The effect of a soil-feeding termite, Cubitermes fungifaber (Isoptera : Termitidae) on soil properties: termites may be an important source of soil microhabitat heterogeneity in tropical forests

We measured the effect of a typical soil-feeding termite on soil quality us ing experimental mesocosms. We obtained soil from five different sites in t he humid forest zone of southern Cameroon. The sites were along a disturban ce gradient, from near primary, to highly degraded agricultural soil. We al lowed colonies of Cubitermes fungifaber to work the soils for 13 days. We m easured physical and chemical parameters in the worked soils that are known to be important in soil quality, and therefore to influence fertility. We found that C. fungifaber raised pH in soils with an initial low pH, increas ed organic carbon, water content and relative amount of kaolinite, and decr eased the relative amount of quartz. The main effect of these termites is t o raise local microsite soil quality, and these effects are greatest in the near primary and old secondary forests. Termites are, therefore, potential ly important sources of heterogeneity in tropical forest soil systems.