Wood pieces of a heavy hardwood Neobalanocarpus heimii (King) P. S. Ashton and a light hardwood
Shorea macroptera Dyer were used in decomposition experiments with termite-exclusion and control trays on the forest
floor of the Pasoh Forest Reserve, West Malaysia to determine effects of wood quality on termite-mediated wood
decay. Shorea macroptera had a significant loss of C in the presence of termites while Neobalanocarpus heimii showed
no significant termite effect. Neobalanocarpus heimii and S. macroptera both accumulated N in the absence of termites,
but S. macroptera lost it when termites were present. The C/N ratio decreased with and without termites as decay
proceeded in both species. Neobalanocarpus heimii accumulated P, but S. macroptera lost it with and without termites.
The C/P ratio decreased in N. heimii, but did not change in S. macroptera. Decomposition was considerably enhanced
by termites in S. macroptera, but not in N. heimii, indicating that termite foraging activity was affected by the different
wood qualities of the two trees. The qualities responsible for the differences and how different wood qualities affect
nutrient cycling in the tropical rain forest ecosystem are discussed.
How to study the canopy beetles in a tropical rain forest. Research trial in the Pasoh Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia.
