Land-use changes impact responses of termite functional and taxonomic diversity in the Colombian Amazon

Habitat degradation, a common consequence of land-use changes, reduces termite species richness. However, the impact of these changes on functional diversity remains poorly understood. This research aimed to assess the response of the taxonomic and functional diversity of termites in different land uses within the Colombian Amazon. Termites were surveyed in three habitat types (secondary forest, silvopastoral system, and agroforestry system) using a structured sampling design with 36 sampling points. Seven functional traits were measured from 30 individuals (worker caste) per species. We collected 23,140 individuals distributed in 2 families, 7 subfamilies, 50 genera, and 95 species. Results showed higher taxonomic diversity in the secondary forest compared to silvopastoral and agroforestry systems, which were similar. Likewise, the secondary forest presented higher functional species differentiation than the agricultural systems. Furthermore, land-use intensification led to changes in functional traits, with body size increasing in degraded habitats. This research provides significant evidence of the consequences of land use changes on the taxonomic diversity and functional traits of termites, emphasizing the importance of considering functional diversity responses in future research.