Nitrogen Fixation by Termites in Tropical Forests, Thailand |
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| Authors: | Akinori Yamada Tetsushi Inoue Decha Wiwatwitaya Moriya Ohkuma Toshiaki Kudo Atsuko Sugimoto |
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| Affiliation: | (1) Environmental Molecular Biology Laboratory, RIKEN, Wako Saitama, 351-0198, Japan;(2) Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, 509-3, 2-chome, Hirano, Otsu, Shiga Otsu, 520-2113, Japan;(3) JST Bio-Recycle Project, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand;(4) Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi Saitama, 332-0012, Japan;(5) Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand;(6) Division of Environmental Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Integrated Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;(7) Present address: Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan;(8) Present address: Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Nitrogen (N) fixed by termites was evaluated as a N input to decomposition processes in two tropical forests, a dry deciduous forest (DDF) and the neighboring dry evergreen forest (DEF), Thailand. A diverse group of termite species were assayed by acetylene reduction method and only the wood/litter-feeding termites were found to fix N. More intensive samplings of two abundant species, Microcerotermes crassus and Globitermes sulphureus, were done across several seasons, suggesting N fixation rates of 0.21 and 0.28 kg ha−1 y−1 by termites in the DDF and DEF, respectively. Also, estimates of asymbiotic N fixation rates were 0.75 and 3.95 kg ha−1 y−1. N fixed by termites and by asymbiotic fixers is directly supplied to decomposers breaking down dead plant material and could be a major source of their N. N fixed by termites was 7–22% of that fixed by termites and asymbiotic fixers. Although N fixed by termites is a small input compared to other inputs, this N is likely important for decomposition processes. |
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| Keywords: | acetylene reduction assay asymbiotic nitrogen fixation decomposition process litter and dead wood nitrogen fixation by termites tropical forests |
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