Abstract In Africa, not only large number of termite species remain to be described, but also ecological studies on the termite fauna of the continent are scarce. For instance, the mechanisms underlying termite mounds distribution in ecosystems stay poorly known. The main goal of this study was to assess what determines the distribution of soil-feeding termites playing an important role in the recycling of organic matter. The case of Cubitermes pallidiceps (Sjostedt) (Isoptera: Cubitermitinae) was taken as a model. In Rumonge Forest, a woodland miombo of 600 ha in southwestern Burundi, we collected soil samples and data on tree density and diameter in 18 sites, six of which were home to mounds of C. pallidiceps. Multiple logistic regressions were used to evaluate the influence of soil properties and elevation on the occurrence of C. pallidiceps. Spatial autocorrelation structure in the model residuals was corrected by the integration of selected spatial predictors generated with the Moran’s eigenvectors maps (MEM) method. C. pallidiceps was present in areas where the tree density was low, therefore with a more opened canopy, probably to avoid fires. Those areas would also provide it a favourable microclimate through direct solar radiation. It was absent in stony places such as hill tops, probably because of food limitation. Soil with high sand content and the highest measured clay content seemed to favour Cubitermes occurrence. Its distribution was also influenced by undetermined spatially structured variables, which could correspond to unmeasured environmental variables such as soil nutrient or toxic elements, or variables related to dispersal abilities or biotic interactions with other species. Our results suggested that soil termites would have evolved in miombo ecosystems to avoid areas with a high physiological and physical cost. Understanding ecological adaptation of soil termites in this stressful environment is important for restoration and management of their habitats.

中文翻译：

---

哪些因素会影响miombo林地食土白蚁的发生？

摘要 在非洲，不仅大量的白蚁种类有待描述，而且对该大陆白蚁动物群的生态学研究也十分匮乏。例如，生态系统中白蚁丘分布的潜在机制知之甚少。这项研究的主要目标是评估是什么决定了在有机物质循环中发挥重要作用的土壤喂养白蚁的分布。Cubitermes pallidiceps (Sjostedt) (Isoptera: Cubitermitinae) 的案例被作为模型。在布隆迪西南部 600 公顷的林地米姆博鲁蒙格森林，我们收集了 18 个地点的土壤样本和树木密度和直径数据，其中 6 个地点是苍白头孢菌群的家园。使用多元逻辑回归来评估土壤性质和海拔对苍白头孢霉发生的影响。模型残差中的空间自相关结构通过整合使用 Moran 特征向量图 (MEM) 方法生成的选定空间预测变量进行校正。C. pallidiceps 存在于树木密度较低的区域，因此树冠更加开放，可能是为了避免火灾。这些地区还将通过直接太阳辐射为其提供有利的小气候。它在山顶等多石的地方不存在，可能是因为食物有限。含砂量高且测得的粘土含量最高的土壤似乎有利于 Cubitermes 的出现。它的分布还受到未确定的空间结构变量的影响，这些变量可能对应于未测量的环境变量，如土壤养分或有毒元素，或与传播能力或与其他物种的生物相互作用有关的变量。我们的结果表明，土壤白蚁会在 miombo 生态系统中进化，以避免出现生理和物理成本高的区域。了解土壤白蚁在这种压力环境中的生态适应对其栖息地的恢复和管理非常重要。