Citation
Ventilation of termite mounds: new results require a new model
TL;DR
Mound interior maintains constant 30°C and 95% humidity despite external swings from 40°C to near-freezing
Detailed analysis of how termite mound architecture creates a buffered microclimate with stable temperature and humidity despite extreme external fluctuations. The engineering sophistication - ventilation chimneys exploiting convection, internal temperature regulation - demonstrates how niche construction can enable organisms to inhabit otherwise lethal environments.
Key Findings from Korb & Linsenmair (2000)
- Mound interior maintains constant 30°C and 95% humidity despite external swings from 40°C to near-freezing
- Ventilation system works through convection currents, acting like lungs
- Constructed environment enables fungus cultivation impossible outside the mound