No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Plant consumption by termites in the Kuwait desert ecosystem
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 September 2011
Abstract
The termite species Psammotermes hybosloma Desneux and Anacanthotermes vagans (Hagen) foraging in the desert ecosystem of Kuwait preferred to consume dried leaves of Tamarix aphylla (L.) and Rhanterium epapposium Oliv. over the other plant species tested. This preference varied with season. The termites consumed more food during summer than winter, with the highest consumption being recorded in September, the time of the year when the food plants dry up and can be readily cut into fragments which are carried by workers to the underground nest. These results indicate that the contribution of termites to the removal of desert vegetation is less than that of other soil fauna.
Résumé
De toutes les espèces végétales testées pour leur préférence alimentaire par les termites, deux termites Psammotermes hybostoma Desneux et Anacantotermes vagans (Hagen) qui fouillent l'écosystème désertique du Koweit, préféraient consommer les feuilles sèches de Tamarix aphylla (L.) et celles de Rhanterium epapposium Oliv.; et cette préférence variait avec la saison. Les termites se nourrissaient plus en été qu'en hiver et la plus grande consommation était observée au mois de septembre. C'est au cours de cette période de l'année que les végétaux se desséchent et s'apprêtent le mieux être mis en menus morceaux qui sont emportés par les ouvriers dans galeries souterraines des termitières. Ces résultats indiquent que dans le désert, la contribution des termites dans la destruction des végétaux est minime, en comparaison avec celle effectuée par le reste de la faune terrestre.
Keywords
- Type
- Research Articles
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © ICIPE 1999
References
REFERENCES
Abushama, F. and Al-Houty, W. (1988) The foraging activity of subterranean termites in the Kuwait desert, J. Arid Environ. 14, 75–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Badawi, A., Faragaila, A. A. and Dabbour, A. (1983) The role of termites in changing certain chemical characteristics of the soil. Sociobiology 7, 135–143.Google Scholar
Breznak, J. A., Brill, W. J., Mertins, J. W. and Coppel, H. C. (1973) Nitrogen fixation in termites. Nature 244, 577–579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hart, D. M. (1995) Litterfall and decomposition in the pilliga state forests, New South Wales. Australian J. Ecol. 20, 266–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haverty, M. I. and Nutting, W. L. (1975) Natural wood preferences of desert termites. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 68, 533–536.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, K. A. and Whitford, W. G. (1975) Foraging ecology and relative importance of subterranean termites in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem. Environ. Entomoi. 4, 66–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mattson, W. J. and Addy, N. D. (1975) Phytophagous insects as regulators of forest primary production. Science 190, 515–522.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moein, S. I. and Rust, M. K. (1992) The effect of wood degradation by fungi on the feeding and survival of West Indian dry wood termite, Cryptotermes brevis (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Sociobiology 20, 29–40.Google Scholar
Noy-Meir, J. (1974) Desert ecosystem: Higher tropic levels. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 4, 195–214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nutting, W. L., Haverty, M. I. and LaFage, J. P. (1973) Foraging behavior of two species of subterranean termites in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, pp. 298–301. In Proceedings of the 7th International Congress–International Union for the Study of Social Insects, September 10–15, 1973, London. General Printing Unit, University of Southampton.Google Scholar
Schaefer, D. A. and Whitford, W. G. (1981) Nutrient cycling by the subterranean termite, Gnathamitermes tubiformans in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem. Oecologia 48, 227–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitford, W. G., Steinberger, Y. and Ettershany, G. (1982) Contributions of subterranean termites to the “economy” of Chihuahuan desert ecosystem. Oecologia 55, 298–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar