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Soil modification by termites in a sandy-soil vegetation in the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2013

Tathiane Santi Sarcinelli ,
Carlos Ernesto Gonçalves Reynaud Schaefer ,
Elpídio Inácio Fernandes Filho ,
Reginaldo Gonçalves Mafia  and
Andreza Viana Neri
Tathiane Santi Sarcinelli
Affiliation:
Soil Science Department, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-000, Viçosa-MG, Brazil
Carlos Ernesto Gonçalves Reynaud Schaefer*
Affiliation:
Soil Science Department, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-000, Viçosa-MG, Brazil
Elpídio Inácio Fernandes Filho
Affiliation:
Soil Science Department, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-000, Viçosa-MG, Brazil
Reginaldo Gonçalves Mafia
Affiliation:
Soil Science Department, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-000, Viçosa-MG, Brazil
Andreza Viana Neri
Affiliation:
Soil Science Department, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, 36570-000, Viçosa-MG, Brazil
*
1Corresponding author. Email: carlos.schaefer@ufv.br
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Abstract:

Termites play a critical role in the regulation of soil processes, for example, water retention, nutrient cycling, and the formation and maintenance of soil structure. There is a consensus that mound-building termites modify physical and chemical soil properties in clay soils, but there is limited investigation into their influence for sandy soils in the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest. We tested the hypotheses that the termitosphere effectively improves properties of sandy soil, and that the role of termite soil particle selection is of greater importance in soils with higher sand concentration and lower nutrient status. The work was conducted in three vegetation physiognomies: woodland, savanna and grassland. In the woodland physiognomy we sampled in the border and in the interior, totalling four studied areas. We described a soil profile and collected five samples of termitaria and surface soil in each area. Also, in three 100-m2 plots allotted in each area, termite-mound density and volume were estimated, and termites were collected for taxonomic identification. Soil samples were submitted to physical and chemical analysis, and regression models were employed to analyse termite particle selection ability in different soil conditions. In most areas, the concentrations of nutrients, organic carbon and clay-size particles were significantly higher in termite mounds than in surface soils. On a weight basis, termite mounds had up to 32 times more nutrients, 12 times more organic carbon, and five times more clay than surrounding soils, however, aluminium toxicity was lower in termite mounds. Regression models demonstrated that the role of termites in soil particle selection is of greater ecological importance with decreasing soil nutrient status and increasing sand concentration. Therefore, termites greatly improve soil properties, representing truly ecosystem engineers in sandy soils, with an average soil turnover by mound-building activity reaching 10.5 m3 ha−1.

Keywords

coastal tablelandsecosystem engineerssavanna vegetationsoil termitestermitosphere
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 29 , Issue 5 , September 2013 , pp. 439 - 448
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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