Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory
Nests made by the Najdian termite, Microtermes najdensis, were studied. The climate, soil, intact wood, and nest wall were investigated. The entryways of the termite nests were located at the southwest direction, which promotes better ventilation. The internal temperature (IT) was warmer than the ou...
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North Carolina State University
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24102 |
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| author | Sherif S. Hindi Khalid Asiry |
| author_facet | Sherif S. Hindi Khalid Asiry |
| author_sort | Sherif S. Hindi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nests made by the Najdian termite, Microtermes najdensis, were studied. The climate, soil, intact wood, and nest wall were investigated. The entryways of the termite nests were located at the southwest direction, which promotes better ventilation. The internal temperature (IT) was warmer than the outer temperature (OT) during cold days, while it was cooler than the hottest OT on hot days, and vice versa. The IT had more constancy than the OT. Moreover, the IT trended toward the upper OT’s limit, indicating that termites prefer the hotter atmospheres. Lignin is the prominent tracer of the organic matter used as a binder for the nest wall due to its gluability and resistance to enzymatic or fungal degradation. Features resembling microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were discovered for the first time in the nest mortar reinforcing Klason lignin. Their presence was attributed to enzymatic hydrolysis by the termites and/or their accompanying fungal community. The gross heat of combustion (GHCs) of the intact wood and nest wall were studied. Finally, a theory illustrating the fabrication of termite nests was postulated. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc29e4ce5eb34e5eb2ee7d686b560777 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1930-2126 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | North Carolina State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BioResources |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc29e4ce5eb34e5eb2ee7d686b5607772025-08-20T02:13:48ZengNorth Carolina State UniversityBioResources1930-21262025-04-01202449545403064Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction TheorySherif S. Hindi0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4013-4076Khalid Asiry1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6195-7314 Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdullaziz University (KAU), Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Agriculture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaNests made by the Najdian termite, Microtermes najdensis, were studied. The climate, soil, intact wood, and nest wall were investigated. The entryways of the termite nests were located at the southwest direction, which promotes better ventilation. The internal temperature (IT) was warmer than the outer temperature (OT) during cold days, while it was cooler than the hottest OT on hot days, and vice versa. The IT had more constancy than the OT. Moreover, the IT trended toward the upper OT’s limit, indicating that termites prefer the hotter atmospheres. Lignin is the prominent tracer of the organic matter used as a binder for the nest wall due to its gluability and resistance to enzymatic or fungal degradation. Features resembling microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were discovered for the first time in the nest mortar reinforcing Klason lignin. Their presence was attributed to enzymatic hydrolysis by the termites and/or their accompanying fungal community. The gross heat of combustion (GHCs) of the intact wood and nest wall were studied. Finally, a theory illustrating the fabrication of termite nests was postulated.https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24102termitethermoregulatornest mortarligninmicrocrystalline cellulosenanocrystalline cellulose |
| spellingShingle | Sherif S. Hindi Khalid Asiry Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory BioResources termite thermoregulator nest mortar lignin microcrystalline cellulose nanocrystalline cellulose |
| title | Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory |
| title_full | Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory |
| title_fullStr | Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory |
| title_short | Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory |
| title_sort | environmental and chemical investigation of mortar of termite nests at hada al sham saudi arabia for biomimicry of ecofriendly constructions a new construction theory |
| topic | termite thermoregulator nest mortar lignin microcrystalline cellulose nanocrystalline cellulose |
| url | https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24102 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sherifshindi environmentalandchemicalinvestigationofmortaroftermitenestsathadaalshamsaudiarabiaforbiomimicryofecofriendlyconstructionsanewconstructiontheory AT khalidasiry environmentalandchemicalinvestigationofmortaroftermitenestsathadaalshamsaudiarabiaforbiomimicryofecofriendlyconstructionsanewconstructiontheory |