Termite Nutrient Preference and Impacts on Decomposition

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Termites are the major wood decomposers in warmer climates and their activity, which can impact nutrient cycling, decomposition, and soil erosion, depends on the availability of biologically essential nutrients; termites require certain nutrients and shortfalls can decrease termite activity. Of the ~25 biologically essential elements, phosphorus (P), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) are highly concentrated in termites relative to wood. This nutritional disparity suggests that in environments with wood rich in these elements, wood may decompose faster because these nutrients limit termite survival, reproduction and function. Because K is essential for termite nervous system function and osmoregulation, I predict that termites will be most attracted to wood with increased K. To test this prediction, we deployed artificial wood substrates (100% cellulose sponges) saturated in one of six treatments: 1) K (KCl), 2) K+P (KH2PO4), 3) Na (NaCl), 4) Na+K (NaCl + KCl), 5)Na+K+P (KH2PO4 + NaCl), 6) H2O (Control). Ten blocks with one of each treatment were separated by ≥30m and sponges within blocks were separated by 3m. After three months, sponges and a soil sample below sponges were collected and analyzed for presence or absence of termites. Invertebrates were extracted from sponges using Berleses and sponges were dried and reweighed for mass loss. Preliminary results suggest that termites were most attracted to K only sponges and least to controls and decomposition was highest in K+P and Na+K+P treatments. Together, this suggests that K and P may limit termite activity and wood decomposition.