JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Do the workers of Odontotermes obesus prefer certain soil particles for constructing different parts of the termite mound?

Author:T.G.AVINASH and N.G.KUMAR

Abstract :

Odontotermes is a dominant genus of termites distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Each species constructs its nest distinctly according to soil type, abiotic factors and feeding habitat. The present investigation was carried out to know the variation in the physical properties of Odontotermes obesus termite-modified soil in different parts of the nest compared to the surrounding soil. Significantly more sand content was observed in the surrounding soil (62.46%), followed by earthen sheeting (57.90 %), fungal chamber wall (43.07 %) and top portion (41.92 %) of the mound. Significantly, the lowest sand proportion was recorded in the royal chamber (28.89 %). Silt content in the surrounding soil was 8.83 per cent. The proportion of silt was higher in the royal chamber (12.90 %) and was on par with the mound's fungal chamber wall (12.22 %).  Clay content dominated in the royal chamber (57.42 %), followed by the bottom (50.23 %), top (48.79 %) and middle (48.28 %) portion of the mound. Significantly, lower clay content was recorded in surrounding soil (27.46 %).

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