Jouquet Pascal auteur aut IRD Jamoteau F. auteur aut IRD Majumdar S. auteur aut IRD Podwojewski Pascal auteur aut IRD Nagabovanalli P. auteur aut IRD Caner L. auteur aut IRD Barboni D. auteur aut IRD Meunier J. D. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Si is one of the most abundant element on earth and an abundant literature shows its beneficial effects on plant growth and resistance. We here question the influence of termites, as key soil bioturbators, on the distribution of Si in a tropical soil. The abundance and forms of Si in termite mounds build by Odontotermes obelus (TM) or in the soil eroded from TM but redistributed on the ground surface (EROD) were compared to those measured in the 0-5 (Ctrl(0-5)) and 70-120 cm soil layers (Ctrl(70-120)). Although termites use the soil from Ctrl(70)-(1)(20) for building their mounds, we found that TM and EROD had intermediate soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties between Ctrl(0-5) and Ctrl(70)(-1)(20). Clay content was not significantly different between soil materials. However, the lower variability measured in TM than in the soil suggested that termites used soil layers with higher amounts of clay fraction and with a preference especially for layers enriched in 2:1 clay minerals (smectite) most likely because they provide better physical properties in terms of plasticity and water retention than kaolinite. Finally, phytoliths and bioavailable Si (Si-CC) contents were increased in TM in comparison with Ctrl(70)(-1)(20), suggesting an incorporation of phytoliths in termite construction through their saliva and/or an increasing availability of Si-CC from the minerals. In conclusion, this study highlights how termites, through their feeding and building activities, impact Si distribution in tropical soils. specialized Si Clay Mineralogy Phytoliths Bioturbation Soil profile INDE 068 074 372 114362 [8] 2020 0016-7061 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010078105 10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114362 0016-7061 [F B010078105] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010078105 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2020/06/010078105.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2020-07-02 2025-02-24 fdi:010078105 fre