Seasonal activity patterns of African savanna termites vary across a rainfall gradient

Davies, Andrew B.; Eggleton, Paul; Rensburg, Berndt J. van; Parr, Catherine L.

doi:10.1007/s00040-014-0386-y

Cited by 72 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…, Davies et al . ). Termite species richness was also positively correlated with abundance and richness of plants and negatively correlated with the proportion of leaves/twigs in the litter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…, Davies et al . ), and hence we postulate that termite diversity would vary according to the distribution of these variables along the elevational gradient. We expected a decrease in termite TD (species richness) and termite FD with elevation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Due to their sensitivity to moisture and temperature (Korb & Linsenmair , Davies et al . ) and to vegetation structure (Gillison et al . ), termites have been used in studies that investigate the influence of environmental factors and disturbance on community structure ( e.g ., Eggleton et al .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity of termites along a tropical elevational gradient

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Patterns of termite richness along elevation gradients may be related to different responses by termite functional groups to changes in environmental conditions. We investigated the distribution of termite species richness along an elevational gradient of cerrado and rupestrian grasslands in the Espinhaço Mountain Range, in Brazil. Fifty termite species were recorded, with the family Termitidae being dominant; 16 species are endemic to open areas of cerrado and 1 species, Cortaritermes rizzinii, is endemic and restricted to mountaintop grassland habitats. Termite richness declined with increasing elevation, with the main factors associated with the reduction being climactic (air temperature, air and soil humidity, and radiation) and vegetation variables. Different termite communities were found along the elevational gradient, which were also strongly influenced by changes in climate and vegetation. On the other hand, the same functional groups were present at the different elevations, although represented by different species.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

mentioning

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity of termites along a tropical elevational gradient

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Termite mounds act as focal feeding sites for both mammalian (Mobæk et al. ) and insect (Davies ) grazers in savanna systems, which likely leads to lower standing biomass and grass cover than would be expected in the absence of herbivores. Potential biomass (biomass in the absence of grazers) is therefore likely to be much higher than observed standing biomass on mounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ecological heterogeneity created by termites through mound construction thus plays a critical functional role in savannas through the provision of nutrient‐rich grass patches which are favoured by herbivores (Mobæk et al. ; Davies ). Furthermore, Macrotermes mounds are predominantly located on nutrient‐poor crests within this landscape (Levick et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable effects of termite mounds on African savanna grass communities across a rainfall gradient

Davies¹,

Robertson

Levick

et al. 2014

J Vegetation Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Questions: Termite mounds of the genus Macrotermes are prominent features in African savannas, forming nutrient hotspots that support greater plant diversity, which is of higher nutritional value than the surrounding savanna matrix. However, little is known about grass communities on and around mounds or how the functional importance of mounds varies across sites. As mean annual rainfall increases, savannas in southern Africa become increasingly dystrophic through increased denitrification (including pyrodenitrification) and 1 the leaching of soil nutrients. The functional importance of mounds is concomitantly expected to increase as the difference in foliar nutrient levels between mounds and the savanna matrix increases. We tested this prediction on grass communities across a rainfall gradient i) to determine the degree to which grass assemblages differ between termite mounds and the savanna matrix, ii) to determine the spatial extent to which mounds influence grass communities, and iii) to investigate whether these patterns differ across savanna types. Location: Kruger National Park, South AfricaMethods: Grass communities were surveyed at three savanna sites differing in mean annual rainfall (550 -750 mm.yr -1 ). Grass diversity and tissue nitrogen concentrations were measured on and off termite mounds and along transects away from mounds in order to calculate the spatial influence of termite mounds on savanna grass communities. Using termite mound densities estimated from airborne LiDAR, we upscaled field-based results to determine the percentage of the landscape influenced by Macrotermes termite activity.Results: Although species richness of grasses was lower on mounds than in the savanna matrix, the assemblage composition varied significantly, with higher nutrient concentrations in grasses located on mounds. This pattern became more distinct with increasing rainfall. The spatial extent of these nutrient-rich grasses also differed across the rainfall gradient, with a larger sphere of influence around mounds in wetter areas. Mounds distinctly altered grass communities over ~2% of the entire landscape. Conclusions:Our results show that Macrotermes mounds are important components of savanna heterogeneity, and reveal that the functional importance of mounds increases with increasing rainfall.

show abstract

Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon

Andres‐Bray,

Smith,

Nichols

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chimpanzee insectivory is seasonally variable, with pronounced peaks or set seasonal periods of consumption observed in most chimpanzee communities. This variation is interesting given that chimpanzees invest considerable effort into complex tool‐using behaviors to acquire insect prey. Evidence suggests this seasonal variation is related to insect behavior, but few studies have been done to empirically examine this relationship. In this study, we assessed whether a seasonal pattern of termite fishing by Nigeria‐Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon was driven by termite behavior. We measured termite presence and termite foraging activity monthly at seven termite mounds near Ganga Research Station from April 2022 to April 2023. Macroscopic fecal analysis and camera traps placed at each mound demonstrated termite fishing in this community occurred from March to June, with a rare smaller period of termite fishing in October 2021. Average monthly rainfall, average monthly temperature, and average monthly fruit availability were used to examine potential environmental factors that could impact termite fishing seasonality. Termite presence was significantly different between months with and without chimpanzee termite fishing (t‐test, −6.569, p < .001). Termite presence was also significantly associated with average monthly rainfall (ANOVA, F = 13.9, p = .002, R2 = .775). Termites in this region appear to respond to the transition from dry to wet seasons by moving closer to the soil surface. This corresponds with greater chimpanzee termite fishing, suggesting that termite accessibility may be driving seasonal variation in this behavior.

show abstract

Seasonal activity patterns of African savanna termites vary across a rainfall gradient

Cited by 72 publications

References 41 publications

Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity of termites along a tropical elevational gradient

Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity of termites along a tropical elevational gradient

Variable effects of termite mounds on African savanna grass communities across a rainfall gradient

Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About