Ecosystem engineers have been widely studied for terrestrial systems, but global trends in
research encompassing the range of taxa and functions have not previously been …

Fungus‐growing termites are among the most successful herbivorous animals and improve
crop productivity and soil fertility. A range of symbiotic organisms can be found inside their …

Ants and termites reach high abundances in the tropics and substantially affect the
environment through a range of their activities. Because of foraging and decomposition of …

Microbial communities in the immediate environment of socialized invertebrates can help to
suppress pathogens, in part by synthesizing bioactive natural products. Here we …

In addition to its builders, termite nests are known to house a variety of secondary
opportunistic termite species so‐called inquilines, but little is known about the mechanisms …

1. Termitophily in some rove beetles is commonly attributed to the striking termite worker
resemblance that is provided by the beetles' hypertrophic ('physogastric') abdomen …

Symbiosis, the living‐together of unlike organisms, underlies every major transition in
evolution and pervades most ecological dynamics. Among examples of symbioses, the …

Termite mounds influence ecosystem heterogeneity and contribute to the stabilization of the
system under global change. A number of environmental factors influence the distribution …

Trophic ecology has major implications for understanding species' natural history and
functional role in ecosystems. This type of information is key to define resource requirements …

The presence of foreign organisms in the colonies of social insects could affect energy
allocation to growth and reproduction of these hosts. Highly specialized invaders of such …