We used a standardised transect method to compare lowland forest termite assemblages in Buton Island, Sulawesi, with transects in Sundaland. The four Buton transects were extremely depauperate with species density ranging from 1 to 6 species, which is around 10% of the species density in 11 described Sundaland transects. Soil-feeding species were absent from the Buton transects but represent some 43% of species in the Sundaland transects. The Buton transects have relatively high soil pH (6.7–7.9), which may be associated with depauperate termite assemblages. Most termite genera recorded in Sulawesi are wood nesters that can raft in floating wood, which is probably how they arrived in Sulawesi. The Macrotermitinae (fungus-growers) do not raft and probably flew across serendipitously. Geographic isolation, both on Buton and in Sulawesi more generally, and Buton’s underlying geology causing high soil pH, may account for the near-absence of soil-nesters and soil-feeders, none of which are known to raft.

中文翻译：

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苏拉威西岛布顿岛的白蚁横断面与巽他地区相比，多样性较低

我们使用标准化的样带方法来比较苏拉威西岛布顿岛的低地森林白蚁群与巽他兰的样带。四个布顿样带极度贫瘠，物种密度从 1 到 6 个不等，约占 11 个已描述的巽他样带中物种密度的 10%。Buton 样带中不存在以土壤为食的物种，但占 Sundaland 样带中约 43% 的物种。Buton 样带的土壤 pH 值相对较高（6.7-7.9），这可能与退化的白蚁组合有关。苏拉威西岛记录的大多数白蚁属都是可以在漂浮的木头上漂流的木巢蚁，这可能就是它们到达苏拉威西岛的方式。Macrotermitinae（真菌种植者）不会漂流，可能会偶然飞过。地理隔离，