How Tall Can Termite Mounds Be?
WouterTermite mounds are constructed by termites. These complex structures consist of soil, water, and saliva. They are extremely strong and stable. The number of termite colonies in a region determines the size of a termite mound.
These structures are also home to foragers. In fact, some animals even eat the plants that grow on the mounds. A termite queen can produce thousands of eggs a day. The mounds are also used as lookouts.
These pillar-like mounds are built by the macrotermitine termite. Some of them are enclosed and contain ramifying networks of tunnels. These tunnels form a respiratory gas exchange system. They may be as old as 4,000 years.
Researchers have been able to model the structure of termite mounds and their internal architecture. It is believed that termite mounds are a vital organ of the superorganism of termite colonies. They maintain temperature and humidity in the nest and regulate respiratory gas distribution. They also serve as storage chambers for wood.
For example, researchers found that the largest termite mounds in Brazil covered a large area on granite. The soil inside was estimated to be 10 cubic kilometers. These mounds were discovered in the northeastern part of the country. They are the largest known example of ecosystem engineering by a single insect species.
Until now, scientists have been uncertain about the construction process. The earliest proposal suggested that termites use a thermosiphon mechanism to transport air to their porous surface. However, this theory has not been tested quantitatively.
