THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF MOUNDS OF MACROTERMES-CARBONARIUS (HAGEN) (TERMITIDAE, MACROTERMITINAE), IN PENANG, MALAYSIA

The mound of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes carbonarius (Hagen ) contained significantly larger proportions of clay (P < 0.05) than t he adjacent soil. The largest clay content was found in the brood cham ber. Concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium and calcium in various parts of the mound were enriched compared to the adjacent soil at 10-40 cm depth from which they might have been derived. The ac tivities of M. carbonarius did not significantly alter the pH or the b ulk density of the mound soil compared to the adjacent topsoil.