Forest edge effects on termites in a neotropical rainforest

Termite communities in a continuous neotropical rainforest in French Guiana show no detectable edge effects 100–300 m inside, with only Heterotermes tenuis increasing threefold at the forest edge.

• Why it matters: Fragmentation creates more forest edge and less interior habitat, but it is unclear whether soil-dwelling termites—key decomposers—are sensitive to edge conditions.
• What they did: Using a powerline clearing as a natural gradient, the study surveyed termite fauna across forest edge and interior zones, testing for changes in abundance, soil-feeder presence, and beta diversity.
• The result: No edge-related reduction in soil feeders or increase in beta diversity was detected, suggesting resilience when fragments remain large, while Heterotermes tenuis shows a strong edge-linked increase.

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