Spatial distribution patterns of the populations of two subterranean termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in eucalyptus (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) plantations

Authors

Olaniyi T Alamu, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, NigeriaFollow
Francis K Ewete, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaFollow
Ayangbade E Ayandokun, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, NigeriaFollow
John A Ete, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, NigeriaFollow

Section

Mathematics and Computational Sciences

Abstract

The study was conducted in Afaka, Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria to determine the spatial distribution patterns of the populations of Ancistrotermes sp. and Microtermes sp. in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh, Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Eucalyptus cloeziana F. and Eucalyptus tereticornis Muell plantations. Spatial distributions patterns of the two termite species populations were determined using indices such as ratios of population variance to mean, Lloyd’s index, Green coefficient, Taylor power and Iwao’s regression models. The values of variance to mean ratios, Lloyd’s index and Green coefficient showed that the populations of both termite species had aggregated distribution pattern in all the Eucalyptus species plantations. The distribution patterns of Ancistrotermes and Microtermes differed using Taylor’s and Iwao regression models. The values of R2 in Taylor’s model ranged from 0.02 to 0.99 for Ancistrotermes sp. and 0.29 to 0.99 for Microtermes sp., while in Iwao’s model, R2 ranged from 0.10 to 0.96 for Ancistrotermes sp. and 0.08 to 0.98 for Microtermes sp. The information provided is vital to develop a sound pest management protocol for these termite species. Keywords: Spatial distribution, Ancistrotermes sp., Microtermes sp., Aggregated, Taylor’s model, Iwao’s model

Recommended Citation

Alamu, Olaniyi T; Ewete, Francis K; Ayandokun, Ayangbade E; and Ete, John A (2021) "Spatial distribution patterns of the populations of two subterranean termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in eucalyptus (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) plantations," Tanzania Journal of Science: Vol. 47: Iss. 2, Article 17.
Available at:https://doi.org/10.4314/tjs.v47i2.17