Potential mediation of subterranean termites in infiltration, runoff, and erosional soil loss on a desert watershed

Title	Potential mediation of subterranean termites in infiltration, runoff, and erosional soil loss on a desert watershed
Publication Type	Thesis
Year of Publication	1983
Authors	Elkins NZ
Number of Pages	137
Date Published	1983
University	New Mexico State University
City	Las Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis Type	Ph.D. Dissertationpp
Accession Number	JRN00007
Call Number	00054
Keywords	dissertation, dissertations, erosion,termite effects, hydrology,termite effects, infiltration,termite effects, insecticide,Chlordane, Larrea community,termite activity, runoff,termite effects, soil, erosional loss, soil,Chlordane treated, termite,hydrology, termite,infiltration, theses, thesis
Abstract	The effects of subterranean termite activity on hydrologic responses from small plots of varying vegetal cover receiving simulated rainfall were investigated on a Chihuahuan desert watershed. Chlordane, a highly recalcitrant insecticide, was used as a chemical machanism for the elimination of termite activity. A spray nozzle infiltrometer was used to deliver an approximate 5 in/hr rainfall intensity for a duration of 45 minutes to each 1 m2 plot. Two simulated rain events were applied to each selected plot to emulate both dry and wet antecedent soil moisture conditions....These investigations demonstrated that under conditions of low vegetational density, characteristic of most arid and semi-arid ecosystems, the eradication or alteration of biological components of those ecosystems might initialize or accelerate desertification processes culminating in elevated system stress and lower productivity.