Bugs beneath the surface: the functional significance of soil macroinvertebrates to landscape health in Australia's tropical savannas

Dawes-Gromadzki, Tracy Z.

doi:10.1111/j.1005-295x.2005.00037.x

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Active searching transects, on the other hand, sample all termites, but are labour intensive and often less effective for hard savanna soils (although see e.g. , Dawes-Gromadzki 2005, 2008.…”

Section: Termites (Blattodea: Termitidoidae) Are Important Ecosystem mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Relative Efficiency of Termite Sampling Methods along a Rainfall Gradient in African Savannas

et al. 2013

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Although termites are ecosystem engineers in tropical and sub-tropical environments, the study of termite ecology is often constrained by sampling difficulties and a lack of established sampling protocols, particularly for savannas. The efficiency and relevance of different methods along climatic gradients, even within a single biome, is largely unknown. Here, we compare the relative contribution of two commonly used sampling methods, cellulose baits and active searching transects, in quantifying savanna termite diversity along a rainfall gradient in South Africa; sampling was conducted during the wet season across four markedly different savanna types. We also assessed the usefulness

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Section: Termites (Blattodea: Termitidoidae) Are Important Ecosystem mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Relative Efficiency of Termite Sampling Methods along a Rainfall Gradient in African Savannas

et al. 2013

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“…different 'functional groups'). Consequently different species and groups of species are likely to have different pedological and ecological effects on ecosystem processes such as bioturbation, soil formation, nutrient cycling, soil water infiltration and storage (Jones & Prasetyo 2002;Dawes-Gromadzki 2005b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is also important for the development of sound management practices, e.g. agricultural, grazing and fire management (Abensperg-Traun 1991;Inoue et al 2001;Dawes-Gromadzki 2005b;Dawes-Gromadzki 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance and diversity of termites in a savanna woodland reserve in tropical Australia

Dawes-Gromadzki¹

2008

Australian Journal of Entomology

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This study contributes to the paucity of knowledge on the structure of Australian tropical savanna termite assemblages, compared with that available for tropical savannas elsewhere in the world. Termite species diversity, frequency of occurrence and functional diversity in Charles Darwin National Park, a savanna woodland reserve in tropical northern Australia, were assessed. In four 50 ¥ 50 m sites, a direct search and bait sampling protocol was used to sample mounds, standing and lying dead wood, litter, soil and arboreal nest microhabitats for termites between April and June 2003. Results were compared with a priori predictions of termite community structure based on the work by Braithwaite et al. (1988). Sixteen species from nine genera and three families (Mastotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae) were recorded, including the first record of Ephelotermes taylori (Hill) from open savanna woodland habitat and the first official record of Macrognathotermes errator Miller from north Australian savanna. The family Termitidae represented 69% of termite occurrences. From this family, the wood/soil interface feeder Nasutitermes eucalypti (Mjöberg) represented 30% of encounters. High levels of termite activity were recorded at baits within 6 weeks. Four nesting habits were represented: epigeal (mounds above ground), hypogeal (subterranean nests), nests within wood and arboreal nests. Termites were most frequently encountered in epigeal mounds and lying dead wood. Wood and wood/soil interface feeders were the most common. The findings partially supported the a priori predictions proposed. The termite assemblage structure was represented by species commonly found in other Northern Territory savanna woodland habitats. However, species diversity was lower; soil feeders and live wood feeders were less common and grass-harvesting species were absent. Soil nitrogen and phosphorus and species richness and patchiness of ground vegetation may contribute to these differences. The lower species diversity recorded contrasts with the richer termite faunas of tropical savannas recorded elsewhere.

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“…Sampling was conducted in 2010 and 2011. Termite samples were collected from each plot following a standardized direct search sampling protocol based on searching different microhabitats (Dawes-Gromadzki 2005). Four trained people searched each plot for 1 h (a total of 4 person-hours per plot).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…different 'functional groups'). Consequently different species and groups of species are likely to have different ecological effects on ecosystem components (Dawes-Gromadzki 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Termite assemblage structure on Grazing lands in Semi-arid Nakasongola

Bakuneeta¹,

Nderitu²,

Zziwa³

et al. 2011

ABJNA

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Termites are regarded as the primary cause of vegetation denudation in semi-arid Nakasongola, Uganda. Despite their damage to ecosystem functioning, there have been little efforts devoted to the description of the termite assemblage structure in the area. The study therefore intended to describe the termite assemblage structure with the intension to develop sustainable termite management strategies. The survey yielded 16 termite species from eight genera, three sub-families and one family. Species from the sub-family Macrotermitinae constituted 69% of the total number of species sampled. Members from the genus Macrotermes were the dominant species and constituted 38% of the total number of species sampled. The assemblage comprised of two feeding groups namely Group II and Group IV, with most of the species belonging to Group II. Most of the species were noted to nest in epigeal and hypogeal nests with a few species nesting in wood. Vegetation cover categories were noted to influence species richness. Highest species richness (14 species) occurred in sparse vegetation category followed by dense category (11) and the least (8 species) occurring on bare ground. The termite assemblage of Nakasongola was dominated by Macrotermes species which largely forage on litter and nest in epigeal mounds.

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Bugs beneath the surface: the functional significance of soil macroinvertebrates to landscape health in Australia's tropical savannas

Cited by 16 publications

References 23 publications

Assessing the Relative Efficiency of Termite Sampling Methods along a Rainfall Gradient in African Savannas

Assessing the Relative Efficiency of Termite Sampling Methods along a Rainfall Gradient in African Savannas

Abundance and diversity of termites in a savanna woodland reserve in tropical Australia

Termite assemblage structure on Grazing lands in Semi-arid Nakasongola

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