No short-term effects of fire on termite diversity in a tropical mountain

Natural fires represent a frequent and widespread disturbance in many environments around the world and consequently plays important roles on ecosystem dynamics. The goal of our study was to evaluate the short-term effects of fire on termites in a tropical mountain ecosystem of the Brazilian Cerrado...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insectes sociaux 2023-06, Vol.70 (2), p.203-211
Main Authors: Fernandes, G. W., Oki, Y., Negreiros, D., Constantino, R., Novais, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Baits
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Colonization
Ecosystem dynamics
Entomology
Environmental changes
Environmental conditions
Isoptera
Life Sciences
Mounds
Mountains
Research Article
Sampling methods
Species richness
Termites
Toilet paper
Vegetation
Vegetation type
Woodlands
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Summary:Natural fires represent a frequent and widespread disturbance in many environments around the world and consequently plays important roles on ecosystem dynamics. The goal of our study was to evaluate the short-term effects of fire on termites in a tropical mountain ecosystem of the Brazilian Cerrado (savanna). Termites were sampled in unburned and burned areas 2 weeks after an extensive fire event. Sampling method consisted of toilet paper baits placed at three elevations: 800 m (Cerrado woodland habitat), 1100 and 1400 m ( campo rupestre vegetation type). A total of 19 termite species were sampled, of which 15 occurred at 800 m, eight at 1100 m, and two at 1400 m. Average termite species richness and bait colonization were lower at 1400 m compared with the other elevations, which did not differ from each other. No effect of fire on average species richness and bait colonization was found for any elevation. As termites are known to be strongly affected by climate, soil, and vegetation, termite assemblages are probably being filtered physiologically by environmental conditions along the elevation gradient. The high tolerance of termites to fire effects is likely associated with the strategy of many collected species in constructing hard clay mounds, either above or below ground, or taking shelter in mounds built by other termite species to escape fire. We conclude that while termites are sensitive to environmental changes in conditions along the elevation gradient, they are also highly tolerant to fire in this tropical mountain.
ISSN:0020-1812
1420-9098
DOI:10.1007/s00040-023-00909-4