Are Termites Good For the Environment?
WouterTermites play a major role in sustaining the health of the Earth’s soil. Their ability to break down dead and decaying materials is essential to the quality of the soil. They also produce excellent fertilizer for the soil.
Using their abilities, termites can help to protect vegetation from climate change. By preventing desertification, they can help semi-arid lands become more resistant to climate change.
They create massive networks of tunnels that offer shelter to thousands of insects. These mounds can also protect builders from the sun and seasonal rain.
Termite mounds contain large quantities of soil. This helps plants flourish in arid climates. The mounds help preserve seed, which helps surrounding areas rebound faster when the rain returns. They can help prevent erosion and reduce the amount of runoff.
When it comes to climate change, termites may also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. They are known to be key contributors to a number of greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon dioxide. Termites are also responsible for removing cellulose-based materials, which are used by many organisms.
Researchers are interested in how termites help to preserve the ecosystem and to maintain plant growth. A 2010 study published in PLoS Biology found that termite mounds are hotspots for animal activity and plant growth.
Termites are the dominant invertebrates in tropical soils. They have a unique ability to fix nitrogen. This allows them to break down rotting and dead material, which they then recycle into a form that can be reused.
