Do Termites Produce Methane?
WouterIf you are wondering do termites produce methane, then you have come to the right place. A study by a team of researchers in Australia has revealed how the methane cycle works in termite mounds.
The scientists used a new technique to study how methane cycled through the termite mounds in the tropical north of Australia. The results showed that methane was released during decomposition of organic matter and that the rate of release was directly related to the CO2 level in the atmosphere.
The amount of methane released by termites varies among species. The termites that feed on soil produce ten times more methane than wood-feeding termites. The researchers also found that the amount of CH4 produced by these termites varies.
The researchers studied six species of termites. The results revealed that the temperature of the termite mounds varies between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius above the ambient air temperature. The researchers noted that termites prefer temperatures that are at least 10 degrees higher than the temperature of the air.
The team of researchers also discovered that methane was removed from the termite mounds before it reaches the atmosphere. Using a method called difluoromethane, they were able to interrupt methanotrophic bacteria and disrupt methane oxidation.
Methane is a critical trace gas in the atmosphere, because it absorbs heat and is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. According to the research, methane is responsible for driving global temperature rise more than carbon dioxide. It is also a major component of longwave absorption.
