Baert, Geert

Erens, Hans

Mees, Florias

Mujinya, Basile Bazirake

Van Ranst, Eric

English

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

Geophysical Research AbstractsVol. 17, EGU2015-6048, 2015EGU General Assembly 2015© Author(s) 2015. CC Attribution 3.0 License.Morphology and spatial patterns of Macrotermes mounds in the SEKatanga, D.R. CongoBasile Bazirake Mujinya, Florias Mees, Hans Erens, Geert Baert, and Eric Van RanstUniversity of Lubumbashi, General Agricultural Sciences, Lubumbashi, Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The(bazirake_4@hotmail.com)The spatial distribution patterns and morphological characteristics of Macrotermes falciger mounds were inves-tigated in the Lubumbashi area, D.R. Congo. Examination of the spatial patterns of M. falciger mounds on highresolution satellite images reveals a mean areal number density of 2.9 ± 0.4 mounds ha−1. The high relative num-ber of inactive mounds in the region, along with their regular distribution pattern, suggests that current termitemound occurrences are largely palaeostructures. Mound positions in the habitat are consistent with intraspecificcompetition rather than soil and substrate characteristics as controlling factor. Detailed morphological descriptionof five deep termite-mound profiles (∼7 m height/depth) shows that carbonate pedofeatures are present in all stud-ied profiles, in contrast to the control soils. They mainly occur in the form of soft powdery masses, nodules andcoatings on ped faces, all clearly pedogenic. Carbonate coatings occur mainly between 1 m above the soil surfaceand 1 m below that level in all mound profiles. Carbonate nodules do show a different distribution pattern at eachsite. Furthermore, when the studied profiles are considered to represent a toposequence, the stone layer occurs atgreater depth in topographically low areas compared to crest and slope positions, which is mainly conditioned byerosion. The clay content of epigeal mounds increases from the summit to the toe slope, which can be largelyrelated to differences in parent material. The Mn–Fe oxide concentrations occurring in all studied termite moundprofiles reflect a seasonally high perched water table beneath the mound, which is more pronounced at the lowerslope positions.

Morphology and spatial patterns of Macrotermes mounds in the SE Katanga, D.R. Congo

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8525848/file/8525852

Morphology and spatial patterns of Macrotermes mounds in the SE Katanga, D.R. Congo

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Ghent University Academic Bibliography