Contrasting termite diversity and assemblages on granitic and basaltic African savanna landscapes

Termites are recognised soil ecosystem engineers in the tropics and sub-tropics, making the understanding of their distribution a priority. However, there is a poor understanding of how differences in soil properties and plant biomass productivity affect termite species diversity. We compared the di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInsectes sociaux Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 25 - 35
Main Authors Muvengwi, J., Davies, A. B., Parrini, F., Witkowski, E. T. F.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cham Springer International Publishing 01.02.2018
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Aridity
Basalt
Biodiversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climatic conditions
Entomology
Geology
Landscape
Life Sciences
Nutrient content
Nutrient status
Nutrients
pH effects
Plant biomass
Productivity
Research Article
Soil conditions
Soil properties
Species diversity
Termites
Tropical environments
Wood
Feeding groups
Semi-arid savanna
Zimbabwe
Species density
Geology
Soil fertility
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Summary:Termites are recognised soil ecosystem engineers in the tropics and sub-tropics, making the understanding of their distribution a priority. However, there is a poor understanding of how differences in soil properties and plant biomass productivity affect termite species diversity. We compared the diversity of termites between two soils of differing geological provenance (basalt and granite), and consequently contrasting nutrient content, but subject to similar climatic conditions in a semi-arid Zimbabwean savanna. Basaltic soils contained more dead wood, and were more nutrient-rich than granitic soils, with significantly higher exchangeable Ca and Mg, and available P, and a less acidic pH. However, despite this higher soil nutrient status on basalts, functional and taxonomic termite diversity was higher on granites, although termite abundance was similar between the geological formations. Termite assemblages differed between the geological formations, with very little overlap. We conclude that termite diversity is highly influenced by soil productivity, with nutrient-poor soils having higher diversity, potentially due to reduced competitive exclusion or differences in species adaptation to soil conditions.
ISSN:0020-1812
1420-9098
DOI:10.1007/s00040-017-0582-7