@article{fdi:010083687,
  title = {{S}uccessional response of a tropical forest termite assemblage to experimental habitat perturbation},
  author = {{D}avies, {R}.{G}. and {E}ggleton, {P}. and {D}ibog, {L}. and {L}awton, {J}.{H}. and {B}ignell, {D}.{E}. and {B}rauman, {A}lain and {H}artmann, {C}hristian and {N}unes, {L}. and {H}olt, {J}. and {R}ouland, {C}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {1. {R}esearch into the successional responses of tropical forest communities following disturbance has potential applications for habitat restoration. {C}urrently little is known of how these responses relate to the recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. {S}uccession of assemblages of decomposer arthropods is essential for the recovery of the soil community and nutrient cycling processes. 2. {T}his study investigated the successional response of a termite assemblage to the experimental perturbation of forest habitat in southern {C}ameroon, examining the implications for tropical forest restoration. {A} randomized block design consisting of four experimental perturbations of differing severity was established in an old secondary forest in the {M}balmayo {F}orest {R}eserve. {I}solated control sites were left in undisturbed forest. {R}ecovery of the termite assemblage was assessed by measuring termite species richness and abundance at regular intervals over the subsequent 12 months. 3. {T}he speed of recovery of the termite assemblage varied with the type and extent of perturbation. {I}n treatments involving severe soil and canopy disturbance, termite species richness and abundance recovered more rapidly when dead wood was left on the ground following perturbation. {T}he availability of dead wood also resulted in recolonization by a subset of the termite assemblage that was distinct compositionally from that sampled from all other treatments. {T}his sub set at sites with additional dead wood included not only certain wood-feeding species, but also soil feeders. 4. {T}he positive effects upon the termite assemblage of leaving substantial deadwood on the ground ha s implications for the restoration of tropical forests following human-induced disturbances such as logging. {T}he accelerated recovery of termite diversity and assemblage composition is a significant component of soil community recovery and the restoration of nutrient cycles. {T}hese benefits are expected to influence soil fertility and, ultimately, forest regeneration. {T}he durationand persistence of these effects will depend crucially on the type, scale and intensity of the original disturbance. {T}he impact of termit es on soil properties, and vice versa, clearly deserves more attention in studies of tropical forest regeneration and recovery.},
  keywords = {{CAMEROUN} {SUD} ; {MBALMAYO}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {A}pplied {E}cology},
  volume = {36},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {946--962},
  ISSN = {0021-8901},
  year = {1999},
  DOI = {10.1046/j.1365-2664.1999.00450.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010083687},
}