preprints.org > biology and life sciences > forestry > doi: 10.20944/preprints202309.1492.v1

Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 21 September 2023 / Approved: 21 September 2023 / Online: 22 September 2023 (05:25:35 CEST)

The mortar’s composition, porosity, mechanical properties, entryways’ orientation, and condi-tioning status of the tunnels made by the Najdian Termite, Microtermes najdensis located at Hada Al-Sham village, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia were studied. The most prevalent infected tim-ber trees by this pest were Tamarix aphylla, Pithecellobium duce, Zizyphus spina christi, Leucaena leu-cocephala, Ficus infectoria, and Phoenix dactylifera. Climate, soil, healthy wood (Wh), and termite nest skeleton (TNS) were the four components of the termite system that were investigated physi-cally, chemically, spectroscopically, and by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. It was noticed that the entryways of the termite nests are located at the southwest direction for all the infected trees studied at Hada Al-Sham village that promotes better ventilation. Concerning to the air-conditioning status within the their nest, the internal temperature (IT) was found to be milder than that for its analogous value for the outer temperature (OT) in which the IT was wormer than OT during cold durations, while it was colder than the hottest OT in hot days and vice versa. The IT’s trend had more constantancy with minor fluctuations compared to that for the OT. Moreo-ver, the IT was found to be tended to the upper OT’s limit otherwise its colder one. This finding means that these termite species prefer the hotter atmospheres comparing the colder circumstanc-es. Lignin is the prominent tracer of the organic matter used as a binder for the TNS due to its gluing ability, resistance to enzymatic degradation by the termites and their accompanied fungal community habituating the nests. The presence of both microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was discovered for the first time in the nest mortar reinforcing Klason lignin as the main binder. Their presence was proved by FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM anal-yses and we satisfied that they were naturally-synthesized by the action of enzymatic hydrolysis excreted by the termites and their accompanied fungal community habituating the nests. The gross heat of combustion (GHCs) of the Wh and TNS were studied to try to find an important uti-lization of the infected woods as renewable energy resources instead of disposal them without economic benefits. These findings may be used for interpreting the durability of the termite nests to the different environmental stresses. Biomimicry of the termites’ nest from the perspective of its magic mortar with a suitable permeability, the entryways’ orientation, and the air-conditioning status can lead to modify the current construction’s designs to be more green and ecofriendly.

termite; thermoregulator; nest mortar; lignin; microcrystalline cellulose; nanocrystalline cellulose

Biology and Life Sciences, Forestry

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