THE EFFECTS OF SHEEP-GRAZING ON THE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE FAUNA (ISOPTERA) OF THE WESTERN-AUSTRALIAN WHEAT-BELT

The majority of existing remnants of wandoo Eucalyptus capillosa woodland in the Western Australian wheatbelt have been grazed by sheep for several decades and are often visibly degraded. A pilot survey was conducted into the effects of sheep on vegetation and soil variables, and the abundance, diversity and species frequency of occurrence of subterranean termite communities. Ten 1/4 ha study plots were used for paired grazed/ungrazed comparisons. Ungrazed plots had more litter mass (dry weight), leaf and woody litter, canopy cover (%) and soil moisture (moisture content <1.2% across study plots); grazed plots had a higher percentage of bare ground. Termites were as abundant, and as diverse, in grazed as in ungrazed plots, and were equally often sampled in the soil and surface wood. Termite species eating sound wood, decayed wood/debris and grass were sampled equally often, and were of equal diversity in sheep-grazed as in ungrazed plots. The mounds of Drepanotermes tamminensis were more abundant in grazed plots. These findings indicate that prolonged sheep grazing in remnants of wandoo woodland of the Western Australian wheatbelt has had no detrimental or beneficial effect on its subterranean termites.