Temperature sensitivity of termites determines global wood decay rates
Authors: Zanne Amy , Flores-Moreno Habacuc , Powell Jeff , Cornwell William , Dalling James , Austin Amy , Classen Aimee , Eggleton Paul , Okada Kei-ichi , Parr Catherine , Adair E. , Adu-Bredu Stephen , Alam Md Azharul , Alvarez-Garzón Carolina , Apgaua Deborah , Aragon Roxana , Ardón Marcelo , Arndt Stefan , Ashton Louise , Barber Nicholas , Beauchêne Jacques , Berg Matty , Beringer Jason , Boer Matthias , Bonet José , Bunney Katherine , Burkhardt Tynan , Carvalho Dulcineia , Castillo-Figueroa Dennis , Cernusak Lucas , Cheesman Alexander , Cirne-Silva Taina , Cleverly Jamie , Cornelissen J. Hans C. , Curran Timothy , D'Angioli André , Dallstream Caroline , Eisenhauer Nico , Ondo Fidèle Evouna , Fajardo Alex , Fernandez Romina , Ferrer Astrid , Fontes Marco , Galatowitsch Mark , González Grizelle , Gottschall Felix , Grace Peter , Granda Elena , Griffiths Hannah , Lara Mariana Guerra , Hasegawa Motohiro , Hefting Mariet , Hinko-Najera Nina , Hutley Lindsay , Jones Jennifer , Kahl Anja , Karan Mirko , Keuskamp Joost , Lardner Tim , Liddell Michael , Macfarlane Craig , Macinnis-Ng Cate , Mariano Ravi , Meyer Wayne , Mori Akira , Moura Aloysio , Northwood Matthew , Ogaya Romà , Oliveira Rafael , Orgiazzi Alberto , Pardo Juliana , Peguero Guille , Penuelas Josep , Perez Luis , Posada Juan , Prada Cecilia , Přívětivý Tomáš , Prober Suzanne , Prunier Jonathan , Quansah Gabriel , de Dios Víctor Resco , Richter Ronny , Robertson Mark , Rocha Lucas , Rúa Megan , Sarmiento Carolina , Silberstein Richard , Silva Mateus , Siqueira Flávia , Stillwagon Matthew , Stol Jacqui , Taylor Melanie , Teste Francois , Tng David , Tucker David , Türke Manfred , Ulyshen Michael , Valverde-Barrantes Oscar , Berg Eduardo van den , Logtestijn Richard van , Veen Ciska , Vogel Jason , Wardlaw Timothy , Wiehl Georg , Wirth Christian , Woods Michaela , Zalamea Paul-Camilo , Méndez Marcela 
Published: January 2022

Animals, such as termites, have largely been overlooked as global-scale drivers of biogeochemical cycles1,2, despite site-specific findings3,4. Deadwood turnover, an important component of the carbon cycle, is driven by multiple decay agents. Studies have focused on temperate systems5,6, where microbes dominate decay7. Microbial decay is sensitive to temperature, typically doubling per 10°C increase (decay effective Q10 = ~2)8–10. Termites are important decayers in tropical systems3,11–13 and differ from microbes in their population dynamics, dispersal, and substrate discovery14–16, meaning their climate sensitivities also differ. Using a network of 133 sites spanning 6 continents, we report the first global field-based quantification of temperature and precipitation sensitivities for termites and microbes, providing novel understandings of their response to changing climates. Temperature sensitivity of microbial decay was within previous estimates. Termite discovery and consumption were both much more sensitive to temperature (decay effective Q10 = 6.53), leading to striking differences in deadwood turnover in areas with and without termites. Termite impacts were greatest in tropical seasonal forests and savannas and subtropical deserts. With tropicalization17 (i.e., warming shifts to a tropical climate), the termite contribution to global wood decay will increase as more of the earth’s surface becomes accessible to termites.