1. Spatial scales affecting termite diversity in tropical lowland rainforest: a case study in southeast Cameroon.
- Author
-
Isra, Deblauwe, Luc, Dibog, Missoup, Alain D., Jef, Dupain, Linda, Van Elsacker, Wouter, Dekoninck, Dries, Bonte, and Frederik, Hendrickx
- Subjects
TERMITES ,FOOD chains ,RAIN forests ,SPECIES ,BIOTIC communities ,ENVIRONMENTAL engineers ,SOILS ,INSECT societies - Abstract
Termites play a prominent role in the decomposer food web as ‘ecosystem engineers’. However, the effect of spatial scales on termite assemblages has, to date, been poorly studied. Here, we evaluate the contribution of two spatial levels [transects (100 m × 2 m) and sections within transects (5 m × 2 m)] on the local termite assemblage of a continuous mixed secondary lowland rainforest in southeast Cameroon. Standardized 100 m × 2 m transects were run in five vegetation types to cover more of the heterogeneity of this forest. The additive partitioning of the species richness of all species, soil- and wood-feeder species was statistically tested with sample-based randomization... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF