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Tree-piping termites and growth and survival of host trees in savanna woodland of north Australia
Citation
Werner, PA and Prior, LD, Tree-piping termites and growth and survival of host trees in savanna woodland of north Australia, Journal of Tropical Ecology, 23, (6) pp. 611-622. ISSN 0266-4674 (2007) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2007 Cambridge University Press Author Prior,LD & Werner PA; Univ. of Tas.
DOI: doi:10.1017/S0266467407004476
Abstract
Most trees in the eucalypt savannas of Australia have hollow cores, or pipes, caused by termite activity, yet little is known about their effect on tree growth or survival. Five hundred and forty-one trees with known growth and survival histories were cored to determine pipe diameters in wooded savanna of Kakadu National Park, north Australia. Generalized linear modelling and multi-model inference was used to analyse frequency and degree of piping relative to initial tree diameter at breast height (dbh), eco-taxonomic group or species of eucalypt. Growth (dbh increment) and survival (4 y) were analysed relative to initial tree size, pipe ratio (pipe diameter:dbh) and eco-taxonomic group. The frequency of piping was strongly dependent on dbh, increasing with size of tree, and was highest in eucalypts. Growth and survival of eucalypts increased with tree diameter and decreased with pipe ratio. For example, from modelled data, 10-cm-diameter trees without pipes grew 0.14 cm y−1 with 85% survival vs. 10-cm trees with pipe ratios of 0.60 which had near-zero growth and only 46% survival. Comparing 40-cm-diameter trees without pipes to those having pipe ratios of 0.80, growth was 0.22 vs. 0.05 cm y−1, with little difference in survival, 97–99%, respectively. Contrary to the suggestion that tree hollows are an adaptive trait whereby trees benefit by the release of nutrients, in the north Australian eucalypt savannas the net effect of termite piping on individual tree growth and survival was negative.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Australia; Coptotermes acinaciformis; demography; Eucalyptus; nutrient cycling; savanna; termites; tree growth; tree hollows; tree survival. |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Terrestrial ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Terrestrial biodiversity |
UTAS Author: | Prior, LD (Dr Lynda Prior) |
ID Code: | 72688 |
Year Published: | 2007 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 43 |
Deposited By: | Research Division |
Deposited On: | 2011-08-30 |
Last Modified: | 2011-09-30 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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