Termites are abundant in tropical ecosystems acting on
decay of plants debris in soil, with an important role in
nutrients cycling and soil fertilization (Bignell & Eggleton
2000). Their participation in the decomposition process starts
with the fragmentation of the plant necromass which is then
mineralized by fungi and bacteria and transformed in inorganic
nutrient compounds that will be absorbed by plants (Holt
1987). Termites also have a marked effect on tropical soil
structure and properties, where many species move the
organic matter from the surface to deeper layers of the soil,
improving and maintaining its porosity and aeration (Garnier-
Sillam & Harry 1995, Lavelle et al. 1997).