Abstract
Termite mounds are replete with natural nanoparticles, and they vary in physicochemical, geochemical, mineralogical, and biological properties from the adjoining soils. Although termite mounds have wide ecological and environmental roles including soil formation, faunal and vegetation growth and diversity, organic matter decomposition, geochemical exploration, water survey, treatment of underground contamination, thermoregulation, gas exchange, and global climate change, their nanoscale structures made by the associated organomineral complexes are still poorly understood because of technical limitations. In this review, we highlight the ecological and environmental significance of termite mounds and the documented techniques that have been successfully used to study nanostructure of termite mounds, namely, midinfrared spectroscopy (MIRS), photogrammetry and cross-sectional image analysis, a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and pyrolysis field ionization mass spectrometry (Py-FIMS), scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) using synchrotron radiation in conjunction with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, and high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR) for further appraisals. There is a need to continually develop and integrate nanotechnology with the routine classical soil analysis methods to improve our understanding of the functional mechanisms of nanostructure of termite mounds that are responsible for specific properties. In view of the numerous roles termite mounds play in the environments, agriculture, and engineering, there is no better time to channel much research into understanding how they function at nanoscale.
Highlights
A myriad of microbial and animal species live and make up the soils, from bacteria to macro organisms including insects
Given the ubiquity of termite mounds in the tropics and semiarid environments, future research on their nanoscale particles should seek to understand the behaviour of water and gases in nanopores, the mechanisms of nanotoxicity, how termite mounds can be used to clean up potentially toxic chemicals and pollutants out of the food web, and how the complex interaction of soil organic matter, mono- and multivalent ions, and microorganisms affects aggregation in particular and pedogenesis at large
Termite mounds are common landscape feature in the tropical climates of the world. ey are important biological structure built by termites to protect them from harsh environmental conditions. e size and structure of termite mounds vary across climate gradients and are dependent on the species of termite involved
Summary
A myriad of microbial and animal species live and make up the soils, from bacteria to macro organisms including insects. Termites construct mounds by reworking soils, transporting soils below ground to the Earth surface. In a study by Jouquet et al [6] to determine the exact depths at which termites collect soils, they found that cathedral mounds had same properties as Ferralsols at 96 cm and as Vertisols at 49 cm. E soil feeders (Termitinae) build their structures with fecal matter and inorganic material, while fungusgrowing termites (Microtermitinae) build by soil and clay and are cemented by salivary excretions. We knit together the properties of termite mounds in relation to the surrounding soils and outline the various recent technological advances available for the study of the nanoscale structures of termite mounds that are responsible for their properties
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