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Two new monotypic genera,EthiodispusKhaustovgen. nov. with type speciesE. asensillusKhaustovsp. nov., andAfrodispusKhaustovgen. nov. with type speciesA. macroungulosusKhaustovsp. nov. (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Microdispidae) are described fromMacrotermes subhyalinus(Rambur) (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Ethiopia. The taxonomic position of the new genera is discussed. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:851FCB28-E7A2-4F25-B45E-BEEB3D4FD04A [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around Lubumbashi, the introduction of large-scale pivot-irrigated agriculture entails leveling of large termite mounds during field preparation. The effect on soil fertility and crop yield (Solanum tuberosum and Alium cepa) is evaluated along 11 transects extending from a former termite mound location to reference soil that received no termite mound material. Spreading mound material was found to increase the pH, calcium carbonates CaCO3content, and the amount of resin-extractable phosphorus (P), other possible effects being undone by fertilizer application. On the other hand, poor physical properties of the mound material seem to have adverse effects on crop production. While the benefits of spreading out mound material seem limited for large-scale farmers with access to fertilizers, the use of mound material may present an opportunity to resource-poor farmers throughout the miombo eco-region, provided that the application of mound materials is optimized and that any adverse effect on soil physical properties can be mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to assess the dynamics of oxyhydroxides via termite mounds in a tropical savannah of Central Nigeria, where the soils often contain oxyhydroxides as a major component of soil minerals. To this end, the quantities of oxyhydroxides stored in mounds built byMacrotermes bellicosus(Smeathman) were compared to those stored in surface (Ap1) soils, and their turnover rates were estimated. Both the mound wall and nest ofM. bellicosuswere enriched two- to 10-fold with acidified ammonium oxalate soluble iron (Feo) and aluminum (Alo) and dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) soluble iron (Fed) and aluminum (Ald) relative to the adjacent surface soil horizon. These oxyhydroxide contents were positively correlated with the clay content (P < 0.05), suggesting thatM. bellicosuspreferentially used silicate clay-associated oxyhydroxides for mound construction. The Fed, Aldand DCB-soluble manganese (Mnd) preserved in theM. bellicosusmounds ran up to 112 ± 25.6, 5.72 ± 1.41 and 2.17 ± 0.68 kg ha−1, accounting for 1.91 ± 0.23%, 1.00 ± 0.60% and 0.35 ± 0.09% of the total amount stored in the surface soil horizon, respectively. Furthermore, the estimated turnover rates of Fed, Aldand Mndwere 6.6, 0.33 and 0.14 kg ha−1year−1, respectively. These findings suggest that the mound-building termites significantly impacted the dynamics of free oxyhydroxides in an African savannah soil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Homeostasis is a process that counteracts out-of-balance fluxes of energy and matter so that a variety or conditions can be maintained. In buildings, we use mechanical assistance to counteract out-of-balance fluxes to achieve comfortable living conditions. Many species in nature have evolved behaviours that are homeostatic, and we might learn alternative strategies by studying them. The mound building termites, Macrotermes, construct sophisticated structures that enable the metabolic demand of the nest to be met by intercepting the prevailing wind. Ventilation of the mound and nest is 'tidal' and the internal structure is vascularized, so by mimicking tidal and vascularized systems in our own natural ventilation designs we could improve performance and effectiveness. The principle of homeostasis could be used as a concept to develop building elements that adapt to changes in environmental conditions and indoor demands. Distributed communication and control based on 'stigmergy' may enable engineers to design systems that required less energy and computing power. Additive construction methods give us freedom to design more flexible and natural looking building forms within the constraints of homeostasis and to integrate sophisticated internal configurations, with integrated adaptive and responsive capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites play a significant role in soil-forming processes of the tropics. The influence of termites on pedogenesis as affected by the toposequence, however, has rarely been explored. We investigated the soil physicochemical and morphological characteristics of epigeal mounds constructed by Macrotermes bellicosus (Smethman) compared with those of surrounding pedons along a toposequence (bottom, fringe and upland sites) of an inland valley in central Nigeria. The physicochemical and morphological properties of the mound soils varied according to structural units but were generally different from those of the adjacent pedons. The differences included finer texture, higher electrical conductivity, total N, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg and K) and effective cation exchange capacity and lower C/N ratio and exchange acidity in the mound than the pedon at each toposequence position. This tendency to modify the soil properties was more prominent in the nest body where the termites actually live, that is, in the hives, royal cell and base-plate, than in the soils below the nest and the other mound parts, that is, the external wall, internal wall and pillars. We found this trend to a greater or lesser degree at all toposequence positions. Our findings suggest that: (1) M. bellicosus can manipulate the mound soils according to functional applications of structure units or environmental requirements for its livelihood, regardless of local soils; (2) M. bellicosus makes ecological patches (hot spots) at all toposequence positions in the same measure; (3) the influence of M. bellicosus on the pedogenesis is reduced in the lowlands compared with the uplands because the number and volume of the mounds were substantially lower in the bottom and fringe sites compared with the upland site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Macrotermes barneyi Light (Isoptera: Termitidae) was determined. This mitochondrial genome is 15,940 bp with 37 typical animal mitochondrial genes and an A+T-rich region. Gene positions and directions are identical to that of the pupative ancestral arrangement of insects. All protein-coding genes start with ATN codon. Seven protein-coding genes stop with termination codon TAA. Four protein-coding genes use incomplete stop codons TA and two use T. The base composition of M. barneyi mitochondrial genome is normal to most insects. All of the 22 tRNA genes, ranging from 63 to 76 bp, have a typical cloverleaf structure except for trnS2. In trnS2, D-stem pairings in the DHU (dihydrouridine) arm is absent as in many sequenced insect species. Five elements characterized by A+T-rich region of the insect mitochondrial genome are found on their conserved arrangement. However, no repeat sequence is present on the downstream of the A+T-rich region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of a fungus-growing termite,Macrotermes natalensis, with the total length of 16,325 bp, is reported for the first time. This mtgenome harbors 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 control region (D-loop). The total base composition is 44.1% of A, 21.5% of T, 11.5% of G, and 22.9% of C, so the percentage of A and T (65.6%) is much higher than that of G and C. Most of the genes are distributed on H-strand, except for four subunit genes (ND1, ND4, ND4L, ND5) and eight tRNA genes. All protein-coding genes start with an ATN codon, and terminate with the canonical stop codon (TAA/TAG) or a single T (T– –). The complete mitochondrial genome sequence reported here adds a new genetic resource for the genusMacrotermesand might be useful for phylogenetic and systematic analyses within the genusMacrotermes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]