Study on the effect of edaphic factor on species and distribution of termites fauna in the tropical forest ecosystem
2004
Phopchai Sawatdi(Department of Land Development, Bangkok (Thailand). Land Development Regional Office 11) | Chawalit Hongprayoon(Kasetsart University. Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Soil Science) | Visoot Verasan(Kasetsart University. Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Soil Science) | Ouab Sarnthoy(Kasetsart University. Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Soil Science) | Audthasit Wongmaneeroj(Kasetsart University. Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Soil Science)
Relationship between soil edaphic factors and species distribution of termites were observed in tropical forest ecosystems in Chantaburi province. Many soil physical properties showed significant effect on termite mound distribution in all species of mound-forming termite in the observed area. Negative correlation was found between the total number of mound and the percentage of gravel at the depth of 0-15 cm. The percentage of and particle at 0-30 cm, how ever, gave positive correlation with the distribution of mound. For soil chemical properties, soil reaction (pH) at 0-30 cm depth showed significant positive correlation with number and termite mound distribution. Soil moisture at field capacity and soil moisture, collected four times a year, showed negative effect on mounds number. Interaction between soil physical properties and termite distribution can be explained that termite prefer well aerate and well drain soil, which the pore size larger than 10 micrometer. No termite mound was found in hill evergreen forest experimental area compared to 84 mounds/ha and 34 mounds/ha in dry evergreen forest and moist evergreen forest, respectively. Lower temperature of high elevation might play important role as negative effect on mound forming termite in hill evergreen forest ecosystem.
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