This is part of a study on the litter dynamics of Southern Guinea savanna, with special reference to the role of termites (Isoptera) as decomposers of wood and leaves.The biomass of accumulated wood litter on the 6 ha study area varied from 2.299 to 3.488 t ha, with a mean of 2.821 t ha Leaf litter biomass varied from 0.290 to 1.643 t ha, with a mean of 0.903 t ha. The measured decomposition constant for wood of 51% a agreed well with a calculated value of 49% a. Leaf decomposition was calculated as 264% a. Termites removed an estimated 835.5 kg haa of wood litter (60% of annual wood-fall), and 68.4 kg haa of leaf litter (3% of annual leaf-fall), i.e. 24% of total annual litter production. Conversely, the annual bush-fire removed 1.173 t haa (49%) of annual leaf-fall but only 3 kg haa (0.2%) of annual wood-fall, i.e. 31% of total annual litter production. Baiting studies showed that the fungus-growing Macrotermitinae took 95% of the litter removed by termites (23% of annual litter production).The ability of the Macrotermitinae to utilise fresh litter is a diagnostic feature of decomposition processes in Southern Guinea and other savanna ecosystems. Their fungus combs produce a processed diet which allows the Macrotermitinae to feed in a seasonally arid environment where the curtailment of free fungal and microbial activity inhibits feeding by other decomposer invertebrates.
The macrofauna of the soils on the west ridge of Gunung Mulu in 4th Division, Sarawak, were sampled during February and March 1978. The eleven sampling sites ranged from near the base of the mountain at 130 m a.s.1. to the summit at 2.376 m.Altitudinal changes from lowland rain forest (mixed dipterocarp forest) to lower montane and upper montane rain forests are concomitant with changes in soil from red yellow podzolics and regosols to peaty gley podzolics and organic peats.The abundance of the total macrofauna declined from 2,579 individuals m at 130 m to 145 m at 2,376 m. Declining population densities of ants and termites correlated significantly with increasing altitude but the effect on other groups was variable. Changes in total biomass were erratic and varied from 4.1-6.2 g m (alc. w.w.) in the dipterocarp forest soils to 5.8 g m in the lower montane, 9.3-20.2 g m in the upper montane (tall facies) and 1.9-9.5 g m in the upper montane (short and summit facies). Only the decline in the biomass of termites and ants correlated significantly with altitude. Other groups remained fairly constant, varied erratically or increased in the middle altitudes.The dipterocarp forest soil macrofaunal biomass was dominated by termites, beetles and earthworms (Megascolecidae and Moniligastridae), with ants the dominant predators. The lower montane forest was a transitional and ill-defined zone on the mountain and the soil macrofauna was also transitional to some extent. Termite biomass fell substantially and earthworms replaced them as the dominant detritivores, with beetles in a secondary role. Formicidae remained as the major predators. With the inception of peats in the upper montane forest (tall facies), the macrofauna was dominated by Coleoptera with earthworms, Diptera larvae and Blattodea in lesser roles. With increasing exposure in the upper montane forests (short and summit facies), several major groups disappeared altogether. The soils were dominated by Blattodea with Coleoptera and Megascolecidae of lesser importance. Chilopoda and Arachnida replaced Formicidae as the dominant predators.
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