Suppression of plant growth on the mounds of the termite Coptotermes lacteus Froggatt (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)
Suppression of plant growth on the mounds of the termite Coptotermes lacteus Froggatt (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)
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抑制白蚁乳白蚁（Coptotermes milkeus Froggatt）（等翅目，鼻白蚁科）蚁丘上的植物生长
DOI：
10.1007/s000400050158
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发表时间：
1999
期刊：
影响因子：
1.3
通讯作者：
M. Elgar
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
L. Rogers;J. French;M. Elgar
白蚁投入大量时间和精力，用粘土、沙子、淤泥、排泄物和唾液建造精致的土丘，以有力地抵御捕食者和寄生虫的侵害。白蚁丘是肥沃的，对植物具有潜在吸引力的资源，这可能会威胁土丘的稳定性。澳大利亚东南部布拉布拉森林的实地调查显示，无人居住的白蚁丘上生长的维管束植物的丰度和多样性显着高于有人居住的乳白蚁丘。这些数据表明白蚁的存在会影响植被的建立和生长。发芽实验表明，植物生长抑制不是化学介导的，而是由于土堆表面不可穿透的性质造成的。对土壤类型的分析表明，白蚁工蚁可能会选择特定的粘土矿物来建造土丘，这会增强表面的不可渗透性，从而提高土丘的工程完整性。
Termites invest considerable time and energy constructing elaborate mounds out of clay, sand, silt, excreta and saliva, which they defend vigorously against predators and parasites. Termite mounds are fertile and potentially attractive resources for plants, which may threaten the stability of the mound. Field surveys at Boola Boola Forest in SE Australia revealed significantly higher abundance and diversity of vascular plants growing on uninhabited than inhabited mounds of the termiteCoptotermes lacteus. These data reveal that the presence of termites affects the establishment and growth of vegetation. Germination experiments indicate that plant growth suppression is not chemically mediated but rather is due to the impenetrable nature of the mound surface. Analyses of soil types suggests that termite workers may choose particular clay minerals for mound construction, which enhances surface impenetrability and thus increases the engineered integrity of the mound.