Influence of vegetation and soil types on the wheatbelt termite,Drepanotermes tamminensis (Hill), in the Western Australian wheatbelt |
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| Authors: | H C Park J D Majer R J Hobbs |
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| Institution: | (1) School of Environmental Biology, Curtin University of Technology, 6102 Bentley, Western Australia;(2) Division of Wildlife and Ecology, CSIRO, LMB 4, PO, 6056 Midland, Western Australia, Australia;(3) Present address: 355-5 (2/3), Sujeong 1 Dong Dong-Ku, Busan, Korea |
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| Abstract: | A survey of the distribution and density of mounds of the harvester termite,Drepanotermes tamminensis (Hill), was carried out in the Durokoppin Nature Reserve, Western Australia in 1990. Vegetation and, to a lesser extent,
soil type, appear to be important factors in determining density and distribution of termite mounds within the Reserve. A
more detailed study of mounds in Wandoo (Eucalyptus capillosa) woodland and Casuarina (Allocasuarina campestris) shrubland indicated that the total number and size of mounds were significantly higher in the woodland than in the shrubland.
The total wet weight biomass ofD. tamminensis was calculated as 3.74 gm−2 (37.4 kg ha−1) in the woodland and 1.69 gm−2 (16.9 kg ha−1) in the shrubland. Thus, of the two favored habitats, Wandoo woodland appears to be more optimal for this termite species
than the Casuarina shrubland. |
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| Keywords: | Drepanotermes tamminensis habitat Isoptera soil type termite vegetation type |
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