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Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs
Thesis (PhD (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2021.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2021
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| _version_ | 1867613496643944448 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Pirk, Christian Walter Werner |
| author_browse | Pirk, Christian Walter Werner |
| author_facet | Pirk, Christian Walter Werner |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2021. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/81075 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:04.556Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/81075 Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs Pirk, Christian Walter Werner istifanusaiki@tuks.co.za Yusuf, Abdullahi Ahmed Aiki, Istifanus Peni UCTD Entomology Thesis (PhD (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2021. Seven species of mound building termites from five genera were identified thus; Amitermes evuncifer, Cubitermes oculatus, Macrotermes bellicosus, M. subhyalinus, Odontotermes sp., Trinervitermes geminatus and T. occidentalis. Deviating from the norms of using the traditional soldiers’ morphology alone for identification, a proposed identification keys for mound building termites in the savannah using both morphological characters and mound structures were introduced. Two or three of the four types of mound structures; dome, cone, cathedral and mushroom were identified to be associated with the seven species of termites from the Sudan and Sahel savannahs. To address a taxonomic gap especially on termites from West Africa, a novel chemotaxonomic approach that profiles cephalic and cuticular secretions from termites was used to identify them to species level. Termites are known for their abilities to regulate microclimatic conditions within their nests and keep them at optimum through the mounds that they build or the location where they build them. These mechanisms of regulations have been shown to vary between species, with some species adapting passive or active behaviour such as nest site selection and nest structures that permit passive heating or cooling. However, little is known if same species of termites would use similar or different nest cooling mechanisms when they occur in different habitats i.e. if the environment does influence such behaviour. The findings show that most of the termite build their mounds in the shade as against the open in areas with high temperatures indicating preferences for nesting sites. Mound architecture was also found to play a role in thermoregulation within the termites’ mounds. The thesis also looked at the diversity, density, location and types of termites’ mounds from two Nigerian savannahs. It further compared the architectural designs of the mounds built by these species to find out the modes of thermal regulations used. Zoology and Entomology PhD (Entomology) Unrestricted 2021-07-30T13:13:37Z 2021-07-30T13:13:37Z 2021-09-15 2021 Thesis * S2021 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/81075 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Entomology Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs |
| title | Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs |
| title_full | Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs |
| title_fullStr | Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs |
| title_short | Diversity, nesting behaviour, thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two Nigerian savannahs |
| title_sort | diversity nesting behaviour thermoregulation and cephalic secretions of termites from two nigerian savannahs |
| topic | UCTD Entomology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/81075 |