Soil invertebrate fauna
We have shown that termites are important decomposers responsible for a
significant component of mass loss of litter. Termites specializing in
the decomposition of dead plant material and are diverse in the tropics
but not in temperate regions (Lavelle et al. 2022). The
Termitidae, for example, are litter-feeders with high diversity in
tropical forests (Eggleton & Tayasu 2001), well adapted to breaking
down organic matter (Hogan et al. 1988; Bignell
2019). Many termite species are able
to produce endogenous cellulase predominantly in the midgut enabling
them to digest cellulose (Hogan et al. 1988). They also produce
extracellular enzymes that digest cell wall
polysaccharides cooperatively with
symbiotic protozoa (e.g. Kalotermitidae) or microbial symbionts (e.g.
the Termitidae) (Eggleton & Tayasu
2001).
Our results provide further evidence that termites are key decomposers
in the tropics, shaping nutrient turnover with ecosystem-wide
implications for carbon flux and soil modification (Ashton et al.2019; Griffiths et al. 2021b). Understanding the links among
termite biodiversity, ecosystem processes and environmental change such
as climate and land use change is key for understanding biogeochemical
cycles.