The soil structural stability of termite nests: role of clays in Macrotermes bellicosus (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) mound soils

Jouquet, Pascal; Tessier, D.; Lepage, Michel

doi:10.1016/j.ejsobi.2004.01.006

Cited by 117 publications

(122 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…For example, it has been shown that termite activity increases the content of organic matter in the soils that they use for the construction of their nests and also modifies the clay mineral composition of these soil materials (Mahaney et al, 1999;Jouquet et al, 2002;Roose Amsaleg et al, 2004). Abundant literature can be found related to effects of termites on the mobility of a number of soil elements, but the focus is largely on those few elements that are generally considered to be essential for the support or growth of all forms of life (Jouquet et al, 2004;Brossard et al, 2007). The same literature has shown hardly any interest in examining the effect of termite activity on the mobility of trace elements that are generally considered to be nonessential to living systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of termite activity on soil environment: A perspective from their soluble chemical components

Semhi

Chaudhuri

Clauer

et al. 2008

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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An investigation on varied types of termite mounds relative to the nearby soils that are not inhabited by the termites in different places of Cameroon show that the activity of the termites is increasing the contents of most major and some trace elements in the termite mounds, except for Si and sometimes Fe, Mn, Na and K. These released elements are relocated into newly formed mineral phases that are dissolved by either H 2 O or dilute HCl leachings. The Ca and Mn released by the termite activity testify for crystallization of Ca-Mg carbonates and phosphates as well as of Fe oxy-hydroxides and/or Mn hydroxides. Termite activity also induces an increase in the lanthanide contents, the mound materials being especially enriched in light lanthanides relative to the corresponding soils without termite activity. The shapes of the patterns support precipitation of Mn-Fe oxy-hydroxides and Ca carbonates-phosphates. The increased amounts of Eu and Ce linked to termite activity seem to relate to the occurrence of reducing agents that are released by the termites, modifying Eu +3 into Eu +2 and Ce +4 into Ce +3 , favoring in turn selective incorporation of Eu +2 and Ce 3+ in the new phases of the termite mounds. Another consequence of the termite activity is the precipitation of H 2 O and HCl extractable phases having low Sr/Ca ratios. Even if the K/Rb values of the termite mounds are typical for common soil-forming silicate minerals, their relocation by an inorganic process alone does not explain an abnormally high ratio in the H 2 O leachable mineral phases. It was also shown that the main source for K and Rb of the dissolved phases is not only the interlayer site of clay particles, but also nutrients immobilized in and by the termites.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of termite activity on soil environment: A perspective from their soluble chemical components

Semhi

Chaudhuri

Clauer

et al. 2008

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Furthermore, relocation can happen when termite mounds with dying colonies decay and erode. Although intact, inhabited termite mounds often have a dense surface that is particularly impermeable to water (e.g., Lal 1988;Contour-Ansel et al 2000;Jouquet et al 2004), the partial erosion and leaching from inhabited termite mounds may add P to the adjacent soil. However, erosion rates can be variable for a given species: Roose (1981) reported for T. geminatus that erosion of mounds can vary from 810 to 2,670 kg ha À1 year À1 , representing 10-33% of the mound's mass (Brossard et al 2007).…”

Section: Termite Mounds and Phosphorus Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Soil Macrofauna in Phosphorus Cycling

Chapuis‐Lardy¹,

Bayon

Brossard

et al. 2010

Soil Biology

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the redistribution of the soil and other materials in the mounds it is most likely that the subsequent change in texture will be associated with changes in physical properties, like water-holding capacity, infiltration rate, permeability, structural stability and bulk density (Wood & Sand, 1978;Robert et al, 2007). According to Jouquet et al (2004), who studied the soil structural stability of termite nests (Macrotermes bellicosus), the percentage of clay will increase in the mound soil with a concomitant reduction in sand and coarse silt. This gives rise to an increase in the amount of cations, as well as an increase in cation saturation exhibited in the material of the mounds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This gives rise to an increase in the amount of cations, as well as an increase in cation saturation exhibited in the material of the mounds. The increase in the amount of cations would then also increase the pH in the mound soils (Jouquet et al, 2004).The difference in chemistry of the soils of the heuweltjie and inter-mound areas is significant, with enrichment in Ca, Mg, K, P, Mn and N (Midgley & Musil, 1990;Moore & Picker, 1991). Similar results of enhanced levels of exchangeable cations, organic C, N, P and pH have been reported from a wide variety of termite mounds (Lee & Wood, 1971;Pomeroy, 1983;Okello-Oloya et al, 1985;Okwakol, 1987;Ekundayo & Aghatise, 1997; Frageria & Baligar, 2005).…”

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Ecophysiology, Vigour, Berry and wine Quality of Grapevines Growing on and off Heuweltjies

Bekker

Hoffman

Jacobs

et al. 2016

SAJEV

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Heuweltjies are unique landscape features putatively created by the termite Microhodotermes viator through their burrowing and nest-building activities. They have been closely examined in the natural veld of the Western Cape in the recent past and are the focus of many ecological studies, but their effect in cultivated landscapes (e.g. vineyards and orchards) has remained unexplored. This study addresses the vigour and physiology of vines growing on and off heuweltjies, as well as the wine emanating from these vines. This study was conducted on Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz in two climatic regions of the Western Cape, namely Stellenbosch (Mediterranean climate) and Robertson (semi-arid climate) respectively, to better understand how differences in heuweltjie characteristics correspond to differences in rainfall and temperature. Through the use of ANOVAs and Fisher's LSD post hoc tests to indicate statistical significance, it was apparent that the soil on and off heuweltjies differed significantly in respect of several physical and chemical properties. Consequently, soil water content was more favourable on heuweltjies, especially in the Stellenbosch area, where only supplementary irrigation was applied. Heuweltjies induce substantial changes in grapevine vigour and grape composition. Differences in grapevine physiology between heuweltjie and non-heuweltjie plots were subtle, but vine vigour was severely altered on the heuweltjieassociated vines, exhibiting excessive vegetative growth in Stellenbosch and leading to variations in berry and wine characteristics on and off the heuweltjies. The opposite was observed in the semi-arid climate of Robertson. The presence of heuweltjies in vineyards presents an opportunity to produce and market wines with a difference in respect of their characteristics and unique origin. INTRODUCTIONMany vineyards located in the main wine-producing area of South Africa, namely the Western Cape, possess a very unique element that alters its landscape at a micro-level. This unique element has been brought about by the activity of the harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, which builds underground nests, leading to the formation of circular, raised earth mounds, locally called 'heuweltjies' (little hills). Heuweltjies are prominent landscape features in the southwestern parts of South Africa. They occupy roughly 14% to 25% of the land surface (Lovegrove & Siegfried, 1986;Picker et al., 2007), averaging 17 m in diameter and 1.45 m in height (Moore & Picker, 1991). In some areas, heuweltjies can even occupy up to 60% of the surface area in vineyards (Shange et al., 2006) and can modify the landscape considerably. Furthermore, heuweltjies associated with different biomes differ in size, composition and distribution. In the Fynbos biome, heuweltjies are common and can range from 10 to 20 m in diameter and be up to five meters high (Rebelo et al., 2006), with shale or granite layers usually just a few meters beneath the soil surface (Lovegrove & Siegfried, 1986;Knight et al., 1989; F. Ellis,...

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The soil structural stability of termite nests: role of clays in Macrotermes bellicosus (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) mound soils

Cited by 117 publications

References 19 publications

Impact of termite activity on soil environment: A perspective from their soluble chemical components

Impact of termite activity on soil environment: A perspective from their soluble chemical components

Role of Soil Macrofauna in Phosphorus Cycling

Ecophysiology, Vigour, Berry and wine Quality of Grapevines Growing on and off Heuweltjies

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