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Species-level termite methane production rates.

Yong Zhou^1,2, A Carla Staver^1,2, Andrew B Davies³

¹Institute for Biospheric Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

|October 31, 2022

Summary

Termites produce methane (CH4) during digestion, contributing to global emissions. This study compiled methane production rates for 134 termite species, revealing significant variation across groups and highlighting data gaps.

Keywords:

Termitidae feeding group global terrestrial ecosystems methane production rate species level termite

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Area of Science:

Ecology and Biogeochemistry: Focuses on the role of termites in greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem processes.

Background:

Termites are significant sources of methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas, contributing 1%-5% to global emissions.
Estimates of termite CH4 emissions rely on biomass and production rates, which vary greatly among species, yet understanding of this variation is limited.

Approach:

A comprehensive literature review of termite CH4 production rates from 1975 to 2021 was conducted using Google Scholar.
Data from 134 termite species, measured via incubation methods, were extracted, standardized to μg CH4 g-1 h-1, and analyzed.

Key Points:

Termite CH4 production rates span 0 to 25.26 μg CH4 g-1 h-1, averaging 3.74 μg CH4 g-1 h-1.
Methane production rates were concentrated in the Termitidae family, with soil feeders exhibiting higher rates than wood feeders.
The current dataset represents less than 5% of described termite species, indicating substantial data gaps.

Conclusions:

This compilation provides a foundational dataset for termite CH4 production rates, essential for refining global emission models.
Further research is crucial to fill data gaps and advance understanding of termites' role in biogeochemical cycles.