How can Macrotermes termites provide ecosystem services in a savannah woodland in Burkina Faso, West Africa Saran Traoréa, b, c*, Mulualem Tigabud, Jean S. Ouédraogoe, Sita Guinkoc, Michel Lepagef aUFR/
24th IUFRO World Congress Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA, October 5 – 11, 2014
Introduction
Objectives Main objective
fire and ungulate herbivory that alter soil
soil macrofauna. However, termites like Macrotermes subhyalinus Rambur play a key role as ecosystem engineers.
Results
Conclusion
To assess an ecosystem service provided by termites M. subhyalinus in environment subjected to controlled livestock grazing and fire regimen.
M, subhyalinus termite rehandled and stored
faecal organic matter accumulation and
Termites play a key role in provision and
significant C and N content in T comparing
saliva incorporation by M. subhyalinus
maintenance of ecosystem services. The organic
with ET and RQ (Fig. 3) while fire and/or
workers and stock in mound during soil
C and N rich termitaria have significant
rehandling. Termitaria therefore, constitute beneficial effect on savanna functioning to
grazing had no significant effects.
small nutrient reservoirs available in
Termitarium was significantly enriched in
savannah as service/goods. Further to erosion
promote plant growth and biodiversity refugia
effects the materials will be redistributed to
at small-scale in managed-area.
organic N and was a particular microsite as
Materials and methods
Discussion The high C and N content in T was due to the
Tropical savannah experiences recurring bush
carbon and nitrogen budget, vegetation and
Sciences et Techniques, Université polytechnique de Bobo, 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso.
[email protected] b Laboratoire d’Etude de Recherche sur la Fertilité -IDR, Université polytechnique de Bobo, Burkina Faso c Laboratoire de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales, UFR/SVT, Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso d SSFRC, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden e Département Production Forestière / INERA–CNRST, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso f Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Specific objective compared with the adjacent savannah
supply adjacent savannah with organic C and N to ensure woody species recovery, multiple
A split-plot experiment was established in
To assess C and N budget on termitaria and in
taxa conservation and valuable timber
1992 at Tiogo forest in Burkina Faso, West
adjacent savannah.
production at low cost.
Tiogo forest
Africa (Fig.1) to study long-term impact of fire and grazing on the ecosystem. The main plot factor was grazing (with or without) and sub-plot factor was fire (with or without) Termitarium
with 4 replications, yielding a total of 16
(T)
Adjacent savannah
Fig.1. Location of the study site in the Tiogo forest, Burkina Faso
sub-plots, Within each sub-plot, 3 soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm depth on vegetated termitarium (T), extended termitosphere (ET) at 5m from mound base and rest of the sub-plot (RQ) over 5m (Fig.2) to quantify C and N content. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
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Photo 1. Vegetated termitarium (T) of M. subhyalinus
Fig.2. Lay-out of microsites for soil sampling in Tiogo forest Fig.3. Soil N and N content (mean ± SE) in Tiogo forest
Corresponding and presenting author: Saran Traoré UFR- ST/ UPB, 01 BP 1091 Bobo, Burkina Faso. Tel. +22670263819;
[email protected]