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<p>Wood-feeding termites rely almost entirely on dead plant material as both habitat and food resource; therefore, their biomass and abundance are expected to reflect the availability of these detrital resources. This study investigated whether dead wood availability influences the abundance and biomass of wood-feeding termites in Caatinga dry forests. Sampling was conducted in seven areas, where standardized 10 × 10&#xa0;m plots were established to quantify dead wood biomass and collect termites associated with woody substrates. Termites were counted and dried to determine dry biomass per unit area (m²). The relationship between dead wood biomass and termite abundance and biomass was evaluated using linear regression models and remained significant when accounting for the hierarchical sampling design. Dead wood biomass varied markedly among sites, ranging from 57.2 to 284.8&#xa0;g·m⁻² (mean ± standard error: 218.3 ± 34&#xa0;g·m⁻²). Termite abundance averaged 76.1 ± 14.5 ind·m⁻², while mean termite biomass was 0.0276 ± 0.0054&#xa0;g·m⁻². A significant positive relationship was observed between dead wood biomass and termite abundance (R² = 0.77, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), and also between dead wood biomass and termite biomass (R² = 0.62, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Our results emphasize that reductions in dead wood biomass, commonly associated with vegetation removal, directly affect termite abundance and, to a lesser extent, termite biomass, with potential implications for carbon and nutrient stocks and fluxes in seasonal dry forests.</p>

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Does dead wood availability drive abundance and biomass of wood-feeding termites in Caatinga dry forests?

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月5日

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  • Israel S. Silva,
  • Alexandre Vasconcellos

摘要

Wood-feeding termites rely almost entirely on dead plant material as both habitat and food resource; therefore, their biomass and abundance are expected to reflect the availability of these detrital resources. This study investigated whether dead wood availability influences the abundance and biomass of wood-feeding termites in Caatinga dry forests. Sampling was conducted in seven areas, where standardized 10 × 10 m plots were established to quantify dead wood biomass and collect termites associated with woody substrates. Termites were counted and dried to determine dry biomass per unit area (m²). The relationship between dead wood biomass and termite abundance and biomass was evaluated using linear regression models and remained significant when accounting for the hierarchical sampling design. Dead wood biomass varied markedly among sites, ranging from 57.2 to 284.8 g·m⁻² (mean ± standard error: 218.3 ± 34 g·m⁻²). Termite abundance averaged 76.1 ± 14.5 ind·m⁻², while mean termite biomass was 0.0276 ± 0.0054 g·m⁻². A significant positive relationship was observed between dead wood biomass and termite abundance (R² = 0.77, p < 0.01), and also between dead wood biomass and termite biomass (R² = 0.62, p < 0.05). Our results emphasize that reductions in dead wood biomass, commonly associated with vegetation removal, directly affect termite abundance and, to a lesser extent, termite biomass, with potential implications for carbon and nutrient stocks and fluxes in seasonal dry forests.