The structure of termite communities in the Australian tropics

Abstract

AbstractThe distributions of 50 species of termites across five habitat types in Kakadu National Park are described. Open forests are richest in species and monsoon forests are species‐poor. The greatest diversity of termites is associated with infertile soils and is probably related to the enhanced role of termites in these nutrientimpoverished sites. Only the richness of livewood feeders is associated with disturbance in the form of water buffalo impact. Few relationships with physical characteristics of the soil were apparent. Comparisons between continents suggest that lower termites are richer in Australia than on other continents. There are fewer species of soil‐feeding termites, but only two of the four subfamilies of the higher termites (Termitidae) are present in Australia. There appears to be a complementary distribution of areas of high diversity of termites and native herbivorous mammals. This may be due to the ability of termites and other invertebrate groups to exploit low fertility systems and has profound implications for the size structure of the vertebrate community.