@article{PAR00000564,
  title = {{N}ests of subterranean fungus-growing termites ({I}soptera, {M}acrotermitinae) as nutrient patches for grasses in savannah ecosystems},
  author = {{J}ouquet, {P}. and {T}avernier, {V}. and {A}bbadie, {L}. and {L}epage, {M}ichel},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}avannah are ecosystems in which mineral nitrogen is considered as a limiting factor for plant productivity. {T}hey are heterogeneous and spatially structured in patches, or islands, where mineral nitrogen content is concentrated. {A}mong the soil macrofauna, termites of the {M}acrotermitinae subfamily are major determinants of soil heterogeneity through the biogenic underground nest structures (fungus-comb chambers) they produce. {T}o study the role of the heterogeneity created by termites on {P}ennisetum pedicellatum, an herbaceous grass species was grown in greenhouse. {T}his was carried out using an homogeneous soil poor in mineral nitrogen, and an heterogeneous soil with patch, made of (i) {A}ncistrotermes cavithorax fungus-comb chamber wall and (ii) soil with the same mineral nitrogen content as the termite handled soil. {P}lants exhibited a better growth on patch of termite-modified soil whereas no significant differences were shown with the supply of mineral nitrogen. {T}he presence of fungus-comb chamber wall material resulted in an increase of fine root biomass and root/shoot ratio. {W}e conclude that termites, through their building activities, may create nutrient patches available to grasses. {C}oncurrently, our data illustrate that the higher mineral nitrogen content in termite-built structures is not the only factor responsible for plant growth.},
  keywords = {{M}acrotermitinae ; nests ; nutrient patches ; savannah ; termites},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}frican {J}ournal of {E}cology},
  volume = {43},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {191--196},
  ISSN = {0141-6707},
  year = {2005},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1365-2028.2005.00564.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00000564},
}