CARBON FLUX AND DIVERSITY OF NEMATODES AND TERMITES IN CAMEROON FOREST SOILS

Theoretically, there are three principal ways in which ecosystem proce sses might respond to reductions in species richness. These theories a re reviewed, and then considered in the context of a study of the dive rsity of soil nematodes and termites in near-primary forest sites at M balmayo, Cameroon, and the contribution made by these two taxa to carb on fluxes (CO2 and CH4) from the forest floor. Nematode abundances ave rage 2.04 x 10(6) m(-2), and termites between 2933 and 6957 m(-2) The site is the most species-rich yet investigated for both groups anywher e in the world, so that a very large number of species contribute to c arbon fluxes. We speculate about how much 'redundancy' might be built into the functioning of both assemblages, and point out the enormous d ifficulties of resolving such questions, and of producing such detaile d species-inventories.