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Harvesting rate of the termite, Drepanotermes tamminensis (Hill) within native woodland and shrubland of the Western Australian wheatbelt
Author(s) -
Park H. C.,
Majer J. D.,
Hobbs R. J.,
Bae T. U.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/bf02347186
Subject(s) - shrubland , woodland , biomass (ecology) , eucalyptus , litter , undergrowth , canopy , agronomy , environmental science , ecology , biology , agroforestry , ecosystem
The Western Australian termite, Drepanotermes tamminensis (Hill), harvests various plant materials according to biomass availability. The main litter components harvested by this termite in a woodland dominated by Eucalyptus capillosa are bark and leaves of the major tree species, while in shrubland dominated by Allocasuarina campestris , shoots of this species are taken. Harvesting mainly occurs during the autumn (April–May) and spring (September–October) seasons. The commencement and duration of harvesting appears to depend partly on weather conditions, with harvesting taking place at temperatures between 15 and 25°C after periods of rain. This species of termite harvests approximately 15.6 g m −2 year −1 and 3.2 g m 2 year −1 (dry weight of plant material) in the woodland and shrubland, respectively.