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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Stable isotope analysis of termite food habits in East African grasslands
Oecologia, Volume 59, No. 1, Year 1983
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Description
Stable carbon isotope techniques were employed to study the food habits of the termite Macrotermes michaelseni (Isoptera: Termitidae) in a semiarid savanna habitat in Kenya. At Kajiado this species utilized approximately 70% herbaceous vegetation (mostly grass) and 30% woody vegetation, while at Ruiru approximately 64% of the vegetation utilized was woody and 36% herbaceous. Stabel carbon isotope ratios varied between castes within sites, but were consistent with the manner in which carbon flows through termite colonies. δ13C values increased in the sequence: diet→fungus comb→nonreproductive castes→reproductive castes. These results are in agreement with the idea that organic carbon becomes enriched in 13C as it passes through a food chain. © 1983 Springer-Verlag.
Authors & Co-Authors
BOUTTON, THOMAS W.
United States, Sioux Falls
Augustana University
Arshad, Muhammad A.Charlie
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Tieszen, Larry L.
United States, Sioux Falls
Augustana University
Statistics
Citations: 82
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/BF00388065
ISSN:
00298549
e-ISSN:
14321939
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Locations
Kenya