estimated that the average lifespan of R. flavipes collected under field conditions is ~180 days, and possibly up to 1 year. A mortality rate of ~70% over 25 wks (175 d) is then in line with such estimates. As such, there is the possibility
then that some of the changes in soil properties that we observed resulted from termite necromass serving as a substrate for
decomposition, but such inputs could be considered a natural process in termite colonized soil (as opposed to an artifact of our experimental design).