Considerations about the ecosystem services of termites (Insecta: Isoptera)

Abstract

The valuation of the environmental or ecosystem services offered by biodiversity is very important for the design of conservation policies and/or for the management of ecosystems. In this work, an approach was made to the environmental functions and ecosystems services of termites based on a review of the group's ecological aspects, and also some considerations were raised about the valuation of the services that this component of biological diversity provides. The importance of termites in soil biological processes and in the sustainability of certain biophysical cycles in ecosystem, evidenced their contribution fundamentally in the regulation and support ecosystem services. The valuation of these services recreated with greater emphasis the value of indirect use and existence of isoptera, which addressed the potentialities, functional role in ecosystems and consequent conservation of these organisms, as well as their environmental functions. Finally, possible economic evaluation methods were suggested in a very simple way, such as contingent valuation and the techniques of the travel cost and substitute goods, taking into account above all their values of direct, indirect use and of existence.