TERMITE MOUNDS CAN PREVENT DESERTIFICATION Corina E. Tarnita
Desertification due to: overgrazing; climate change
Sudden switch to desert; hard to recover
Decreasing rainfall
Increasing rainfall
Rainfall (mm day-1)
Vege
tatio
n bi
omas
s (g
m-2)
Termite mounds are islands of fertile vegetation
In Laikipia: black cotton soil termites
Termites:
Improve nutrients on mounds
Allow water to infiltrate better
Decreasing rainfall
Increasing rainfall
Vege
tatio
n bi
omas
s (g
m-2)
Rainfall (mm day-1)
No mounds
With mounds
Thank you!