Ecological Role of Termites in Dry Environments :: Environmental Ecology Research Papers

Ecological Role of Termites in Dry Environments Termites are predominantly thought of as destructive and menacing creatures that serve only a small part in Earth’s ecology. The contrary, however, is a more accurate description of the incredible niche that this animal fulfills, particularly amid arid and infertile environments. The inhospitable outback of Australia receives a minute amount of annual precipitation. The shortage of moisture has led to an astounding adaption of the few animals that continue living there, notably the termites. Water is required by all living things to stay alive; this fact is not lost on termites. Several species of termites have evolved to such a degree that entire colonies are able to exist entirely within their self-manufactured environments, sometimes even entirely within a piece of dead wood. Recycling everything they use, the termites construct ingenious mounds with their waste materials and prevent moisture from escaping by packing everything together, forming water proof pavements. The t ermites’ ability to metabolize cellulose with a mutualistic symbiotic relationship allows them to decompose dead plant material and recycle the nutrients back to the environment. Overall, termites are the most important decomposers in dry environments because of their ability to recycle nutrients, form soil, and retain moisture. Introduction It seems natural to dislike termites. Most of them are very small, off-white, alien-looking insects, they live in the darkness, and they have a reputation for being â€Å"pests† by causing millions of dollars in damage to wooden structures and vegetation all around the world. Thomas Snyder exhibits this widespread negative view of termites in the title of his 1948 book, Our Enemy The Termite. Nevertheless, recent studies and discoveries have begun to correct the downbeat view of the termite. Surely a creature that exists (or has existed) on every continent in a wide range of environments has a greater ecological niche than a â€Å"pest†. Recent studies into the evolution of this order of insects suggests a much more accurate relationship of their contribution to the environment now and in the millions of years they have existed. The termites’ ability to adapt to arid environments has led them to fill the important role of decomposition where common decomposers su ch as bacteria and fungi cannot function. Australia is an ideal place to study the effects of dry environments on termites because of the low precipitation and elevated heat levels of the desert and savanna. Background Taxonomically, all termites can be placed into Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta, and Order Isoptera.