Termites: The Essential Decomposers

Termites are often regarded as a pest, especially when certain species of termites can do damage to human-made wood homes and other structures. However in a recent study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, scientists from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies found that despite their reputation, termites are essential and beneficial in their role as nature's decomposers.

Over the course of four years in Australia’s Daintree Rainforest, the researchers buried wood blocks in old growth rainforest and in forested areas that were replanted four and eight years earlier. While fungi broke down wood at nearly equal rates in all sites, termites lagged dramatically in the young forests—even more than a decade after the trees had been restored.

Termites accelerate nutrient and carbon cycling by shredding wood and incorporating it into soil. Their slow recovery in regenerated rainforest stands risks starving young trees of essential resources. To jump start decomposer communities, the researchers propose moving deadwood logs from mature forest into replanted areas. These logs would carry existing termite colonies and feed local decomposers until forest debris accumulates naturally.

They also suggest directly transplanting termite mounds, which is a radical idea, since termites are rarely welcomed by forest managers. Yet fewer than 3 percent of termite species harm human structures; the rest perform ecological services still poorly understood. Termites not only sequester carbon in their fecal nest materials but also host nitrogen fixing bacteria that supply critical nutrients to trees.

Introducing termites could trigger a cascade of ecological returns. With decomposers in place, ants, lizards, and other termite predators may follow, further enriching biodiversity. As one researcher noted, restored forests often focus solely on planting diverse tree species, overlooking the organisms that sustain ecosystem processes.

While these transplant strategies await further experimental validation, they highlight a broader lesson: successful rainforest regeneration demands more than young trees. Restoring the hidden workforce of decomposers is essential to rebuilding soil fertility, accelerating carbon storage, and cultivating self-sustaining forests.