Summary
-
1.
Density of nests, population number, biomass, nitrogen and carbon content, calorific content and respiration rate of termites were studied at Pasoh Forest, West Malaysia mainly with four dominant species of epigeous nest builders, Macrotermes carbonarius, Dicuspiditermes nemorosus type-a, type-b and Homallotermes foraminifer, to reveal their role in the ecosystem.
-
2.
The density of nests or mounds was 15–41/ha in M. carbonarius, 60–110/ha in the two types of D. nemorosus and 85–165/ha in H. foraminifer.
-
3.
The population number per nest or mound was about 88,000 in M. carbonarius, 45,000 in D. nemorosus type-a, 47,000 in D. nemorosus type-b and 13,000 in H. foraminifer. The population number per hectare was about 1.8x106 for M. carbonarius, 4.3x106 for D. nemorosus type-a, 5.2x106 for D. nemorosus type-b and 2.1x106 for H. foraminifer.
-
4.
The ratio in number of workers to soldiers was 6.4 for M. carbonarius, 19.0 for D. nemorosus type-a, 23.1 for D. nemorosus type-b and 8.9 for H. foraminifer. The ratio in number of adults (workers plus soldiers) to larvae was 1.4 for M. carbonarius, 0.59 for D. nemorosus type-a, 1.76 for D. nemorosus type-b and 3.84 for H. foraminifer.
-
5.
The number of adults per nest of D. nemorosus type-a, type-b and H. foraminifer was linearly correlated with the weight of nest on the log-log coordinates.
-
6.
The ratio of dry body weight to live weight was 0.24–0.30 for workers, 0.19–0.29 for soldiers and 0.15–0.22 for larvae.
-
7.
The ash content of termite body was 26–66% for workers, 2–24% for soldiers and 1–4% for larvae.
-
8.
The carbon content ranged from 45% to 66% of ash-free dry weight and the nitrogen content from 5.6% to 12.6%.
-
9.
The mean calorific value of termite body was 5.3 gcal/mg in workers and soldiers on an ash-free weight basis, but was greater in nymphs and winged reproductives in the nest (6.7–6.9 gcal/mg) owing probably to their large fat storage.
-
10.
The relation of CO2 evolution rate to temperature in these termites was similar to what has been found in other insects.
-
11.
The total biomass of the four termite species was estimated at 6.01 kg ash-free dry weight/ha, equivalent to 0.55 kg nitrogen/ha and 3.09 kg carbon/ha.
-
12.
The role of the fungi cultivated by M. carbonarius on their fungus combs was discussed in relation to the nutrition of termites and the decomposition of leaf-litter with special reference to their nitrogen metabolism. The high nitrogen content of fungus spherules growing on fungus combs seemed to have an important bearing on the nutrition of termites.
-
13.
It was concluded that the termites played a very important role in the organic matter decomposition cycle of Pasoh Forest.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abe, T., Matsumoto, T.: Distribution of termites in Pasoh Forest Reserve in West Malaysia. Malaysian IBP Synthesis Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, August 1974
Allbrook, R. F.: The soils of Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan. Malayan Forester 36, 22–33 (1973)
Bachelier, G.: Les Termites. In: La vie animale dans les sols, pp. 201–206. Paris: O.R.S.T.O.M. 1963
Beck, L.: Bodenzoologische Gliederung und Charakterisierung des amazonischen Regenwaldes. Amazoniana 3, 69–132 (1971)
Bodenheimer, F. S.: Population problems of social insects. Biol. Rev. 12, 393–430 (1937)
Bodot, P.: Étude écologique des termites des savanes de Basse Côte d'Ivoire. Insectes Soc. 14, 229–258 (1967)
Bouillon, A., Kidieri, S.: Répatition des termitières de Bellicositermes bellicosus rex Grassé et Noirot dans l'Ubangi, d'après les photos aériennes. Corrélations écologiques qu'elle révèle. In: Études sur les Termites Africains (A. Bouillon, ed.), p. 373–376. Leopoldville: Leopoldville University 1964
Bouillon, A., Mathot, G.: Observations sur l'écologie et le nid de Cubitermes exiguus Mathot. Description de nymphes-soldats et d'un pseudimago. In: Études sur les Termites Africains (A. Bouillon, ed.), p. 215–230. Leopoldville: Leopoldville University 1964
Chiba, S.: Numbers, biomass and metabolism of soil animals in Pasoh Forest Reserve. Malaysian IBP Synthesis Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, August 1974
Fittkau, E. J., Klinge, H.: On biomass and trophic structure of the central Amazonian rain forest ecosystem. Biotropica 5, 2–14 (1973)
Glover, P. E., Trump, E. C., Wateridge, L. E. D.: Termitaria and vegetation patterns on the Loita plains of Kenya. J. Ecol. 52, 365–377 (1964)
Gray, B.: Economic tropical forest entomology. Ann. Rev. Entomology 17, 313–354 (1972)
Gupta, S. D.: Ecological studies of termites. Pt. I. Population of the mound-building termite, Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Isoptera: Family Termitidae). Proc. Nat. Inst. Sci. India 19 (5), 697–704 (1953)
Harris, W. V.: Termites and the soil. In: Soil zoology (D. K. McE. Kevan, ed.), p. 62–72. London: Butterworths 1955
Harris, W. V.: An introduction to malayan termites. Malayan Nature J. 12, 20–32 (1957)
Harris, W. V.: The role of termites in tropical forestry. Insectes Soc. 8, 255–266 (1966)
Hébrant, F.: Etude du flux énergétique chez deux espèces du genre Cubitermes Wasmann (Isoptera, Termitinae), termites humivores des savanes tropicales de la région éthiopienne. Thèse Science, Louvain, 227 p. (1970)
Hesse, P. R.: A chemical and physical study of the soils of termite mounds in East Africa. J. Ecol. 43, 449–461 (1955)
John, O.: Termiten von Ceylon, der malayischen Halbinsel, Sumatra, Java und den Aru-Inseln. Treubia D, 360–419 (1925)
Josens, G.: Etudes biologique et écologique des Termites (Isoptera) de la savanne de Lamto-Pakobo (Côte d'Ivoire). Thèse Sciences, Bruxelles, 262 p. (1972)
Krishna, K.: Phylogeny and generic reclassification of the Capritermes complex (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae). Bull. Am. Museum Nat. Hist. 138, 294–304 (1968)
Lee, K. E.: Soil fauna energetics in tropical forest. In: Soil fauna and decomposition processes, Report of IBP/PT Theme 8 Meeting, Louvain, Belgium, p. 54–68 (1972)
Lee, K. E., Wood, T. G.: Preliminary studies of the role of Nasutitermes exitiosus (Hill) in the cycling of organic matter in a yellow podzoic soil under dry sclerophyll forest in South Australia. Trans. 9th Int. Congr. Soil Sci., Adelaide, 2, 11–18 (1968)
Lee, K. E., Wood, T. G.: Termites and soils. London-New York: Academic Press 1971
Lepage, M.: Les termites d'une savane sahélienne (Ferlo Septentrional, Sénégal) peuplement, populations, consommation, rôle dans l'écosystème. Thèse Sciences, Université de Dijon, 344 p. (1974)
Maldague, M. E.: Importance des populations de termites dans les sols équatoriaux. Trans. 8th Int. Congr. Soil Sci., Bucharest, 3, 743–751 (1964)
Matsumoto, T.: The role of termites in the decomposition of leaf litter on the forest floor of Pasoh Study Area. Malaysian IBP Synthesis Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, August 1974
Ogawa, H.: Litter production and carbon cycling in Pasoh Forest. Malaysian IBP Synthesis Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, August 1974
Salt, G.: The arthoropod population of the soil in some East African pastures. Bull. ent. Res. 43, 203–220 (1952)
Sands, W. A.: Mound population movements and fluctuations in Trinervitermes ebenerianus Sjöstedt (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). Insectes Soc. 12, 49–58 (1965)
Sands, W. A.: The association of termites and fungi. In: Biology of termites (K. Krishna, F. M. Weesner, eds.), vol. 1, p. 495–524. London-New York: Academic Press 1969
Snyder, T. E.: Catalog of the termites (Isoptera) of the world. Smithson. misc. Collus 112, 1–490 (1949)
Soepadmo, E.: Progress report (1970–1972) on IBP-PT Project at Pasoh, Negeri Sembilan Malaysia. Proceeding of the east asian seminar for the IBP, p. 29–39 (1973)
Strickland, A. H.: The artropod fauna of some tropical soils. Trop. Agric. Trin. 21, 107–114 (1944)
Tho, Y. P.: Observations on the biology of the termite Dicuspiditermes nemorosus (Haviland). Malay Nat. J. 25, 10–17 (1972)
Wiegert, R. G.: Energetics of the nest-building termite, Nasutitermes costalis (Holmgren), in a Puerto Rican forest. In: A tropical rain forest (H. T. Odum, R. F. Pigeon, eds.), p. 57–64. Oak Ridge: Devn. Tech. Inform., U.S.A.E.C. 1970
Wiegert, R. G., Coleman, D. C.: Ecological significance of low oxygen consumption and high fat accumulation by Nasutitermes coastalis (Isoptera: Termitidae). Bioscience 20, 663–665 (1970)
Zeuthen, E.: Oxygen uptake as related to body size in organisms. Quart. Rev. Biol. 28, 1–12 (1953)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Japanese Contribution No. 3, IBP Pasoh Forest Project.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matsumoto, T. The role of termites in an equatorial rain forest ecosystem of West Malaysia. Oecologia 22, 153–178 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344714
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344714