Térmites (Insecta: Isoptera) consumidores de liteira na Ilha de Maracá, Roraima.

Bandeira, Adelmar Gomes

doi:10.1590/1809-43921991211023

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

(1 reference statement)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Abiotic processes cannot explain the disparity between forest edges, thus changes in the activity of the decomposer fauna are almost certainly at the heart of the issue. The most obvious candidates for the patchy removal of such vast quantities of litter are litter-feeding termites of the genus Syntermes, which may consume in excess of 40±50% of litter in forests in Central Amazonia (LuizaÄ o and Schubart 1986;Bandeira 1991). Colonies and foraging activities are patchily distributed (Salick et al 1983), and sites of unusually high litter decomposition may have been located by chance near termite colonies.…”

Section: Contrasting Edge Eectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered leaf-litter decomposition rates in tropical forest fragments

1998

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of forest fragmentation on leaf-litter decomposition rates were investigated for the first time in an experimentally fragmented tropical forest landscape in Central Amazonia. Leaf-litter decomposition rates were measured at seven distances (0-420 m) along forest edge-to-interior transects in two 100-ha fragments, two continuous forest edges, and at an identical series of distances along two deep continuous forest transects, as well as at the centers of two 1-ha and two 10-ha fragments. Decomposition rates increased significantly towards the edge of 100-ha forest fragments. Litter turnover times were 3-4 times faster within 50 m of the edge of 100-ha fragments than normally found in deep continuous forest. In contrast, there was no significant change in the rate of leaf-litter decomposition from the interior to the edge of continuous forest. It is difficult to account for these very different edge responses. Decomposition rates were not correlated with air temperature differentials, evaporative drying rates, litter depth, biomass or moisture content, or with total invertebrate densities, either within individual edge transects or across all sites. The difference in edge response may be due to chance, particularly the patchy removal of vast quantities of litter by litter-feeding termites, or may be a real, area-dependent phenomenon. Clearly, however, forest fragmentation increases the variability and unpredictability of litter decomposition rates near forest edges. In addition to edge effects, decomposition rates were strongly affected by decreasing fragment area. While sites at the centers of 10-ha and 100-ha forest fragments and continuous forest had equivalent decomposition rates, rates were markedly lower at the centers of 1-ha fragments. Litter turnover times were 2-3 times slower in 1-ha fragments than in continuous forest, and up to 13 times slower than at 100-ha edges. Litter structure and nutrient cycling dynamics are inevitably altered by forest fragmentation.

show abstract

Section: Contrasting Edge Eectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered leaf-litter decomposition rates in tropical forest fragments

1998

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This genus, of which 23 species are known, occurs only in South America (Constantino, 1995). Syntermes species are the most dominant members of the guild of leaffeeding termites in South America, and they are very abundant in rainforests (Bandeira 1991). The nests of Syntermes species can be totally subterranean, the only visible trace being the nest entrances on the soil surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence, body mass and biomass of Syntermes spp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Reserva Ducke, Central Amazonia

Martius

1998

Acta Amaz.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The leaf-feeding species Syntermes molestus and S. spinosus are two dominant termite species in Reserva Ducke in Central Amazonia; two other species (S. aculeosus, S. longiceps) exist in the area. All species except S. aculeosus were also found in urban areas. The workers of S. molestus and S. spinosus have average body dry weights of 4.5±0.2 and 13.1±1.4 mg, and the weight of their soldiers is 8.2±0.2 and 51.0±1.7 mg, respectively. Therefore, S. spinosus is among the largest termites of the world. In both species, fresh weight is about 4.7 higher than dry weight (a wider relation than in other termite species). The biomass of the populations of both species amounted to about 1 g m-2 (dry weight; indirect estimate), which rises previous assessments of the total termite biomass by about 36-45%, to a value of 3.0-3.5 g m-2.

show abstract

“…Essas espécies invariavelmente acumulam o material coletado em seus ninhos, algumas vezes em quantidades extremamente grandes (Lee & Wood 1971). O gênero Syntermes é exclusivamente neotropical (Constantino 1995) e destaca-se como um dos poucos consumidores de folhas da serapilheira (Bandeira 1991). Esses cupins contribuem para a decomposição de várias maneiras: por meio do consumo direto e posterior digestão, pela fragmentação das folhas da serapilheira, aumentando assim a disponibilidade desse material para outros consumidores, e pela adição do material cortado e abandonado na superfície ou no perfil do solo (Medeiros 2001).…”

Section: Grama Plantas Herbáceas E Serapilheiraunclassified

Recursos alimentares explorados pelos cupins (Insecta: Isoptera)

Lima

Costa–Leonardo

2007

Biota Neotrop.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Termites are social insects belonging to the order Isoptera and constitute one of the dominant groups of invertebrates in terrestrial environments of the tropical region. Currently, there are around 2,900 species described in seven families: Mastotermitidae, Kalotermitidae, Termopsidae, Hodotermitidae, Serritermitidae, Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae. The Neotropical region contains 537 species, and from these, approximately 300 occur in Brazil and belong to the families Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae and Termitidae. Although the Isoptera has been known by their potential as pest, the ecological role of the termites in the environment is primordial since they play a role as primary consumers and/or decomposers in natural ecosystems. These insects participate actively in the crushing, decomposition, humus production and mineralization of a variety of cellulose-based resources. A great diversity of organic material, in several stages of decomposition, may serve as food for termites, including wood (sound or decayed), grass, herbaceous plants, litter, fungi, nests built by other termite species, dung and carrion, lichen and even organic material present in the soil (humus). This vast range of food sources allowed the termites to occupy almost all the tropical and temperate regions of the Earth, occurring practically in all the terrestrial environments, natural or modified by the human species. Therefore, termites are found in the tropical and temperate forests, cerrados, savannas, caatingas, shallow places, mangrove regions, low vegetation stems, crops, pastures and urban environments.Keywords: feeding habits, nourishment, food behavior, types of food, feeding-preference. Os cupins são insetos sociais pertencentes à ordem Isoptera e constituem um dos grupos de invertebrados dominantes em ambientes terrestres tropicais. Atualmente, existem cerca de 2.900 espécies descritas, que estão distribuídas em sete famílias: Mastotermitidae, Kalotermitidae, Termopsidae, Hodotermitidae, Serritermitidae, Rhinotermitidae e Termitidae. A região neotropical engloba 537 espécies, e dessas, aproximadamente 300 ocorrem no Brasil e pertencem às famílias Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae e Termitidae. Apesar dos isópteros serem bastante conhecidos pelo seu potencial como praga, o papel ecológico dos térmitas no ambiente é primordial, visto que desempenham o papel de consumidores primários e/ou decompositores nos ecossistemas naturais. Esses insetos participam ativamente na trituração, decomposição, humificação e mineralização de uma variedade de recursos celulósicos. Uma grande diversidade de material orgânico, em vários estágios de decomposição, pode servir de alimento para os cupins, incluindo madeira (viva ou morta), gramíneas, plantas herbáceas, serapilheira, fungos, ninhos construídos por outras espécies de cupins, excrementos e carcaças de animais, liquens e até mesmo material orgânico presente no solo (húmus). Essa vasta gama de fontes alimentares permitiu aos cupins ocuparem quase todas as regiões...

show abstract

Térmites (Insecta: Isoptera) consumidores de liteira na Ilha de Maracá, Roraima.

Abstract: RESUMO Um

Cited by 11 publications

References 1 publication

Altered leaf-litter decomposition rates in tropical forest fragments

Altered leaf-litter decomposition rates in tropical forest fragments

Occurrence, body mass and biomass of Syntermes spp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Reserva Ducke, Central Amazonia

Recursos alimentares explorados pelos cupins (Insecta: Isoptera)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About