This study aimed to compare the properties of the constructions made by Microcerotermes pakistanicus, a wood-feeding termite species building carton nests, to those made by the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes obesus in a secondary forest in the Western Ghats region of Kerala. X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) showed that the pinnacle of O. obesus termitaria was very thick and compact with a central cavity and numerous unconnected galleries in its inner part. Conversely, the construction of M. pakistanicus appeared as a very porous media made of abundant and connected galleries following a radial trajectory, and the galleries were separated from the others by a thin wall. Despite significant differences in terms of soil chemical properties, Odontotermes obesus termitaria and sheetings had similar properties to those of the surrounding topsoil. Conversely, M. pakistanicus nest had unique chemical properties distinct from those of O. obesus or the surrounding soil. Moreover, although M. pakistanicus builds carton nests from its faeces, minerals were also measured within its termitaria. In conclusion, this study shows the very different properties of O. obesus and M. pakistanicus constructs. It also suggests the need for soil ecologists to consider carton-nests as a third group of soil-nest type, in addition to those built by soil or litter feeders and fungus-growers which edify termitaria from soil and different amount of organic matter. Further studies are also needed to determine their functional impacts on soil and nutrient dynamics.

这项研究旨在比较由Microcerotermes pakistanicus（一种以木材为食的白蚁物种建造的纸箱巢）与真菌生长的白蚁Odontotermes obesus在喀拉拉邦西高止山脉地区的次生森林中制成的建筑的性能。X射线计算机断层摄影（X射线CT）显示的顶峰O.金枪鱼termitaria是非常厚的和紧凑的具有中心腔和许多未连接的画廊在其内部部分。相反，M。pakistanicus的建设呈现为非常多孔的介质，由大量且相互连接的画廊沿着径向轨迹构成，并且这些画廊通过薄壁彼此隔开。尽管在土壤化学特性方面存在显着差异，但白蚁白蚁和薄层与周围表土的特性相似。相反，M。pakistanicus巢具有独特的化学特性，不同于奥贝斯o。sussus或周围土壤。此外，尽管巴基斯坦分枝杆菌通过粪便建造纸箱巢，但在其白蚁内也测量了矿物质。总之，这项研究显示了O. obesus和M. pakistanicus的性质截然不同结构体。这也表明，除了由土壤或垃圾饲养者和真菌种植者建造的，能从土壤和不同数量的有机物中滋生白蚁的动物外，土壤生态学家还需要将纸箱嵌套视为第三类土壤巢。还需要进一步研究以确定它们对土壤和养分动力学的功能影响。