From Mossy Earth:
Nature works wonders. Termites and their mounds are a prime example. These little ecosystem engineers build mounds that aren’t just aesthetically impressive, but also have an important ecological role in protecting savannahs. In the construction of their mounds, termites alter the soil structure so it retains more water. They also bring plant material to their mounds which fungi decompose, increasing the concentration of nutrients in the soil. All of this generates “islands of fertility” which often have a greater diversity and abundance of plants than the surrounding area.
What’s particularly interesting is that these mounds are thought to increase the resilience of their entire savannah ecosystem to droughts. They provide small havens where plants can survive and start recolonizing after rainfall. Although these effects are well researched, termites are rarely considered in direct conservation or restoration work. This long-term project aims to conserve and restore termite mounds in the degraded areas of Benin, West Africa. We’re running several experiments to learn how to harness the potential of these unsung climate heroes…[more]