title: Indigenous utilization of termite mounds and their sustainability in a rice growing village of the central plain of Laos.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate the indigenous utilization of termite mounds and termites in a rain-fed rice growing village in the central plain of Laos, where rice production is low and varies year-to-year, and to assess the possibility of sustainable termite mound utilization in the future. This research was carried out from 2007 to 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  The termites were collected from their mounds and surrounding areas and identified. Twenty villagers were interviewed on their use of termites and their mounds in the village. Sixty-three mounds were measured to determine their dimensions in early March, early July and middle to late November, 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven species of Termitidae were recorded during the survey period. It was found that the villagers use termite mounds as fertilizer for growing rice, vegetable beds and charcoal kilns. The villagers collected termites for food and as feed for breeding fish. Over the survey period, 81% of the mounds surveyed increased in volume; however, the volume was estimated to decrease by 0.114 m3 mound(-1) year(-1) on average due to several mounds being completely cut out.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that current mound utilization by villagers is not sustainable. To ensure sustainable termite utilization in the future, studies should be conducted to enhance factors that promote mound restoration by termites. Furthermore, it will be necessary to improve mound conservation methods used by the villagers after changes in the soil mass of mounds in paddy fields and forests has been measured accurately. The socio-economic factors that affect mound utilization should also be studied.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Biological Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan. miya@gifu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyagawa
authors.forename: Yusaku
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kokubo
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Yoshinao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Sengdeaune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivilay
authors.forename: Nobumitsu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawakubo
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oba
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods; D002606:Charcoal; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005399:Fishes; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D020049:Isoptera / Q000145:classification*; D007812:Laos; D012275:Oryza / Q000254:growth & development*; D012424:Rural Population; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D002606:Charcoal