Collins N M
Termite Research Group, c/o British Museum (Natural History), Centre for Overseas Pest Research, Cromwell Road, SW7, London, UK.
Oecologia. 1981 Jan;51(3):389-399. doi: 10.1007/BF00540911.
This is part of a study on the litter dynamics of Southern Guinea savanna, with special reference to the role of termites (Isoptera) as decomposers of wood and leaves.The biomass of accumulated wood litter on the 6 ha study area varied from 2.299 to 3.488 t ha, with a mean of 2.821 t ha Leaf litter biomass varied from 0.290 to 1.643 t ha, with a mean of 0.903 t ha. The measured decomposition constant for wood of 51% a agreed well with a calculated value of 49% a. Leaf decomposition was calculated as 264% a. Termites removed an estimated 835.5 kg haa of wood litter (60% of annual wood-fall), and 68.4 kg haa of leaf litter (3% of annual leaf-fall), i.e. 24% of total annual litter production. Conversely, the annual bush-fire removed 1.173 t haa (49%) of annual leaf-fall but only 3 kg haa (0.2%) of annual wood-fall, i.e. 31% of total annual litter production. Baiting studies showed that the fungus-growing Macrotermitinae took 95% of the litter removed by termites (23% of annual litter production).The ability of the Macrotermitinae to utilise fresh litter is a diagnostic feature of decomposition processes in Southern Guinea and other savanna ecosystems. Their fungus combs produce a processed diet which allows the Macrotermitinae to feed in a seasonally arid environment where the curtailment of free fungal and microbial activity inhibits feeding by other decomposer invertebrates.
这是一项关于南几内亚稀树草原凋落物动态的研究的一部分，特别关注白蚁（等翅目）作为木材和树叶分解者的作用。在6公顷的研究区域内，累积的木材凋落物生物量在2.299至3.488吨/公顷之间，平均为2.821吨/公顷。树叶凋落物生物量在0.290至1.643吨/公顷之间，平均为0.903吨/公顷。测得的木材分解常数为51%/年，与计算值49%/年非常吻合。树叶分解率计算为264%/年。白蚁估计清除了835.5千克/公顷·年的木材凋落物（占年木材掉落量的60%）和68.4千克/公顷·年的树叶凋落物（占年树叶掉落量的3%），即占年凋落物总产量的24%。相反，每年的丛林大火清除了1.173吨/公顷·年（占年树叶掉落量的49%）的年树叶掉落量，但仅清除了3千克/公顷·年（占年木材掉落量的0.2%）的年木材掉落量，即占年凋落物总产量的31%。诱饵研究表明，培养真菌的大白蚁亚科摄取了白蚁清除的凋落物的95%（占年凋落物产量的23%）。大白蚁亚科利用新鲜凋落物的能力是南几内亚和其他稀树草原生态系统分解过程的一个诊断特征。它们的真菌菌圃产生一种经过加工的食物，使大白蚁亚科能够在季节性干旱的环境中觅食，在这种环境中，自由真菌和微生物活动的减少抑制了其他分解性无脊椎动物的觅食。
