How Do Termites Keep Their Mounds Cool?
WouterTermites keep their mounds cool by building intricate cooling systems, essentially acting as their own external lungs. They do this by constantly adding new tunnels to the nest, which creates a large convective flow that moves the air between the nest and the mound.
In an effort to understand how termites keep their mounds cool, researchers used a variety of techniques to study the nests of 30 African species. They measured the airflow inside the nests, external winds, and CO2 concentrations. They also examined the temperature variations in various parts of the mounds.
Researchers found that the outer wall of the mound was warmer during the day than the inner walls. These temperature variations caused the convective flow to reverse. Fresh air is sucked in from the surface and enters the nest, while cooler air rises into the mound’s central chimney.
To measure the convective flow, the team built custom probes to test dead and live mounds. They then scanned the walls of the mounds with lasers. They used lower resolutions to analyze the bigger features of the mounds.
When researchers scanned the mounds, they found a system of tiny holes. This system is similar to the way the human lungs work. They are used to bring in oxygen and other gases, as well as to carry away heat. The smaller pores are sometimes taken over by larger ones.
Another type of ventilation system is the network of pores, which the termites use to exchange carbon dioxide. This helps the termites extract nutrients from wood.
