Species composition, relative abundance, and diversity of termites (Blattodea: Insecta: Isoptera) in the Kwara State Univerity Campus, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Termites are widely dispersed throughout the tropics and attain the highest diversity and abundance in the rainforests of Africa. Understanding their diversity in areas with human activities can provide insights into the local biodiversity and health of the ecosystem. The present study investigated the abundance and diversity of termite species at the Kwara State University campus. The study area was divided into five zones, and thorough examinations of all microhabitats were conducted to detect termite presence. Random handpicking and transect sampling methods were employed to evaluate termite diversity. There were 353 instances of termites encountered between May 2021 and August 2022. The analysis revealed eight termite species in seven genera and three subfamilies. Among these, Trinervitermes geminatus had the highest relative abundance at 48.7 %, whereas Fulleritermes tenebricus had the lowest at 1.98 %. All identified species belonged to the family Termitidae, with subfamilies Nasutitermitinae accounting for 50.7 %, Macrotermitinae for 37.7 %, and Termitinae for 11.6 % of the species. Grass-feeding Trinervitermes geminatus was the most frequently collected species, followed by fungus-growing Macrotermes subhyalinus; both were found across all five campus zones. The species diversity and richness indices observed in the five zones were moderately high. The considerable abundance of termites within the university campus suggests their significance in the ecosystem. There is a need to document termite species present in an ecosystem with human activities because it helps to monitor biodiversity loss in the environment.