@article {51209, title = {The spatial distribution of termite activity in shortgrass steppe: a geostatistical approach}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {114}, year = {1998}, note = {//OTHER//NONE//}, month = {1998}, pages = {410-416}, abstract = {The broad-scale distribution of subterranean termites (Reticulitermes tibialis) was studied in a shortgrass-steppe ecosystem in northern Colorado. Termite occurrence and abundance was measured over 4 months at 10-m intervals along a 900-m transect that spanned a topographic gradient. Geostatistics were used to model the probability of termite occurrence along the transect, and to identify the distributional extent and potential roles of termites in shortgrass steppe.... Termites were most frequently found on a south-facing slope and in a lowland swale. Four-wing slatbush (Atriplex canescens) was also common in these areas and is important in the production of woody litter. The distribution of termites was significantly asociated with proximity to saltbush, which showed a strong spatial dependence at scales < 500 m. Kriged probabilities of occurrence and cross-correlation between termites and shrubs showed that peak termite occurrence was shifted upslope 100 m from areas of closest shrub proximity. Other factors, such as soil temperature, texture, or organic matter, are therefore likely to influence termite distributions in shortgrass steppe.}, keywords = {article, articles, geostatistics, termites, Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, kriging, spatial scale, technique, kriging, technique, spectral analysis, termite, activity, termite, gallery carton, termite, litter decomposition, termite, spatial variability, termites , SEE , topography, termites}, author = {Crist, Thomas O.} } @article {51253, title = {The spatial distribution of termite activity in grazed and ungrazed Chihuahuan Desert grassland}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {40}, year = {1998}, note = {//NMSU//NONE, LTER support//}, month = {1998}, pages = {77-89}, abstract = {

Termites are important in litter decomposition and nutrient cycling in desert grasslands but little isknown about the spatial distribution of termites and how spatial patterns are affected by topography and grazing by livestock. We measured the distribution of surface activity by the subterranean termite Gnathamitermes tubiformans in grazed and ungrazed Chihuahuan Desert grassland along 900 m transects that spanned a topographic gradient. Numbers of termite casts on litter and plants were recorded in 900 contiguous 1 m2 quadrats along a transect located in a grazed area and in an ungrazed control. Cover of plants and litter were also recorded in 1 m2 quadrats every 10 m along each transect.

}, keywords = {article, articles, Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, spatial scale, technique, spectral analysis, termite, activity, termite, gallery carton, termite, litter decomposition, termite, spatial variability, termites , SEE , topography, termites}, doi = {10.1006/jare.1998.0432}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00265.pdf}, author = {Tracy, Keena N. and David M. Golden and Crist, Thomas O.} } @book {51674, title = {The natural history and role of subterranean termites in the northern Chihuahuan Desert}, series = {Special Biotic Relationships in the Arid Southwest}, year = {1989}, note = {//NMSU//LTER II,US-IBP//Listed in LTER3 proposal as citing LTER2 support//ProCite field[6]: In}, month = {1989}, pages = {53-77}, publisher = {University of New Mexico Press}, organization = {University of New Mexico Press}, address = {Albuquerque, New Mexico}, abstract = {

In this chapter, we summarize what is known about Gnathamitermes tubiformans include discussions on (1) population estimates, (2) diurnal and seasonal aboveground activity patterns, (3) aboveground gallery construction, (4) their importance in nitrogen cycling and the breakdown of organic matter, (5) interactions with microarthropods, (6) effects on soil infiltration rates, and (7) effects on plant communities.

}, keywords = {book, books, chapter, chapters, Gnathamitermes, report, reports, termite, decomposition, termite, gallery construction, termite, microarthropod interaction, termite, nitrogen cycling, termite, plant communities, termite, soil infiltration, termite,natural history, termite,population estimation, termites, behavior}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00111.pdf}, author = {William P. MacKay and J. C. Zak and Walter G. Whitford}, editor = {Schmidt, Justin O. (ed.)} } @article {51736, title = {Spatial variability of termite gallery production in Chihuahuan Desert plant communities}, journal = {Sociobiology}, volume = {14}, year = {1988}, note = {//NMSU//LTER I//Listed in LTER2 proposal as citing LTER1 support//}, month = {1988}, pages = {281-289}, abstract = {We compared the production of termite [Gnathamitermes tubiformans (Buckley)] gallery carton along 2 transects passing through several plant communities in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico. There was significantly more gallery carton produced on a mixed basin slope than on the creosotebush scrub zone or on grassland zones. Gallery carton had a rapid turnover rate. When termites were present, production ranged from 1000-5650 kg/ha/yr accounting for nitrogen inputs of 145-830 g/ha/yr. Our data suggest that subterranean termites are not a nitrogen sink as has been suggested in the literature, and that the inputs and outputs of nitrogen in the termite population are about equal.}, keywords = {article, articles, gallery carton, also SEE , gallery carton, nitrogen, gallery carton, turnover, Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, termite, gallery carton, termite, spatial variability, transect, termites}, author = {William P. MacKay and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {51787, title = {The effects of nitrogen, water and sulfur amendments on surface litter decomposition in the Chihuahuan Desert}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {12}, year = {1987}, note = {//NMSU//LTER I//Listed in LTER2 proposal as citing LTER1 support//}, month = {1987}, pages = {223-232}, abstract = {

The effects of nitrogen, water and sulfur amendments on the decomposition rates of three types of surface litter in the northern Chihuahuan Desert were evaluated. The amendments had no effects on the decomposition rates of leaf litter from black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and creosotebush (Larrea tridentata). The rate of fluff grass (Erioneuron pulchellum) litter decomposition was increased by water and decreased by sulfur. Water affected fluff grass decomposition by increasing terminate (Gnathamitermes tubiformans) above-ground activity. Sulfur decreased termite activity. These data suggest that the decomposer microflora and microfauna of the northern Chihuahuan Desert are more limited by quantity of organic matter than by water and nitrogen. Hence they do not respond opportunistically to increased availability of such resources.

}, keywords = {article, articles, Bouteloua, decomposition, litter, decomposition, nutrient effects, Erioneuron, Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, Larrea, litter decomposition, nitrogen amendment, sulfur amendment, termites, water amendment}, doi = {10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31166-2}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00062.pdf}, author = {William P. MacKay and F. M. Fisher and Solange Silva and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {51789, title = {The role of subterranean termites in the decomposition of above ground creosotebush litter}, journal = {Sociobiology}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, year = {1987}, note = {//NMSU//LTER I//}, month = {1987}, pages = {235-239}, abstract = {

We investigated the role of the termite Gnathamitermes tubiformans (Isoptera: Termitidae) in the breakdown of above ground creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) litter in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, USA. Comparison of decomposition rates of control plots with termite-excluded plots demonstrated that termites (and microarthropods) had no significant effect on mass loss. This species normally consumes other organic matter and only uses creosotebush litter when nothing else is available. This keystone species therefore plays a minor role in the breakdown of surface litter of the dominant shrub of the Chihuahuan Desert.

}, keywords = {article, articles, decomposition,termite, Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, Larrea, litter decomposition, termite,decomposition}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00063.pdf}, author = {William P. MacKay and Solange Silva and S. J. Loring and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {51889, title = {Analysis of above-ground gallery construction by the subterranean termite Gnathamitermes tubiformans (Isoptera: Termitidae)}, journal = {Environmental Entomology}, volume = {14}, year = {1985}, note = {//NMSU//LTER I//}, month = {1985}, pages = {470-474}, abstract = {

Gnathamitermes tubiformans (Buckley), a common termite species in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of North America, builds mud galleries around standing dead vegetation and other food materials after periods of rain. The termites graze only the surface of standing dead branches, tissues highest in nitrogen content. We hypothesized that termites invest more energy in gallery construction than they obtain from the wood they consume. We estimated energy costs of gallery construction from analysis of gallery material and construction behavior of the termites. In addition to obtaining a food source relatively high in nitrogen, the estimated energy invested in gallery construction. Therefore, the termites obtain much more energy from wood than they invest in gallery construction.

}, keywords = {article, articles, decomposition, aboveground, decomposition, termite, Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, nitrogen, termite, termite, gallery construction, termite, Gnathamitermes, termite, wood nitrogen}, doi = {10.1093/ee/14.4.470}, url = {files/bibliography/85-EnvEnt-Whitford.pdf}, author = {William P. MacKay and Blizzard, James H. and Miller, Jacqueline J. and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {52013, title = {The effects of subterranean termite removal on desert soil nitrogen and ephemeral flora}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {5}, year = {1982}, note = {//NMSU//NONE, LTER//}, month = {1982}, pages = {53-59}, abstract = {

Total soil nitrogen and ephemeral plant density and biomass on plots treated with chlordane to eliminate termites were compared with untreated control plots at the Jornada validation site in the Chihuahuan desert. Total soil nitrogen in the 0-2.5 and 10-20 cm depths was significantly higher for treated compared to control plots. Other than increase soil N at the above two depths, the elimination of termites did not alter the spatial distribution of nitrogen around Larrea tridentata. Soil N in both treated and controlled plots was higher under the shrub canopy than in open areas, on the east side of shrubs than on the west, and in the surface soils than at lower depths.

}, keywords = {Amitermes, article, articles, Chlordane, ephemeral flora,termite effects, flora, SEE , Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, pesticide, Chlordane, soil,nitrogen, subterranean termite, SEE , termite, Chlordane, termite, ephemeral flora, termite, soil nitrogen, termite,Amitermes, termite,Gnathamitermes}, doi = {10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31463-0}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00003.pdf}, author = {L. W. Parker and Harold G. Fowler and George Ettershank and Walter G. Whitford} }