Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nutrient cycling by the subterranean termite Gnathamitermes tubiformans in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We estimated the density of subterranean termites Gnathamitermes tubiformans at 800,000 · ha-1 for a standing crop biomass of 2 kg · ha-1 Predation losses were estimated to be 5,73 kg · ha-1 · yr-1 representing the major release of nutrients from termites to surficial soil layers. Nutrient fluxes from termites to predators amounted to 410g N·ha-1·yr-1, 33 g S · ha-1 · yr-1 and 19 g P · ha-1 · yr-1. These fluxes account for 8% of the litter N, 1.5% of the litter P and 2.9% of the litter S. The termites fixed an estimated 66 g · ha-1 · yr-1 atmospheric N and returned an estimated 100 g · ha-1 · yr-1 in the surface gallery carton. Since losses of elements from subterannean termites were greater than standing crops, we estimated an annual turnover of N at 3.5 times per year, P of 2.5 times per year, and S of 2.5 per times per year.

Since surface foraging, predation and alate flights are pulse regulated by rainfall, nutrient flows through subterranean termites are episodic and releases of nutrients accumulated in termite biomass preceeds or is coincident with productivity “pulses” of some shallow rooted plants. We propose that subterranean termites are important as regulators in desert nutrient cycles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Basalingappa S (1970) Environmental hazards to reproductives of Odontotermes assmuthi (Holmgren). Ind Sci Cong Assoc Proc 57(4): 409

    Google Scholar 

  • Beneman JR (1973) Nitrogen fixation in termites. Science 181:164–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Black CA (1965) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties. Amer Soc of Agron Inc Madison Wisc

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodine MC, Ueckert DN (1975) Effect of desert termites on herbage and litter in a shortgrass ecosystem in west Texas. J Range Mgt 28:353–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouillon A (1970) Termites of the Ethiopian region. In: K Krishna and FM Weesner, (eds), Biology of termites. Vol II Academic Press, NY p 154–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Breznak JA, Brill WJ, Mertins JW, Coppel HC (1973) Nitrogen fixation in termites. Nature 244:577–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Catana AJ, Jr (1963) The wandering quater method of estimating population density. Ecology 44:349–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin FS III, Barsdale RJ, Barel D (1978) Phosphorus cycling in Alaskan coastal tundra: a hypothesis for the regulation of nutrient cycling. Oikos 31:189–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Chew RM (1974) Consumers as regulators of ecosystems: an alternative to energetics. Ohio J Sci 74:359–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Cottam G, Curtis JT (1956) The use of distance measure in phytosociological sampling. Ecology 37:451–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson E (1971) Compartment models and reservoir theory. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 2:67–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Ettershank G, Ettershank J, Bryant M, Whitford WG (1978) Effects of nitrogen fertilization on primary production in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem. J Arid Environ 1:135–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahey TJ (1979) Decomposing lodgepole pine needles. Bull Ecol Soc Am 60:85

    Google Scholar 

  • French JRJ, Turner GL, Bradley JF (1976) Nitrogen fixation by bacteria from the hindgut of termites. J Gen Microbiol 95:202–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghilarov MS (1967) Termites of the USSR, their distribution and importance. In: Termites in the Humid Tropics, UNESCO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy RFW, Burns RL, Holsten RD (1973) Applications of the acetylene-ethylene reduction assay for measurement of nitrogen fixation. Soil Biol Biochem 5:47–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Haverty MI (1974) The significance of the subterranean termite, Heterotermes aureus, as a detritovore in a desert grassland ecosystem. Ph D diss, University of Arizona Tucson Ariz

  • Haverty MI, Nutting WL (1975) Natural wood preferences of desert termites. Ann Entmol Soc Amer 68:533–536

    Google Scholar 

  • Haverty MI, Nutting WL, LaFage JP (1975) Density of colonies and spatial distribution of foraging territories of the desert subterranean termite, Heterotermes aureus (Snyder), Environ Entomol 4:105–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Haverty MI, Nutting WL, LaFage JP (1976) A comparison of two techniques for determining abundance of subterranean termites in an Arizona desert grassland. Insectes Sociaux 23:175–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton FE (1972) Climatic guide, New Mexico St. Univ., Las Cruces, New Mex, 1851–1971. New Mex Agr Res Rep 230:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson KA, Whitford WG (1975) Foraging ecology and relative importance of subterranean termites in Chihuahuan desert ecosystems. Environ Entomol 4:66–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitson RE, Mellon MG (1944) Colorimetric determination of phosphorus as molybdivanadophosphoric acid. Anal Chem 16:379–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleiner D (1975) Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by microrganisms. Angew Chem Int Ed 14:80–84

    Google Scholar 

  • LaFage JP, Haverty MI, Nutting WL (1976) Environmental factors correlated with the foraging behavior of a desert termite Gnathamitermes perplexus (Banks) (Isoptera: Termitidae). Sociobiol 2:155–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee KE, Wood TG (1971) Termites and Soils. Academic Press, London, Great Britain

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig JA, Reynolds JF, Whitson PD (1975) Size-biomass relationships of several Chihuahuan desert shrubs. Amer Midl Natur 94:451–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattson WJ, Addy ND (1975) Phytophogous insects as regulators of forest primary production. Science 190:515–522

    Google Scholar 

  • McNabb DH, Geist JM (1979) Acetylene reduction assay of symbiotic nitrogen fixation under field conditions. Ecology 60(5):1070–1073

    Google Scholar 

  • Nes P (1979) Routine measurement of total sulfur in biological material. N Zeal J Sci 22:269–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Noy-Meir I (1979) Desert ecosystems: Higher trophic levels. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 5:195–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutting WL (1969) Flight and colony foundation. In: Krishna and FM Weesner, eds. Biology of Termites, Vol I. Academic Press New York p 233–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutting WL, Haverty MI (1976) Seasonal production of alates by five species of termites in an Arizona desert grassland, Sociobiology 2:145–153

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Brien RT (1978) Proteolysis and ammonification in desert soils. In: NE West and J Skujins (eds), Nitrogen in Desert Ecosystems. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Inc. Strousburg, Penn p 50–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Pianka ER (1973) The structure of lizard communities. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 4:53–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy LR (1970) The strategy of mineral cycling. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 1:171–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Potts M, Krumbein WE, Metzger J (1978) Nitrogen fixation in anaerobic sediments determined by acetylene reduction, a new 15N field assay, and simultaneous total N-15N determination. In: WE Krumbein (ed), Environmental Biogeochemistry and Geomicrobiology. Vol 3: Methods, metals and assessment. Ann Arbor Science Publishers Inc. Ann Arbor Mich

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehder H, Schäfer A (1978) Nutrient turnover studies in alpine ecosystems: IV. Communities of the central Alps and comparative survey. Oecologia (Berl) 34:309–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiners WA (1972) Structure and energetics of three Minnesota forests. Ecol Monogr 42:71–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer DA, Whitford WG (1979) Nitrogen fixation in desert termites. Bull Ecol Soc Am 60:128

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rholf FJ (1969) Biometry WH Freeman and Co San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Spears BM, Ueckert DN, Whigham TL (1975) Desert termite control in short-grass prairie: Effect on soil physical properties. Environ Entomol 4:899–904

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark N (1972) Nutrient cycling pathways and litter fungi. Bio-science 22:355–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Steppe W (1976) Intervertebrate predation on termites of the African savannah. Insectes Sociaus 17:205–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart BA, Porter LK, Beard WE (1969) Determination of total nitrogen and carbon in soils by a commercial Dumas apparatus. Proc Soil Sci Soc Amer 28:269–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitford WG, Ettershank G (1975) Factors affecting foraging activity in Chihahuan desert harvester ants. Environ Entomol 4:689–696

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitford WG (1978) Foraging in seed-harvester ants Pogonomyrmex spp. Ecology 59:185–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitford WG (1978b) Structure and seasonal activity of Chihuahuan desert ant communities. Insectes Sociaux 25:79–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitford WG, Depree E, Johnson P (1981) Foraging ecology of two Chihuahuan desert ant species: Novomessor cockerelli and Novomessor albisetosis. Insectes Sociaux 27:148–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson EO (1971) The insect societies. Harvard Univ Press Cambridge Mass

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood TG, Sands WA (1978) The role of termites in ecosystems. In: MV Brian, (ed), Production Ecology of Ants and Termites. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambrdige, Great Britain p 245–292

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Douglas A. Schaefer

    Present address: Department of Biorogical Sciences, Dartmouth College, 03755, Hanover, NH, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, 88003, Las Cruces, NM

    Douglas A. Schaefer & Walter G. Whitford

Authors
  1. Douglas A. Schaefer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Walter G. Whitford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schaefer, D.A., Whitford, W.G. Nutrient cycling by the subterranean termite Gnathamitermes tubiformans in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem. Oecologia 48, 277–283 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347977

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347977

Keywords

Search

Navigation