Wood Litter Consumption by three Species ofNasutitermesTermites in an Area of the Atlantic Coastal Forest in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Termites constitute a considerable fraction of the animal biomass in tropical forest, but little quantitative data are available that indicates their importance in the processes of wood decomposition. This study evaluated the participation of Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Isoptera: Termitidae), N. ephratae (Holmgren), and N. macrocephalus (Silvestri) in the consumption of the wood litter in a remnant area of Atlantic Coastal Forest in northeastern Brazil. The populations of this species were quantified in nests and in decomposing tree trunks, while the rate of wood consumption was determined in the laboratory using wood test-blocks of Clitoria fairchildiana Howard (Fabales: Fabaceae), Cecropia sp. (Urticales: Cecropiaceae), and Protium heptaphyllum (Aublet) Marchand (Sapindales: Burseraceae). The abundance of the three species of termites varied from 40.8 to 462.2 individuals/m2. The average dry wood consumption for the three species was 9.4 mg/g of termites (fresh weight)/day, with N. macrocephalus demonstrating the greatest consumption (12.1 mg/g of termite (fresh weight)/day). Wood consumption by the three species of Nasutitermes was estimated to be 66.9 kg of dry wood /ha/year, corresponding to approximately 2.9% of the annual production of wood-litter in the study area. This consumption, together with that of the other 18 exclusively wood-feeders termite species known to occur in the area, indicates the important participation of termites in removing wood-litter within the Atlantic Coastal Forest domain.

The scaling of colony size with nest volume in termites: a role in population dynamics?

“…Still, the literature is even more silent on this subject: several previous studies measured nest numbers and total biomass for termite species, but did not assess their relation (e.g. Matsumoto, 1976;Meyer et al, 2001;Jeyasingh & Fuller, 2004;Vasconcellos et al, 2007;Vasconcellos & Moura, 2010). However, Lepage (1984) quantified nests and biomass of Macrotermes bellicosus Smeathman in five plots in the Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast.…”

Termite assemblages in five semideciduous Atlantic Forest fragments in the northern coastland limit of the biome

“…Termites possess a great ability to digest cellulose that allows them to redirect a considerable proportion of the energy flow (Wood & Sands 1978). Therefore such organisms are important to the maintenance of the dynamic of litter decomposition processes and flows of energy and nutrients in these ecosystems (Bustamante & Martius 1998;Vasconcellos & Moura 2010). Furthermore, the alterations caused by termite activities on the soil profile influence the availability of resources to organisms belonging to other feeding categories (Lavelle et al 1997).…”

“…Despite the ecological importance of termites, few studies have been developed into assemblage structures of these insects in Brazilian Northeast region, especially in Caatinga and Atlantic Forest complex ecosystems (Bandeira et al 1998;Bandeira et al 2003;Mélo & Bandeira 2004;Vasconcellos 2010;Vasconcellos et al 2010).…”

Mammalian Insectivores Exert Top‐Down Effects on Azteca Ants

“…Like other termites, Nasutitermes spp. remove massive quantities of plant material and play a critical role in cycling nutrients through their ecosystems (Wood & Sands , Vasconcellos & Moura ). Although colonies can persist inside of wood, Nasutitermes workers construct rounded, irregularly shaped epigeal nests of a mud‐like carton formed from saliva and digested wood pulp.…”

“…). Termites in tropical savannah and cerrado (dry woodlands) can outweigh the per hectare biomass of many groups of vertebrates in Amazonian forests (Redford , Vasconcellos & Moura ). Colonies of ants and termites are relatively long‐lived and overall population numbers do not fluctuate widely during the year making them particularly reliable sources of food across space and time (Lubin et al .…”