. Thus, termites are referred as true soil engineers owing to their immense contribution in soil building activity. While in temperate zones ter- mites play a minor ecological role, in the tropics they are the most important inver- tebrate decomposer. Termites are an interesting biotechnological model for various industrial applica- tions. These insects have been extensively studied to understand the mechanisms of lignocellulose digestion and their related potential for biofuel production. The ter- mite symbiotic system is a rich resource, promising the discovery of new genes and enzymes. Apart from that, termites are an important food source across sub-Saharan Africa, where they are consumed as delicacies both in rural and urban areas. They are also used in traditional popular medicine. Their ability to withstand adverse environmental conditions is primarily due to their reproduction in large numbers at an astounding rate, along with their social structure. It is, therefore, imperative to study the biology, social behaviour and economic importance of these insects. This volume comprises 12 chapters in an attempt to bring available information on the biology, social behaviour and economic importance of termites. Chapters in this book dealing with termite identification provide a review on most updated information of their systematics. Ecologically, termites interact with living and non- living surroundings and deliver a wide range of behaviours. In a separate chapter, termite ecology is examined and explored. Termites depend on their gut microbes for digestion of complex polysaccharides of wood into simpler molecules. Information provided on gut microbiome and lignocellulose degradation constitutes an important contribution. ix
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