Cited by 67Insect and Arachnid Ecology and BehaviorEcology and biodiversity studiesSoil and Unsaturated Flow

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TERMITES AS MEDIATORS OF THE WATER ECONOMY OF ARID SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS

TURNER, J. Scott·2006·Dryland Ecohydrology

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Abstract

Abstract Large termite mounds, constructed by colonies of various species of macrotermitine termites (Isoptera, Termitidae, Macrotermitinae), are dominant features of the arid and semi-arid savannas of southern Africa. These mounds can populate a savanna in very high densities, generally one to four colonies per hectare, containing biomass of termites and symbiotic fungi that exceeds the typical biomass of vertebrate and non-termite arthropod herbivores in these systems. Termites’ construction of nest and mound turns over savanna soils at substantial rates, and, like other central-place foragers, they convey significant quantities of inorganic and organic matter into their nests, concentrating it there. In short, macrotermitine termites are “ecosystem engineers”, structuring and controlling to a large extent the flows of energy and matter through tropical savannas (Dangerfield et al. 1998).

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Authors: TURNER, J. S.
Affiliations: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (US)
Corresponding author: TURNER, J. Scott
ORCID: TURNER, J. Scott
Venue: Dryland Ecohydrology
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
Published: 2006-02-02
Pages: 303-313
DOI: 10.1007/1-4020-4260-4_17
OpenAlex: W1613542275
Cited by: 66
References: 43
Citations by year: 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 3.99
Type: book chapter
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Ecology and biodiversity studies
Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Soil and Unsaturated Flow
Keywords: termite mounds, water economy, ecosystem engineering, soil turnover, central place foragers, termite-fungus symbiosis, nutrient cycling

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TERMITES AS MEDIATORS OF THE WATER ECONOMY OF ARID SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS

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