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Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna
Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613499771846656 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Robertson, Mark P. |
| author_browse | Robertson, Mark P. |
| author_facet | Robertson, Mark P. |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2022. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/89308 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:07.698Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/89308 Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna Robertson, Mark P. candice.lamb33@gmail.com Parr, Catherine Lucy Lamb, Candice UCTD Bioturbation Termites and ants Photogrammetry Top-down control Optical tracer Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Soil macroinvertebrates, such as termites and ants, are considered ecosystem engineers that perform ecosystem processes which impact ecological function. Termites are important bioturbators that mix soil through building and foraging activities. Termite mounds influence the heterogeneity of savannas. Quantifying the volume changes of termite mounds is essential because it indicates their role as important bioturbators in savannas. However, ants are important predators of termites and may have a top-down effect on termite-mediated bioturbation. I used an evaluated photogrammetry technique to quantify the change in volume of termite mounds over time for two termite genera, Macrotermes and Nitiditermes in a broad leaf African savanna. To assess the extent of top-down control on termite-mediated bioturbation, I used large-scale suppression treatments to reduce the abundance of ants and termites and then measured the lateral and vertical movement of an optical tracer in the upper 30 cm soil layer. The photogrammetric estimated volumes and dry weight of termite mounds revealed that on average Macrotermes can add 11.17 kg. week-1 and Nitiditermes can add 72.50 g. week-1 to their mounds. The mean weight of soil added over a 40-week period to Macrotermes mounds was 446.61 kg and 2.92 kg to Nitiditermes mounds. Termite-mediated bioturbation was influenced by changes in either ant or termite abundance at certain depths and time frames. The suppression of ant abundance promoted termite-mediated bioturbation, and the suppression of termite abundance reduced bioturbation. Therefore, the amount of soil moved by termites to build their epigeal structures highlights them as important bioturbators in a savanna and ants have a potential top-down control on termite-mediated bioturbation. Zoology and Entomology MSc (Zoology) Unrestricted 2023-02-08T08:41:10Z 2023-02-08T08:41:10Z 2023-05-16 2022 Dissertation * A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89308 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.22040579.v1 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.22040579 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Bioturbation Termites and ants Photogrammetry Top-down control Optical tracer Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna |
| title | Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna |
| title_full | Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna |
| title_short | Quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf African savanna |
| title_sort | quantifying bioturbation by soil macroinvertebrates in a broad leaf african savanna |
| topic | UCTD Bioturbation Termites and ants Photogrammetry Top-down control Optical tracer |
| url | https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89308 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.22040579 |