Confirmation of soil‐feeding termites (Isoptera; Termitidae; Termitinae) in Australia using stable isotope ratios

Tayasu, Ichiro; Inoue, Tsuneo; Miller, L. R.; Sugimoto, Akihiro; Takeichi, S.; Abe, Takuya

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00220.x

Cited by 46 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…3). First, they are highly variable, ranging from nearly pure C 3 to pure C 4 consumers, which is quite similar to the range of variation that has been observed in Australian savanna termites (Tayasu et al, 1998). Second, despite this variability, most have a mixed C 3 /C 4 signal regardless of substrate (mounds or logs).…”

Section: Sedges and Termites In Kruger National Parksupporting

confidence: 63%

Hominins, sedges, and termites: new carbon isotope data from the Sterkfontein valley and Kruger National Park

Sponheimer¹,

Lee‐Thorp²,

Ruiter³

et al. 2005

Journal of Human Evolution

171

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Sedges and Termites In Kruger National Parksupporting

confidence: 63%

Hominins, sedges, and termites: new carbon isotope data from the Sterkfontein valley and Kruger National Park

Sponheimer¹,

Lee‐Thorp²,

Ruiter³

et al. 2005

Journal of Human Evolution

171

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Soldiers were collected and baits were placed back in their original position and orientation. Species were also assigned to feeding groups based on literature available on Australian termites and in situ observations (Braithwaite et al 1988;Spain & Reddell 1996;Tayasu et al 1998;Dawes-Gromadzki & Spain 2003;DawesGromadzki 2005a). The feeding groups were: (1) soil feeders (humus and mineral soil); (2) wood/soil interface feeders (extremely decayed wood that has lost its structure and is friable and soil-like); (3) wood feeders (live wood and/or sound to partially decayed wood excluding extremely decayed and friable wood); (4) litter feeders (leaf-litter and small wood items); (5) grass harvesters (living and dead grass); and (6) polyphagous feeders (opportunists on a range of woody and herbaceous materials).…”

Section: Baitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Dawes-Gromadzki¹

2008

Australian Journal of Entomology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…By using 13 C and 15 N signatures, species can be ascribed to trophic groups (Schmidt et al 1997, Tayasu et al 1998. Similar isotope ratios of species do not necessarily suggest similar food resources, but different isotope ratios point to different diets (Hobson et al 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incorporation of Plant Carbon Into the Soil Animal Food Web of an Arable System

Albers

Schaefer

Scheu

2006

Ecology

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We used stable isotopes to examine the incorporation of plant carbon into the belowground food web of an agricultural system. Plots were established and planted with maize (Zea mays) in a rye field (Secale cereale) near Göttingen (northern Germany) in May 1999. In October 1999, April 2000, and October 2000, meso- and macrofauna and maize and rye litter were collected in each plot and analyzed for 13C and 15N content. 15N signatures suggested that the soil animal species analyzed span three trophic levels with the trophic position of species varying little in time. The species investigated formed a continuum from primary to secondary decomposers to predators. On average, predator species differed from primary and secondary decomposers by 3.9 sigma15N suggesting that they fed on a mixed diet of both decomposer groups. The combined analysis of 13C and 15N signatures allowed us to identify links between prey and consumer species. In October 1999, shortly after maize residues had been incorporated into the plots, maize-born carbon was present in each of the animal species investigated, including top predators. The incorporation of maize carbon into the belowground food web increased during the following 12 months but the concentration of maize-born carbon never exceeded 50% in any of the species. Furthermore, the ranks of the incorporation of maize-born carbon of the species changed little. The results suggest that the belowground food web relies heavily on carbon originating from plant residues from before the recent two growing seasons. In most species the amount of maize-born carbon increased continuously; however, in some species it decreased during winter, suggesting that these species switched to a diet based more on C3 plants during winter, or predominantly metabolized carbon incorporated during the last growing season. The study documents that the combined analysis of 13C and 15N signatures in soil invertebrate species, after replacement of C3 by C4 plants, is a powerful tool to better understand the structure of the belowground food web and the flux of carbon through it.

show abstract

Confirmation of soil‐feeding termites (Isoptera; Termitidae; Termitinae) in Australia using stable isotope ratios

Cited by 46 publications

References 25 publications

Hominins, sedges, and termites: new carbon isotope data from the Sterkfontein valley and Kruger National Park

Hominins, sedges, and termites: new carbon isotope data from the Sterkfontein valley and Kruger National Park

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

Incorporation of Plant Carbon Into the Soil Animal Food Web of an Arable System

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About