@article{fdi:010069984,
  title = {{T}ermites can have greater influence on soil properties through the construction of soil sheetings than the production of above-ground mounds},
  author = {{H}arit, {A}. and {M}oger, {H}. and {D}uprey, {J}ean-{L}ouis and {G}ajalakshmi, {S}. and {A}bbasi, {S}. {A}. and {S}ubramanian, {S}. and {J}ouquet, {P}ascal},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{U}nderstanding the link between termites' impact on ecosystem functioning and their ecological needs remains a key question in ecology. {T}his study focused on the influence of the fungus-growing termite species, {H}ypotermes obscuriceps, on soil properties in {S}outhern {I}ndia. {T}his species produces soil sheetings and mounds on the ground. {I}n contrast to other termite species, such as those belonging to the {M}acrotermes and {O}dontotermes genera, which produce mounds to live in, {H}. obscuriceps excavates soil above ground for constructing its chambers below ground. {U}sing a captive colony of {H}. obscuriceps growing up in control conditions, we measured the soil properties (carbon content, particle size distribution, p{H}, electrical conductivity and concentration in soluble anions and cations) of its mound and of the sheetings it produced over the leaves of {A}cacia auriculiformis and on the branches of {I}pomoea carnea and {L}antana camara. {T}he physical and chemical properties of {H}. obscuriceps mounds were very similar to those of the surrounding soil and even if rain erodes these mounds in the field, it is likely to have only a small effect on the resulting run-off water quality. {I}n contrast, sheetings have higher clay and {C} contents than the surrounding soil. {T}heir degradation by rain is likely to be associated with soil detachment and {F}-, {C}l- and {K}+ export in water runoff and/or leachate. {I}n conclusion, this study shows that this species impacts soil properties more through the construction of sheetings than mounds. {T}his difference is explained by the ecological needs of termites. {W}hile {H}. obscuriceps is not dependent on soil mound properties for survival, soil sheetings' properties are essential for providing them a protective cover.},
  keywords = {{C}lay ; {E}cological needs ; {F}ungus-growing termites ; {T}ropical soil ; {W}ater},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nsectes {S}ociaux},
  volume = {64},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {247--253},
  ISSN = {0020-1812},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00040-017-0541-3},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010069984},
}