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. Conclusion 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.
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机译：背景技术这项研究的目的是调查老挝中部一个雨养水稻种植村庄中白蚁土丘和白蚁的本地利用情况，该国稻米产量低且逐年变化，并评估其可能性。未来白蚁丘的可持续利用。这项研究从2007年至2009年进行。方法从白蚁的丘和周围地区收集白蚁并进行鉴定。采访了二十名村民关于白蚁在村中的使用及其土堆的情况。在2009年3月初，7月初和11月中旬至11月下旬测量了63个土墩，以确定其尺寸。结果在调查期内记录了11种mit。人们发现，村民们用白蚁丘作为肥料来种植水稻，蔬菜床和木炭窑。村民们收集白蚁作为食物，并作为繁殖鱼类的饲料。在调查期内，被调查的土墩数量增加了81％。但是，由于完全切掉了几只土墩，估计体积平均减少了0.114 m 3 mound -1 year -1 。结论结论是，目前村民对土墩的利用是不可持续的。为了确保将来白蚁的可持续利用，应该进行研究以增强促进白蚁恢复土墩的因素。此外，在准确测量了稻田和森林的土丘土壤质量变化之后，有必要改进村民的土丘保护方法。还应研究影响土丘利用的社会经济因素。
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