Seasonal Patterns of Nitrogen Fixation in Termites

Authors

A. D. Curtis, Old Dominion University
D. A. Waller, Old Dominion UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1998

DOI

10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00248.x

Publication Title

Functional Ecology

Volume

12

Issue

5

Pages

803-807

Abstract

Summary

1. Termite nitrogenase activity was highest in autumn and spring (≈ 3 µg N₂ fixed termite fresh mass (g)^–1 day^–1) and lowest in winter and summer (≈ 0·8 µg N₂ fixed termite fresh mass (g)^–1 day^–1).

2. The nitrogenase activity of worker termites was significantly higher than all other castes (1·58 ± 0·27 µg N₂ fixed termite fresh mass (g)^–1 day^–1).

3. Worker termites constituted the largest proportion of all the castes throughout the study period (≈ 90%).

4. The localized input of fixed nitrogen by termites may reach 15·3 mg N log^–1 day^–1 and 5·6 g N log^–1 yea^r–1.

Rights

Web of Science: "Free full text from publisher."

© 1998 British Ecological Society

Original Publication Citation

Curtis, A. D., & Waller, D. A. (1998). Seasonal patterns of nitrogen fixation in termites. Functional Ecology, 12(5), 803-807. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00248.x

Repository Citation

Curtis, A. D. and Waller, D. A., "Seasonal Patterns of Nitrogen Fixation in Termites" (1998). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 363.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_fac_pubs/363