Bioturbation, the physical disturbance and mixing of soil layers caused by the activity of living organisms, such as earthworms and termites, plays a critical role in shaping soil structure, enhancing nutrient cycling, and regulating ecosystem dynamics. In paddy fields, earthworms form cast-hills and termites build mounds with distinct soil properties compared to the surrounding soil, potentially influencing soil fertility, pest regulation, and resilience to climatic stress. Although the impact of earthworms and termites on plants is well documented, their broader influence on farming practices and rice production at the plot scale remains poorly understood. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of earthworms and termite mounds on Cambodian paddy field agroecosystems. We hypothesized that these organisms improve soil fertility and rice yields, reduce reliance on fertilizers and pesticides, regulate pest pressure, and enhance drought resilience, thereby supporting farm income and sustainability. Through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), we observed that earthworm abundance was positively associated with soil silt content and soil nitrogen content, double cropping and higher caterpillar (armyworm) occurrence. Termite mound presence correlated with higher pest presence (snails, crabs, brown plant hoppers), higher input use, and farmers' perceived drought risk, but not with soil properties. However, neither earthworms nor termites had direct or indirect effects on rice yield or income. These findings highlight the complex ecological roles of these two soil engineers, while suggesting that their contribution to rice productivity and income remains limited, underscoring further research in food-crop-based agroecosystems.

As the most abundant and ubiquitous soil macrofauna, termite species are identified through a combination of indigenous and scientific criteria. The study objective was to test whether infrared technique can be used to identify termite species. Termites were sampled according to the indigenous criteria and harvest processes and hereafter they were identified using their morphometric data and their signatures in infrared based on organic carbon and nitrogen rate in their dry biomass. Results showed a total of 16 termite species grouped into seven genera, three subfamilies and four feeder groups were morphometrically recognized. Macrotermes, Nitiditermes, Odontotermes and Trinervitermes were the main genera whereas Macrotermitinae with four genera and eight species was the most frequent and abundant subfamily. Cubitermitinae and Nasutitermitinae families were represented by six species with an updated genus as Nitiditermes (Cubitermes) and two other species. The assessment of organic carbon and nitrogen rate of termite dry biomass powder allowed distinguishing termite members of Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes subhyalinus, Odontotermes vulgaris and Trinervitermes trinervius. As conclusion, the infrared technique can be used as tool for rapid identification of termite species and therefore could be taken into account in studying termite biodiversity for global management and conservation.

Although the importance of organic matter management for sustainable rice production is well established in upland soils, its role in lowland paddy systems with gleyed soils remains less understood. To address this gap, we used a 24-year field experiment in northern Vietnam to examine how organic matter inputs in rice-soybean rotations influenced soil health indicators and crop yield. Topsoil was collected from six treatments: no fertiliser, mineral fertiliser and mineral fertiliser plus cow manure, each with or without crop residue retention. Carbon transformation, nutrient cycling and soil structure maintenance were evaluated using Biofunctool, which integrates eight indicators into a soil health index. Soil macrofauna communities were also assessed. Labile organic carbon was the most sensitive indicator of carbon transformation, increasing more than threefold with organic matter additions compared to the unfertilised control. Organic matter additions also significantly improved macroporosity and water infiltration. The highest nitrate availability occurred under mineral fertilisation combined with residue retention. Overall, organic matter inputs increased the soil health index by 22%, exceeding the effect of mineral fertilisation alone, while residue retention increased the index by 8%. Rice yield increased from 1.8 to 3.4 t ha-1 corresponding to gains of 67% under mineral fertilisation, 90% with manure addition and 10% with residue retention. In contrast, soil macrofauna communities were unaffected by management practices and showed few relationships with soil functions. Rice yield was positively related to the soil health index (rho = 0.80), carbon transformation (rho = 0.75) and structure maintenance (rho = 0.68), whereas its relationship with nutrient cycling was not significant. Together, these results highlight the importance of long-term organic matter inputs for soil health and rice productivity in gleyed paddy soils, with yield being most strongly associated with carbon transformation.

Soil bioturbation is increasingly recognized as a key driver of pedogenesis in tropical ecosystems, influencing above- and below-ground biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and aggregate stability across different spatial and temporal scales. This ecological process may play a particularly critical role in the formation of deep, highly weathered soils, where the physical and chemical properties alone cannot fully explain the observed complexity. Ferralsols, which dominate tropical soils, are renowned for their micro-granular structure, which is fundamental to their high physical fertility. However, the mechanisms underlying the pervasive presence of this structure throughout the soil profile remain poorly understood. In this study, we document active termite bioturbation at depths of 10–14 m in a Ferralsol from the Brazilian Cerrado. We showed that the termite species Nasutitermes corniger builds chambers and galleries at these depths. Structural and microscopic analyses revealed that their activity penetrates the dense groundmass, producing and redistributing micro-granular fragments. We propose a novel conceptual model in which termite burrowing occurs near the weathered rock–soil interface, where termites excavate dense clayey material resulting from rock weathering, form galleries, and refill older voids with fragmented dense clayey material. Over geological timescales, this sustained biological activity drives the development and renewal of the micro-granular structure throughout the entire volume of the Ferralsol. Finally, our findings underscore the critical role of ecological/biological processes in soil formation and highlight the potential importance of preserving or emulating such biological processes in land management strategies. This may be essential for sustaining soil functions that are vital to global environmental stability.

Tiny organisms like earthworms, ants, and termites play an essential role in maintaining healthy soils and ecosystems. They are often called “ecosystem engineers” because of their profound effects on ecosystem structure and functioning. One of their key effects arises through their burrowing activities, which is called bioturbation. Bioturbation mixes up the soil, which increases helpful bacterial activity and plant growth. Well-mixed soils are better at storing carbon, which can help reduce global warming. As global temperatures rise due to climate change, soil organisms face challenges to the stable living conditions they rely on. In this article, you will discover the importance of bioturbators, the impact of climate change on their activities, and how their work can help combat global warming.

As the most abundant and ubiquitous soil macrofauna, termite fauna is identified using indigenous and scientific criteria. The study objective was to test the infrared technique to discriminate termite species identified by vernacular knowledge. Fresh termites were collected through indigenous harvest process and hereafter termites were identified using morphometric data and their signatures in infrared based carbon and nitrogen content in termite dry biomass. A total of 16 termite species grouped in 7 genera, 3 subfamilies and in 4 feeder groups were morphometrically identified. The mainly genera were Macrotermes , Nitiditermes , Odontotermes and Trinervitermes whereas Macrotermitinae with 4 genera and 8 species were the most frequent and abundant subfamily. Next, Cubitermitinae and Nasutitermitinae were represented by 6 species with an updated genus of Nitiditermes and 2 species. M. bellicosus , M. subhyalinus , O . vulgaris and T. trinervius were discriminated by carbon and nitrogen rate of their dry biomass powder. In conclusion, infrared technique could be used as tool for rapid discriminating vernacular termite species and therefore should be taken into account in studying termite biodiversity management and conservation.

Land cover changes are a prominent driver of environmental changes, impacting various ecosystem components, including soil properties and the dynamics of natural resources, such as the soil particle sizes and the organic carbon stock. The aim of this research study was to define the influence of environmental factors on a set of soil physical and chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, soil texture, and nitrogen and soil carbon contents) in Stung Chrey Bak catchment. A total of 135 soil samples at 0-10 cm depths were collected all over the catchment from four dominant land cover types (i.e., dense forest, clear forest, brushwood, and rice field) in 1952 and 1981. All these data were mapped by combining spatial data on land cover types and for a visualization of soil properties at the catchment scale. For the mapping of soil properties, we used an interpolation map (IDW) with Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS 3.22). The distribution of the particle sizes was mostly impacted by the topography rather than the land uses. On average, the soil pH values were higher in rice fields than in forested soil, while low salinity could be measured in the four land use types. The carbon content was higher in the dense forest soil than in the other land use types. The bulk density of the dense forests was 1.28g cm-3, while it reached 1.68g cm-3 on average in the other land use type. This shows that deforestation in the upland leads to soil compaction and a significant loss of soil C.

The differentiation of termite species into functional groups provides insight into the diversity of their nest-building and feeding strategies. While numerous studies have focused on their impacts on carbon dynamics, there is a notable gap in understanding how termite bioturbation influences the dynamics of silicon in ecosystems, particularly in relation to its availability to plants. This study aims to investigate how termite bioturbation (both by fungal-growing species, FG, and non-fungal species, NFG, that build arboreal or above-ground nests) affect silica dynamics in ecosystems. Termite nests were sampled in forests surrounding Angkor Temple in Cambodia, and their elemental soil properties and amounts in phytoliths and plant available silicon (SiCacl2) were analyzed. Our findings confirmed the distinct properties of FG nests. However, we also observed that NFG arboreal and above-ground nests exhibited significantly different properties, particularly with higher organic matter content and fine soil particles (silt and clay) in comparison with the other treatments. Moreover, nesting and building strategies were found to explain variations in phytolith abundance in nest soils, with higher values recorded in NFG above-ground mounds compared to other nest types. NFG nests also showed elevated levels of SiCaCl2 compared to the surrounding soil, while FG nests displayed intermediate levels. In conclusion, this study highlights the role of termites as important agents in the recycling of silicon in ecosystems. By accumulating phytoliths and SiCaCl2 in their nests, termites are likely to enhance the availability of Si to plants, with NFG species having a particularly significant impact.

We conducted a one-year outdoor experiment to evaluate how the functional diversity of earthworms influences soil erosion. Three species with contrasting bioturbating behaviors were selected: the polyhumic endogeic Pontoscolex corethrurus (feeding and casting on the soil surface and constructing shallow burrows), the endogeic Amynthas alluxus (geophagous and permanently living in the subsoil), and the anecic Amynthas zenkevichi (feeding and casting on the soil surface and constructing deep burrows). A total of 27 mesocosms (1 m3 each) planted with grass were inoculated with none to all three species at two biomass levels (30 and 60 g m-2). Soil detachment, water runoff, drainage, soil water potential, and grass biomass were monitored throughout the whole experiment, while burrow volume, water infiltration rate, surface casts, and earthworm communities were measured at the end. A. zenkevichi was the only surviving species and colonized all the mesocosms. Consequently, the impact of each species and their interactions on soil detachment could not be assessed. Nevertheless, mesocosms initially inoculated with earthworms showed, on average, a 7.7-fold decrease in soil detachment compared to the control mesocosm, where no earthworms were introduced at the beginning but was later colonized by dispersed earthworms. Structural equation modeling explained 77 % of the variance in soil detachment. It revealed that both surface casts and burrows (measured by X-ray tomography) indirectly reduced soil detachment by increasing water infiltration and reducing water runoff. However, surface casts also promoted water runoff, partially counteracting these benefits. This study highlights the challenges of managing earthworm communities in long-term mesocosm experiments under natural conditions. Despite these limitations, our findings emphasize the crucial role of anecic earthworms in reducing soil detachment.

Aims: To assess whether rural settlement areas (RSA) function as transitional zones between the temporarily flooded forests and paddy fields. Study Design: Chhnuktrou commune, Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia was selected. Place and Duration of Study:101 samples were collected form the study area. Soil samples were selected with 4 types of land use (Riverbank, flooded forest, Rural settlement areas, and paddy fields). Soil samples were collected in all plots in the dry season at the same depth level (0-10cm). Methodology: All the samples analyzed the soil physicochemical such as Bulk density, soil particle size, pH and Electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter and C stocks. The experiment was carried out in the soil laboratory at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. Results: The results revealed a fertility gradient from the riverbank to the paddy fields, with higher clay contend and carbon concentrations observed in riverbank and flooded forest. Interestingly, RSA exhibited distinct soil properties with localized enrichment in clay and carbon, most likely driven by anthropogenic factors such as waste accumulation and sediment redistribution. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the unique pedological characteristics of RSA and underscore the importance of considering them in land-specific soil management strategies within floodplain landscapes.

It is well known that biopores are crucial for soil functioning. However, their dynamics is rarely studied and their origin with regards to the soil organisms involved is still hard to determine. In this study we investigated the diversity of biopores and their regeneration rates in situ in various pedoclimatic conditions. Our approach involved field incubation of repacked soil cores with lateral openings across nine study sites in five countries (France, Vietnam, India, Laos and Thailand). After 12 months, biopores were characterized by X-ray computed tomography and grouped according to their diameter, length and sphericity index using principal component analysis followed by K-means clustering. The regeneration dynamics of biopores was assessed by comparing those created after one year of incubation to the biopores determined in soil cores taken from the surrounding soils (assuming the latter are in a steady-state). Additionally, we examined the relationships between newly formed biopores and soil macrofauna taxa. Our results evidenced significant variability in biopore diameter (0.90 to 15.84 mm), length (1 to 1600 mm) and sphericity index (0.03 to 0.93). We propose 10 biopore groups allowing to distinguish most of the study sites. Complete regeneration of biopores after 12 months was achieved in seven out of nine sites. Three groups of biopores showed a positive relation with earthworm abundance (r values ranged from 0.69 to 0.90), whereas the other groups of biopores showed no association with any macrofauna taxa. We conclude that biopore formation can be assessed under field conditions with repacked soil cores, regardless the pedoclimatic conditions. However, the involvement of macrofauna other than earthworms in biopore formation still remains to be unraveled. To capture their contribution to biopore formation, improvements of the repacked soil core approach and complementary laboratory experiments were suggested.

Earthworms are highly active in Southeast Asian paddy fields, yet their activity is challenging to measure in flooded soils. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of the subaquatic earthworm Glyphidrilus papillatus (Michaelsen, 1896) on soil properties and rice (Oryza sativa L.) physiology in Northern Vietnam, specifically focusing on rice cultivation at three distinct water levels: 5 cm above the soil surface (HIGH), at the soil level (ZERO), and 5 cm below the soil surface (LOW). Our findings indicate that water levels significantly affect earthworm activity, with the lowest activity observed at the shallowest water depth, as evidenced by reduced pore production in the soil and fewer casts on the surface. While earthworms are typically associated with enhanced soil fertility, this study did not confirm this relationship. Consequently, despite the substantial reorganization of soil structure, no significant interactions were found between earthworm presence and rice biomass, physiological parameters (such as leaf stomatal conductance to water vapor, chlorophyll content, and maximum quantum yield of PSII), or overall yield. In conclusion, this research highlights the critical role of the water level in influencing both earthworm activity and rice development. It underscores the necessity of considering additional ecological factors, such as carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, and plant resilience to environmental stressors.

In Cambodia, pepper (Piper nigrum) is cultivated intensively, primarily through uniform plantations where large areas are dedicated to a single variety. This study aimed to explore how the integration of reforested areas affects ecosystem functioning in agroforestry systems, with a particular focus on biodiversity, carbon storage in the soil, and water infiltration. Additionally, it focused on the specific role of termite mounds, which are known for their unique properties in natural ecosystems, but have never been studied in agroforestry systems. Eight years after the beginning of the reforestation, the area consisted of a forest, characterized by its specific vegetation and the presence of termite mounds, plantations of pepper, and paddy fields (Oryza sativa). These environments could be discriminated by their specific biological activity and diversity, and soil physical (soil texture, water hydraulic conductivity) and chemical (C, N, P, pH, electrical conductivity) properties. Except for the low tree diversity in pepper plantations, this environment was very similar to the forest, in terms of soil properties and soil fauna diversity, most likely due to the specific climate found in pepper plantations and the utilization of compost for increasing soil fertility. PLS-SEM models showed that the abundance of litter explained more soil chemical properties than tree diversity in the forest. This study also showed that the similar P content in forests compared to cultivated areas, which received organic fertilizers, could be explained by the restitution of P from litter. Finally, we demonstrated that termite mounds can be viewed as hotspots of fertility and biodiversity within the forests, emphasizing their potential use as soil amendment to enhance the fertility of the pepper and rice plantations.

Silicon (Si) is an essential element for the growth and development of rice plants, playing a crucial role in their overall health and productivity. This study aimed to measure earthworm's impact on Si dynamics in northern Vietnam's paddy fields. The properties of earthworm casts from 23 different sites were compared to the surrounding topsoil. The results showed that the casts were enriched in biogenic silica (herein phytoliths) and plant-available Si (measured through acid acetic extraction, SiAC) compared to the reference topsoil. Also, casts had a higher sand content, while their carbon content was similar to the reference soils. This suggests a possible preference for sand particles by earthworms (e.g., for grinding plant material within their gizzards) and/or the consumption of soil from another layer enriched in sand content. The influence of earthworms on Si dynamics was found to be dependent on the soil's environmental properties. In soils with low fertility (characterized by a higher proportion of sand and lower concentrations of C and oxides), earthworms increased the concentration of SiAC. However, beyond a certain level, the effect of earthworms on Si availability became neutral. While this study highlights the critical role of earthworms in paddy fields, further research is needed to understand how earthworms enhance the concentration in SiAC in the topsoil, and the consequences to rice growth and resistance to environmental hazards.

Earthworms can compact the soil through the production of casts and by pushing the soil when burrowing. However, how different ecological categories differently affect these processes is poorly known. This study aimed to expand our knowledge on the compaction within the drilosphere and to examine similarities and differences between ecological categories. We sampled 21 earthworm species in Vietnam whose bioturbating behaviours and morpho-anatomical traits had been previously studied. One individual was incubated in soil core for four weeks under laboratory conditions. After incubation, the following drilosphere properties were assessed using X-ray computed tomography: the volume and compaction of casts, the volume of empty burrows, the compaction of burrow walls and the radius of lateral compaction around burrows. The drilosphere volume decreased in the following order: anecic (8.5%), endogeic (2.5%), intermediate (1.5%) and epigeic species (0.5%). Together, casts and lateral compaction occupied more than 70% of the whole drilosphere regardless of the ecological category. Both anecic and endogeic species had relatively similar effects on soil compaction. They compacted surface casts (up to 1.45-fold), belowground casts (up to 1.20-fold), and burrow walls (up to 1.25-fold) and induced the widest lateral compaction around burrows (up to 7 mm). Conversely, epigeic species had markedly fewer effects, increasing compaction from 1.10- to 1.20-fold and producing the narrowest lateral compaction (1 mm). Intermediate species showed large variability, which included species with little and large effects on compaction. Finally, we showed that food ingestion, muscle thickness and body size were the most related to the compaction of the drilosphere. It is concluded that the soil volume compacted by the earthworms is larger than the volume of empty burrows. Additionally, our study encourages further investigations using functional traits to overcome some limitations associated with the traditional ecological category approach.

Although Ferralsols result from a deep weathering, small amounts of potassium-bearing 2:1 phyllosilicates were identified their B horizons in many studies but the consequences on total potassium (K) content and K availability remain under discussion. Our objective was to discuss this issue by measuring the total amount of K, as well as the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the amount of exchangeable K using chemical analyses of bulk samples, combined with backscattered electron scanning images (BESI) and chemical analyses using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) on cross-sections of undisturbed samples. Our results showed that the total and exchangeable K were related to the presence of elongated particles corresponding to 2:1 phyllosilicates at varying degrees of weathering. These 2:1 phyllosilicates ranged from weathered muscovite to hydroxy-Al interlayered vermiculites (HIV). The quantities of K reserve potentially available over time for plant nutrition ranged from 259 to 5 044 g ha−1 m−1. The stock of exchangeable K+ ranged from 86 to 207 kg ha−1 m−1 when it was higher than the detection limit (18 kg ha−1 m−1). It was related to the density of the elongated particles < 2 μm and 2–20 μm in length because their K was more exchangeable than in larger particles. The CEC varied according to the clay content and the kaolinite proportion in the clay fraction. Finally, if the presence of these K-bearing 2:1 phyllosilicates results, as discussed in recent studies, from the upward material transport activity of termites from the saprolite, this raises the question of the consequences of soil cultivation on soil fauna and hence on the reserve of K and its availability for plant nutrition.

This study was conducted to investigate termite mounds' dynamics in paddy fields in Cambodia. Historical aerial images collected in the 50s by the French Institut G & eacute;ographique National (IGN) and recent Google Earth (GE) were analysed to study land use changes and mound distribution in 30 plots. A significant decrease in the surface covered by scrublands and forests was measured (from 37% in 1953 to less than 2% in 2021). We observed that most mounds seen in the field in 2021 could also be seen in IGN and GE images (88.6%), indicating that mounds have a long lifespan but also that they can be built in less than 70 years. Mound density was neither influenced by the topography nor by the restructuring of the paddy field boundaries during the Khmer Rouge regime. However, areas that were more recently converted into paddy fields had more mounds compared to areas that were already paddy fields in 1953 (2.92 vs. 1.53 mounds ha-1, respectively). Therefore, deforestation and other environmental changes have turned mounds into remnants of the forests that had almost completely disappeared. This highlights the importance of protecting these specific environments in a changing world facing a major crisis of biodiversity loss.

1. Ants are important bioturbators that actively produce biopores and move soil particles. They could be particularly affected by global warming as they are ectotherms. Nevertheless, they can indirectly regulate their temperature, through changes in their circadian cycles and the architecture of their nests (e.g. digging deep nests or using insulating materials). Nest architecture has been considered an expanded functional trait of ant colonies and thus sensitive to environmental changes such as increasing temperatures. This work aimed to study the nest architecture of ants as a functional trait and its effects on soil bioturbation. We hypothesized that, when exposed to increased surface temperatures, ants would increase their excavation activities, build deeper nests and alter the layout of chambers to maintain their preferred temperature and humidity, thus enhancing soil porosity. 2. We allowed 17 young Lasius niger ant colonies to excavate nests in soil columns exposed to three surface temperatures (mild, n = 5; medium, n = 6; and high, n = 6) for 100 days. We measured the amount of soil excavated weekly and took X-ray scans of the soil column on Days 7, 14, 28, and 88 to characterize the three-dimensional structure of the nests (depth, shape, volume of chambers and tunnels). We then collected the colonies and measured their growth during the experiment, and the size and weight of workers. 3. Ants reacted to surface temperature. Colonies exposed to medium and high temperatures excavated larger and deeper nests than those exposed to mild temperature. Nests excavated under high and medium temperatures had the same maximal depth, but chambers were located deeper in the former, which were further characterized by the refiling of some of the upper chambers. Colonies grew well in all treatments, although less under mild temperature. They produced normal-sized workers despite differences in surface temperature. Overall, these results suggest that ants exposed to higher temperatures live in deeper chambers. 4. This study shows that surface temperature affects ant nest architecture, confirming its status as extended phenotype and highlighting its flexibility over time, which has in turn consequences on soil porosity.

Cambodia plans to expand its rice sector and become a prominent rice exporter. A key concern is that soil fertility is a crucial factor affecting rice production, and nutrient leaching into the environment can lead to reduced nutrient uptake and lower rice yield. Carbonized waste biochar has gained recognition not only as a potential soil fertility enhancer but also as a significant nutrient leaching reducer. It is currently being introduced in many regions. The study was to evaluate how a combination of chemical fertilizers and rice husk biochar affects nutrient leaching into the topsoil layer and plow sole of soil columns during direct seeding with continuous flooding, and to assess their combined effects on rice growth and yield. In the leachate from these two soil layers, except for ortho-phosphate (PO 4 3− ), the combination of CHEM + BIO2 or + BIO4 treatment (chemical fertilizers + biochar at a rate of 2t ha −1 or + biochar at a rate of 4t ha −1 ) significantly decreased ammonium (NH 4 + ) and nitrate (NO 3 − ) levels more than CHEM alone, particularly in the plow sole, suggesting that their combination and biochar sorption capacity are beneficial for nitrogen use by plants. CHEM + BIO2 had varying effects, whereas CHEM + BIO4 led to a significant increase in rice yield, plant biomass, tiller number, panicle length, grains per panicle, and grain weight per panicle. These findings suggest that incorporating biochar amendments in rice production can reduce N leaching. However, there is no evidence to support its effectiveness in reducing P leaching. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of this approach.

Understanding how soil fauna impact soil aggregate dynamics remains a critical issue in soil science, especially because of the influence on soil aggregate stability on key ecological and environmental processes. This question is even more crucial in tropical countries, where soils are particularly vulnerable to erosion. In many tropical environments, soil bioturbation is mostly carried out by termites. Based on their different building strategies, termites are usually differentiated into two functional groups: the fungus growing (FG) and non-fungus growing termites (non-FG). In this study, we focused on the properties of soil sheeting, i.e., small sized soil aggregates that are built on the ground or on plant materials by termites. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we showed that the stability of non-FG sheeting was associated with the properties of the surrounding soil, thus suggesting (i) a low ability or need of termites to adapt the stability of their sheeting to their biotic and abiotic environments, (ii) a rapid turnover of the organic matter incorporated by non-FG, which is only superficially incorporated into soil aggregates. The sheeting of FG termites was generally enriched in clay and impoverished in carbon. However, despite changes in soil properties, PLS-SEM did not satisfactorily account for sheeting stability (i.e., no direct or indirect path correlations between the stability of soil sheeting and the other measured variables). Therefore, this study suggested a reorganization of soil aggregates and an adaptation of sheeting properties to the environment with a positive impact of termites on soil sheeting stability restricted to semi-arid to arid environments (mean annual precipitation <500 mm year-1), in agro-ecological biotopes, and when sheeting covered leaves in comparison to wood. Hence building strategies between FG and non-FG termites can have functional consequences in terms of soil aggregate stability in tropical soils.