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Seasonal patterns of nitrogen fixation in termites
Author(s) -
Curtis A. D.,
Waller D. A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00248.x
Subject(s) - biology , nitrogenase , nitrogen fixation , zoology , nitrogen , ecology , botany , physics , quantum mechanics , bacteria , genetics
1. Termite nitrogenase activity was highest in autumn and spring (≈ 3 μg N 2 fixed termite fresh mass (g) –1 day –1 ) and lowest in winter and summer (≈ 0·8 μg N 2 fixed termite fresh mass (g) –1 day –1 ). 2. The nitrogenase activity of worker termites was significantly higher than all other castes (1·58 ± 0·27 μg N 2 fixed termite fresh mass (g) –1 day –1 ). 3. Worker termites constituted the largest proportion of all the castes throughout the study period (≈ 90%). 4. The localized input of fixed nitrogen by termites may reach 15·3 mg N log –1 day –1 and 5·6 g N log –1 year –1 .