Selective logging has been widely employed as a management practice in tropical forests due to its reduced impact on biodiversity. However, by altering microclimatic conditions, logging could affect soil fauna responsible for nutrient cycling and the long-term dynamic of the forest. We investigated how selective logging affected termite species richness, composition, and the distribution of species in trophic groups, as well as the natural response of termites to gradients of soil conditions. Termites and edaphic variables were sampled in 32 permanent plots in southern Amazonia. Plots were subject to selective logging for 10–31 years before termite sampling. Time post-management was associated with changes in termite species composition, and wood-feeding termites were more abundant in recently logged areas. Nevertheless, most of the variation in termite species richness and composition can be attributed to the natural variation in soil clay content. Moreover, soil-dweller species, a vulnerable group strongly linked to soil decomposition, were present in all plots. These results suggest that the impact of selective logging on termite communities might be milder compared with other types of disturbance. It is likely that the decomposition process performed by termites, and consequently long-term ecosystem functioning, is preserved under selective logging.

中文翻译：

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选择性伐木不会改变白蚁对亚马逊地区土壤梯度的反应

选择性伐木已被广泛用作热带森林的管理实践，因为它减少了对生物多样性的影响。然而，通过改变小气候条件，伐木可能会影响负责养分循环的土壤动物群和森林的长期动态。我们研究了选择性伐木如何影响白蚁物种的丰富度、组成和营养群中物种的分布，以及白蚁对土壤条件梯度的自然反应。在亚马逊流域南部的 32 个永久地块中对白蚁和土壤变量进行了采样。在白蚁采样之前，地块要进行 10-31 年的选择性伐木。后期管理的时间与白蚁物种组成的变化有关，在最近砍伐的地区，以木材为食的白蚁更为丰富。尽管如此，白蚁物种丰富度和组成的大部分变化可归因于土壤粘土含量的自然变化。此外，土壤居民物种，一个与土壤分解密切相关的脆弱群体，存在于所有地块中。这些结果表明，与其他类型的干扰相比，选择性伐木对白蚁群落的影响可能更温和。白蚁进行的分解过程以及因此长期的生态系统功能很可能在选择性伐木下得以保存。这些结果表明，与其他类型的干扰相比，选择性伐木对白蚁群落的影响可能更温和。白蚁进行的分解过程以及因此长期的生态系统功能很可能在选择性伐木下得以保存。这些结果表明，与其他类型的干扰相比，选择性伐木对白蚁群落的影响可能更温和。白蚁进行的分解过程以及因此长期的生态系统功能很可能在选择性伐木下得以保存。