@article{fdi:010066832,
  title = {{T}he influence of fungus-growing termites on soil macro and micro-aggregates stability varies with soil type},
  author = {{J}ouquet, {P}ascal and {C}hintakunta, {S}. and {B}ottinelli, {N}icolas and {S}ubramanian, {S}. and {C}aner, {L}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}ermites are considered soil engineers due to their effects on soil properties in tropical ecosystems, which include the production of biogenic aggregates with different physical and chemical properties to the surrounding environment. {H}ow termites influence the dynamics of aggregates on the soil surface is still poorly understood. {I}n this study, we sampled 50-250, 250-2000 and >2000 mu m soil aggregates from the wall of termite mound nests produced by {O}dontotermes obesus ({B}lattoidea, {M}acrotermitinae subfamily) in a {F}erralsol and in a {V}ertisol in {S}outhern {I}ndia and analyzed their stability in water and to ultrasonic agitation. {O}ur study shows that the influence of termites on the stability of soil aggregates varies depending on the properties of soil. {T}he concentrations in {C} and {N} were lower in termite mound soils compared to the control soil aggregates in the {F}erralsol for all the soil aggregate size fractions whereas in the {V}ertisol, the {C} and {N} contents were only lower in soil aggregates >2000 mu m (i.e., no significant difference for aggregates <2000 mu m). {N}o difference in clay, silt or sand content was measured between the termite mound wall and the control soil. {S}oil aggregate stability was reduced for all size categories of aggregate in the {F}erralsol but it was only reduced for soil macro-aggregates >250 mu m in the {V}ertisol. {S}ince micro-aggregates <250 mu m are considered to predominantly protect soil organic matter in the long term pools, the impact of termites on {C} protection and nutrient cycling may be higher in {F}erralsols than in {V}ertisols.},
  keywords = {{F}erralsol ; {V}ertisol ; {F}ungus-growing termites ; {A}ggregate hierarchy model ; {O}dontotermes obesus ; {INDE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}pplied {S}oil {E}cology},
  volume = {101},
  numero = {},
  pages = {117--123},
  ISSN = {0929-1393},
  year = {2016},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.apsoil.2016.02.001},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066832},
}