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Diversity
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Diversity and Ecology of Termites
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Diversity and Ecology of Termites

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 5383

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alberto Arab

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Guest Editor
Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Av. dos Estados, 5001, Santo André 09210-580, SP, Brazil
Interests: insect behavior; termite biology; insect–plant interactions
Dr. Robin Casalla Daza

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry and Biology, Universidad del Norte, Kilómetro 5 Antigua Via Puerto Colombia, Puerto Colombia, Atlántico 081007, Colombia
Interests: ecology; taxonomy; termites; biodiversity
Dr. Olga P. Pinzón

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Guest Editor
Facultad del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose de Caldas, Cundinamarca, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
Interests: forest entomology; termite diversity and ecology; DNA barcoding
Dr. Ervin Humprey Duran-Bautista

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Guest Editor
Programa de Ingeniría Agroecológica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia 18001, Colombia
Interests: soil biology; termite ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Termites (Blattodea: Isoptera) are eusocial insects comprising over 3,000 species distributed mainly in the tropical regions. These insects live in colonies consisting of hundreds to millions of individuals. Their colonies are organized into castes that have specific tasks such as nest building, foraging, reproduction, brood care, and colony defense. Their symbiotic association with microorganisms allows termites to digest lignocellulose, making them the major terrestrial decomposers. Termites are classified as eusocial cockroaches, and are receiving increasing attention in evolutionary studies to understand the evolution of eusociality.

Termite provide benefits associated with their crucial role in ecosystem functioning by contributing to waste decomposition, soil formation, nutrient cycling, and pedoturbation, which helps maintain soils. In this context, the protection of these insects should be a priority. Termitology has made great strides in research over the last few decades, as reflected in the growing number of published articles, and this interest in termite research calls for a collection dedicated to these fascinating insects.

This Special Issue is an excellent opportunity to gather the latest advances in termite diversity and ecology, covering a wide range of research areas such as evolutionary biology, genomics, systematics, microbiology, and ethology. We invite contributions from a wide range of scientists, including termitologists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, microbiologists, and geneticists. All organizational levels, from colonies to ecosystems, are considered.

Dr. Alberto Arab
Dr. Robin Casalla Daza
Dr. Olga P. Pinzón
Dr. Ervin Humprey Duran-Bautista
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • diversity
  • niche and ecological functions
  • evolution of eusociality
  • caste development
  • systematics
  • microbe interactions in termites of different feeding guilds
  • population dynamics
  • habitat degradation
  • interaction with termitophiles and inquilines
  • impacts of termite activity on soil formation and properties

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3597 KiB  
Article
Termite (Blattodea: Isoptera) Distribution Along an Elevational Gradient in Northwestern African Mountains
by Aya Najjari, David Hernández-Teixidor, Bilal El Ajjouri, Yousra Benyahia and Ahmed Taheri
Diversity 2024, 16(12), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16120714 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1311
Abstract
We examined the distribution of termites along an elevational gradient in the western Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. Sampling followed standardized protocols at nine forest sites (125, 325, 488, 715, 850, 1150, 1316, 1544, and 1700 masl), all except the lowest site within [...] Read more.
We examined the distribution of termites along an elevational gradient in the western Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. Sampling followed standardized protocols at nine forest sites (125, 325, 488, 715, 850, 1150, 1316, 1544, and 1700 masl), all except the lowest site within the Intercontinental Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve. We found a total of three termite species, with Reticulitermes grassei (Rhinotermitidae) being the most abundant, followed by Kalotermes flavicollis (Kalotermitinae) and Amitermes sp. (Terminidae). Comparing microhabitat preferences, we found R. grassei and Amitermes sp. exclusively in buried wood and under rocks, and K. flavicollis exclusively in dead tree trunks and surface wood. The findings reveal the distribution of microhabitats along an elevation gradient and the corresponding preferences of termite species across these microhabitats. We found that total termite density decreased significantly with elevation (rs = −0.40; p < 0.001), but with distinct differences among species. Kalotermes flavicollis and Amitermes sp. showed a strong negative correlation between density and elevation. In contrast, for R. grassei, the most common termite, we found no significant correlation. Termite density also varied among forest types, with a non-significant trend (p = 0.075) of higher density in the cork oak forest (hits/m2 = 0.06) compared to holm oak (0.04) and fir–cedar (0.02) forests. This research contributes to the limited knowledge of termite diversity and ecology in northern Africa and western Mediterranean forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Termites)
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14 pages, 6861 KiB  
Article
The Gut Microbiome and Lignocellulose Digestion in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae): A Termite Incorporating Lichen into Its Diet
by Alberto Arab, Luciana Campos Paulino, Maria Socorro Lacerda Rolim, Letícia Ramos de Menezes, Mário Herculano de Oliveira, Renato Augusto Corrêa dos Santos, João Paulo Lourenço Franco Cairo, Maria Avany Bezerra-Gusmão, Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo, Hélida Cunha and David Sillam-Dussès
Diversity 2024, 16(10), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16100623 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1540
Abstract
Lichen-feeding termites occupy a distinctive ecological niche. This feeding behavior underscores a complex interplay between the termites’ digestive abilities and the biochemical properties of lichens, known for their resilience and production of secondary metabolites. Understanding the dietary preferences and digestive mechanisms of these [...] Read more.
Lichen-feeding termites occupy a distinctive ecological niche. This feeding behavior underscores a complex interplay between the termites’ digestive abilities and the biochemical properties of lichens, known for their resilience and production of secondary metabolites. Understanding the dietary preferences and digestive mechanisms of these termites offers insights into their ecological roles and the evolutionary adaptations that enable them to exploit such a specialized food source. We conducted experiments with Constrictotermes cyphergaster, feeding it with different combinations of its natural food sources: wood bark and lichen from host trees. Gut microbial communities were analyzed through 16S rRNA sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Our results revealed that a diet containing lichens induces a shift in microbiota composition and increases the abundance of genes encoding an AA3 enzyme with a role in lignin digestion. This study emphasizes the potential role of lichens in enhancing the digestive capabilities of termites, highlighting the intricate relationships between diet, gut microbiota, and enzymatic activity in Termitidae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Termites)
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10 pages, 5616 KiB  
Article
Types and Fecundity of Neotenic Reproductives Produced in 5-Year-Old Orphaned Colonies of the Drywood Termite, Cryptotermes domesticus (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae)
by Wenjing Wu, Zhenyou Huang, Shijun Zhang, Zhiqiang Li, Bingrong Liu, Wenhui Zeng and Chuanguo Xia
Diversity 2024, 16(4), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040250 - 22 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1422
Abstract
Orphaned colonies of Cryptotermes domesticus readily produce replacement reproductives and continue propagation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the production and fecundity of neotenic reproductives in 5-year-old colonies of C. domesticus after orphaning. All 15 experimental colonies were successfully re-established by the [...] Read more.
Orphaned colonies of Cryptotermes domesticus readily produce replacement reproductives and continue propagation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the production and fecundity of neotenic reproductives in 5-year-old colonies of C. domesticus after orphaning. All 15 experimental colonies were successfully re-established by the neotenic reproductive pair. Three types of neotenic reproductives with various wing-bud lengths were observed: type I with micro wing buds, type II with short wing buds, and type III with long wing buds. Four patterns of pairs made up of these neotenics, namely, type I + type II, type I + type III, type II + type II, and type II + type III, exhibited reproductive capacities similar to those of the primary reproductive pair. We speculated that these neotenic reproductives were derived from various nymphal instars. The 5-year-old colonies had three instars of nymphs, with the majority being in the second instar, followed by the first. Thus, the combination of neotenic reproductives with short wing buds and micro wing buds was the dominant differentiation pathway of the orphaned colonies. After the removal of the original primary reproductive pair, the nymphs matured into neotenic reproductives and took over reproduction in the colony in 107.40 ± 15.18 days. This study highlights the importance of quarantine and routine inspection of wood, as well as the significance of early prevention and control of C. domesticus infestation in wood. Moreover, this study confirms the high differentiation and reproductive capacities of C. domesticus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Termites)
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