Journal of Environmental Science International (한국환경과학회지)

The Korean Environmental Sciences Society (한국환경과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Changes in Chemical Property of Soil Affected by Termites (Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto) in Korea

국내 흰개미(Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto)에 의한 토양의 화학적 특성 변화

  • Seong, Se Ha (Department of Life Science & Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Keun Ki (Department of Life Science & Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University) ;
  • Hong, Chang Oh (Department of Life Science & Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University) ;
  • Park, Hyean Cheal (Department of Life Science & Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University)
  • 성세하 (부산대학교 생명환경화학과) ;
  • 김근기 (부산대학교 생명환경화학과) ;
  • 홍창오 (부산대학교 생명환경화학과) ;
  • 박현철 (부산대학교 생명환경화학과)
  • Received : 2017.05.11
  • Accepted : 2017.06.01
  • Published : 2017.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Termites (Isoptera) are classified into approximately 3,106 species. In Korea, only one species has been identified, which is Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto. The termite, a social insect, is known to play an important role in nutrient cycling of the ecosystem, although some species of termites are well-known pests attacking wooden structures or any plant materials. However, there is a lack of research about termites in Korea, including aspects such the taxonomy, physiology, and ecology of termites. This study was carried out to provide valuable basic data on the ecological role of termites in an ecosystem in Korea for the future studies. For the experiments, soil and termite samples were randomly collected from Mt. Hwajang located in Jikdong-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Korea between October 5 and 30, 2015. Analysis results showed that there were no significant differences in soil chemical properties between the soil samples just after air-drying and one year elapsed without any treatment. The treated soil with termites showed significantly higher than the soil without termite treatment. Chemical properties of total nitrogen, organic matter, available phosphate, pH, Calcium(Ca), Potassium(K) and Magnesium(Mg) in soil treated with termites were $1.11{\pm}0.3gkg^{-1}$, $43.3{\pm}12.4gkg^{-1}$, $27.4{\pm}2.9mgkg^{-1}$, $4.56{\pm}0.2$, $0.82{\pm}0.2cmol_ckg^{-1}$, $3.18{\pm}1.4cmol_ckg^{-1}$, $1.73{\pm}1.1cmol_ckg^{-1}$, respectively. The values of soil property of without termite treatment were $0.56{\pm}0.1gkg^{-1}$, $30.5{\pm}3.1gkg^{-1}$, $24.0{\pm}4.7 mgkg^{-1}$, $4.09{\pm}0.1$, $0.71{\pm}0.2cmol_ckg^{-1}$, $2.88{\pm}1.5cmol_ckg^{-1}$, $1.30{\pm}0.7cmol_ckg^{-1}$, respectively. These results suggest that inhabitation of termites could improve soil chemical properties in an ecosystem.

Keywords

References

  1. Bonachela, J. A., Pringle, R. M., Sheffer, E., Coverdale, T. C., Guyton, J. A., Caylor, K. K., Levin, S. A., Tarnita, S. A., 2015, Termite mounds can increase the robustness of dryland ecosystems to climatic change, Science, 347(6222), 651-655. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1261487
  2. Coventry, R. J., Holt, J. A., Sinclair, D. F., 1988, Nutrient cycling by mound building termites in low-fertility soils of semi-arid tropical Australia, Austral. J. Soil Res., 26, 375-390. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9880375
  3. Davies, R. G., Eggleton, P., Jones, D. T., Gathorne-Hardy, F., Hernandez, L. M., 2003, Evolution of termite functional diversity: Analysis and synthesis of local ecological and regional influences on local species richness, J. Biogeo., 30, 847-877. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2003.00883.x
  4. DeSouza, O., Albuquerque, L. B., Tonello, V. M., Pinto, L. P., Junior, R. R., 2003, Effects of fire on termite generic richness in a Savanna-like ecosystem ('Cerrado') of central Brazil, Sociobiology, 42(2), 1-11.
  5. Grogan, P., Bruns, T. D., Chapin III, F. S., 2000, Fire effects on ecosystem nitrogen cycling in a Californian bishop pine forest, Oecologia, 122, 537-544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420050977
  6. Hesse, P. R., 1955, A Chemical and physical study of the soils of termite mounds in east Africa, Brit. Ecol. Soc., 43(2), 449-461.
  7. Jouquet, P., Dauber, J., Lagerlof, J., Lavelle, P., Lepage, M., 2006, Soil invertebrates as ecosystem engineers: Intended and accidental effects on soil and feedback loops, Appl. Soil Ecol., 32, 153-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2005.07.004
  8. Jouquet, P., Ranjard, L., Lepage, M., Lata, J. C., 2005a, Incidence of fungus-growing termites (Isoptera, Macrotemitinae) on the structure of soil microbial communities, Soil Bio. & Biochem., 37, 1852-1859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.02.017
  9. Jouquet, P., Tavernier, V., Abbadie, L., Lepage, M., 2005b, Nests of subterranean fungus-growing termites (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) as nutrient patches for grasses in savannah ecosystem, African J. of Ecol., 43, 191-196. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.2005.00564.x
  10. Jouquet, P., Tessier, D., Lepage, M., 2004, The soil structural stability of termite nests: Role of clays in Macrotermes bellicosus (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) mound soils, Euro. J. Soil Bio., 40, 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2004.01.006
  11. Juergens, N., 2013, The biological underpinnings of Namib desert fairy circles, Science, 339, 1618-1621. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1222999
  12. Lamoureux, S., O'Kane, M. A., 2012, Effects of termites on soil cover system performance, Fourie, A. B., Tibbett, M. (eds.), 433-446.
  13. Lopez, D. H., 2001, Nutrient dynamics (C, N and P) in termite mounds of Nasutitermes ephratae from savannas of the Orinoco Llhanos (Venezuela), Soil Biol. Biochem., 33, 747-753. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(00)00220-0
  14. Lopez, D. H., Fardeau, J. C., Nino, M., Nannipieri, P., Chacon, P., 1989, Phosphorus accumulation in savanna termite mound in Venezuela, J. Soil Sci., 40, 635-640. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.1989.tb01304.x
  15. National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 2000, Methods of analysis for soils, plants (Korean), 103-120.
  16. Nutting, W. L., Haverty, M. I., LaFage, J. P., 1987, Physical and chemical alteration of soil by two subterranean termite species in Sonoran Desert grassland, J. Arid Environ., 12, 233-239.
  17. Ohkuma, M., 2001, Symbiosis in the termite gut, Cellular Origin, Life in Extre. Habit. and Astrobiol., 4, 715-730.
  18. Park, H. C., 1996, The role of termites in an ecosystem, Korean J. Soil Zool., 1(2), 140-148.
  19. Ruckamp, D., Amelung, W., Theisz, N., Bandeira, A. G., Martius, C., 2010, Phosphorus forms in Brazilian termite nests and soils: Relevance of feeding guild and ecosystems, Geoderma, 155(3-4), 269-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.12.010
  20. Schaefer, D. A., Whitford, G. W., 1981, Nutrient cycling by the subterranean termite Gnathanmitermes tubiformans in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem, Oecologia (Berl), 48, 277-283. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347977
  21. Sileshi, G. W., Arshad, M. A., Konate, S., Nkunika, P., 2010, Termite-induced heterogeneity in African savanna vegetation: Mechanisms and patterns, J. Veget. Sci., 21, 923-927. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01197.x
  22. Wood, T. G., 1988, Termites and the soil environment, Biol. Fertil Soils, 6, 228-236.