Diurnal and seasonal variations in CH4 flux from termite mounds in tropical savannas of the Northern Territory, Australia

Hizbullah Jamali, Stephen J. Livesley, Tracy Z. Dawes, Garry D. Cook, Lindsay B. Hutley, Stefan K. Arnd 2010, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
Termites are estimated to contribute between <5 and 19% of the global methane (CH4) emissions. We measured CH4 fluxes from four common mound-building termite species (Microcerotermes nervosus, M. serratus, Tumulitermes pastinator and Amitermes darwini) diurnally and seasonally in tropical savannas in the Northern Territory, Australia. Our results showed that there were significant diel and seasonal variations of CH4 emissions from termite mounds and we observed large species specific differences.

Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Land Clearing In The Daly River Catchment Northern Territory, Australia

Simulated emissions using the National Carbon Accounting System, and imputed carbon pollution costs.

By Rob Law and Stuart Blanch

First published in May 2009 by the Environment Centre NT.


This report may be downloaded as a PDF file from the Environment Centre NT www.ecnt.org and WWF websites www.wwf.org.au