Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-l4ctd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-20T11:31:18.688Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Carbon mineralization in semi-arid northeastern Australia: the role of termites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

John A. Holt
John A. Holt
Affiliation:
Division of Soils, CSIRO, PMB PO Aitkenvale, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The contribution of a population of mound building, detritivorous termites (Amitermes laurensis (Mjöberg)) to nett carbon mineralization in an Australian tropical semi-arid woodland has been examined. Carbon mineralization rates were estimated by measuring daily CO2 flux from five termite mounds at monthly intervals for 12 months. Carbon flux from the mounds was found to be due to microbial activity as well as termite activity. It is conservatively estimated that the association of A. laurensis and the microbial population present in their mounds is responsible for between 4%–10% of carbon mineralized in this ecosystem, and the contribution of all termites together (mound builders and subterranean) may account for up to 20% of carbon mineralized. Regression analysis showed that rates of carbon mineralization in termite mounds were significantly related to mound moisture and mound temperature. Soil moisture was the most important factor in soil carbon mineralization, with temperature and a moisture X temperature interaction term also exerting significant affects.

Keywords

Australiacarbon mineralizationmicrobial activitynutrient cyclingsemi-arid tropicstermites
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , August 1987 , pp. 255 - 263
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Bodine, M. C. & Ueckert, D. N. 1975. Effect of desert termites on herbage and litter in a shortgrass ecosystem in west Texas. Journal of Range Management 28:353–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, C. A. 1978. Soil organic carbon, nitrogen and fertility. Pp. 173–271 in Schnitzer, M. & Khan, S. U. (eds). Soil organic matter. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 319 pp.Google Scholar
Collins, N. M. 1983. Termite populations and their role in litter removal in Malaysian rainforests. Pp. 311–325 in Sutton, S. L., Whitmore, T. C. & Chadwick, A. C. (eds). Tropical rain forest: ecology and management. Blackwell, Oxford. 512 pp.Google Scholar
Crawford, C. S. 1979. Desert detritivores: a review of life history patterns and trophic roles. Journal of Arid Environments 2:31–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flanagan, P. W. & Van Cleve, K. 1977. Microbial biomass, respiration and nutrient cycling in a black spruce taiga ecosystem. Pp. 261–273 in Lohm, U. & Persson, T. (eds). Soil organisms as components of ecosystems Ecological Bulletin. 25. 614 pp.Google Scholar
Fyfe, R. V. & Gay, F. J. 1938. The humidity of the atmosphere within the mounds of Eutermes exitiosus Hill. Council Science and Industrial Research Pamphlet 82:1–2.Google Scholar
Holt, J. A., Coventry, R. J. & Sinclair, D. F. 1980. Some aspects of the biology and pedological significance of mound-building termites in a red and yellow earth landscape near Charters Towers, north Queensland. Australian Journal of Soil Research 18:97–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jenkinson, D. S. 1966. Studies on the decomposition of plant material in soil. II. Partial sterilization of soil and the soil biomass. Journal of Soil Science 17:281–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Josens, G. 1983. The soil fauna of tropical savannas. III. The termites. Pp. 505–524 in Bourliere, F. (ed.). Ecosystems of the World 13. Tropical savannas. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam. 730 pp.Google Scholar
Lee, K. E. & Wood, T. G. 1971. Termites and soils. Academic Press, London. 251 pp.Google Scholar
Ohiagu, C. E. & Wood, T. G. 1979. Grass production and decomposition in Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria. Oecologia Berlina 40:155–165.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reichle, D. E. 1977.The role of soil invertebrates in nutrient cycling. Pp. 145–156 in Lohm, U. & Persson, T. (eds). Soil organisms as components of ecosystems Ecological Bulletin 25. 614 pp.Google Scholar
Ryan, T. 1984. Centering data. Minitab Users Group Newsletter 4:1–2.Google Scholar
Schlesinger, W. H. 1977. Carbon balance in terrestrial detritus. Annual Review of Ecology of Systematics 8:51–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soil Survey Staff, U.S.D.A. 1975. Soil taxonomy, a basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. U.S.D.A Handbook 436. Government Printer, Washington D.C. 754 pp.Google Scholar
Sφrensen, L. H. 1974. Rate of decomposition of organic matter in soil as influenced by repeated airdrying-rewetting and repeated additions of organic material. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 6:287–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spain, A. V., John, R. D. & Okello-Oloya, T. 1983. Some pedological effects of selected termite species at three locations in north-eastern Australia. Pp. 143–149 in Lebrun, , Ph., Andre, H. M., De Medts, A., Gregoire-Wibo, C. & Wauthy, G. (eds). New trends in soil biology, Proceedings VIII Inter national Colloquium of Zoology. 709 pp.Google Scholar
Stace, H. C. T., Hubble, G. D., Brewer, R., Northcote, K. H., Sleeman, J. R., Mulcahy, M. J. & Hallsworth, E. G. 1968. A handbook of Australian soils. Rellim Press, Glenside, S.A. 435 pp.Google Scholar
Swift, M. J., Heal, O. W. & Anderson, J. M. 1979. Decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Black-well Scientific Publications, London. 372 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wildung, R. E., Garland, T. R. & Buschbom, R. L. 1975. The Interdependent Effects Of Soil Temperature And Water Content On Soil Respiration Rate And Plant Root Decomposition In Arid Grassland Soils. Soil Biology And Biochemistry 7:373–378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar