Do the large termite mounds of Macrotermes concentrate micronutrients in addition to macronutrients in nutrient-poor African savannas?

Influence of soil type on the properties of termite mound nests in Southern India

“…Although termites are considered as heterogeneity drivers (sensu Jouquet et al, 2015c) and termite mounds as hot-spots or patches with specific physical, chemical and biological properties at the ecosystem scale (e.g., Konaté et al, 1999;Choosai et al, 2009;Muvengwi et al, 2013;Seymour et al, 2014;Bonachela et al, 2015), very limited data are available on the heterogeneity in soil properties within termite mounds (Erens et al, 2015). Further, to our knowledge, no information is available on the evolution of termite mound properties over time.…”

Ecosystem services of termites (Blattoidea: Termitoidae) in the traditional soil restoration and cropping system Zaï in northern Burkina Faso (West Africa)

“…Jouquet et al (2016) stressed the need for research on the impact of termite foraging activity on soil structure, soil porosity, and water dynamics, especially in agricultural and agroforestry systems. Most research on pedoturbation by termites relates to mound masses (for example, Abe et al, 2012;Tilahun et al, 2012;Seymour et al, 2014), but only a few studies have assessed the impact of soil sheetings on physicochemical soil properties (Lee and Wood, 1971;Bagine, 1984;Jouquet et al, 2002a;Rouland et al, 2003;Ndiaye et al, 2004), which can contain more nutrients and exchangeable cations than the surrounding soil (Jouquet et al, 2002a;Ndiaye et al, 2004). In contrast to mounds, sheetings erode easily and are often replaced; therefore, they are assumed to have a higher impact on local soil properties than nests .…”

Long-term effects of Macrotermes termites, herbivores and annual early fire on woody undergrowth community in Sudanian woodland, Burkina Faso

“…While termites may hoard a large number of seeds during handling of plant materials, the constructed termitaria provides environmental conditions conducive for germination and subsequent establishment of seedlings of hoarded seeds, such as high moisture and nutrient-enriched conditions (Joseph et al, 2012;Konaté et al, 1999;Mahaney et al, 1999;Seymour et al, 2014;Sileshi et al, 2010). Recent studies have demonstrated that a large proportion of frugivorous birds visited vegetated termite mounds, more frequently during the non-breeding season, thereby facilitating seed dispersal (Joseph et al, 2011).…”

“…They modify soil physicochemical and microbial properties through foraging and processing of plant materials, thereby creating "nutrient reservoirs" compared with the surrounding savanna soil (Holt and Lepage, 2000;Joseph et al, 2012;Jouquet et al, 2011;Seymour et al, 2014;Sileshi et al, 2010). In addition, termites have the ability to draw water from afar a field toward their mounds, thereby improving soil moisture status of their mounds (Turner et al, 2006).…”