Aleocharinae termitophiles are affected by habitat fragmentation in deciduous dry forests

Abstract Landscape modifications, such as habitat fragmentation, significantly impact wildlife, particularly through edge effects (EE) that alter environmental conditions. Social insects like termites are susceptible to these changes. Furthermore, their nests often harbor unique associated fauna, including specialized termitophilous beetles, which may also be impacted. This study investigates the impact of anthropogenic fragmentation on the abundance of Aleocharinae termitophiles of two distinct morphologies, associated with Constrictotermes cyphergaster nests in a deciduous dry forest, and their responses to EE. Using data from 38 termite nests sampled in a forest fragment, we found that termitophile abundance ( Corotoca and Termitocola ) was significantly influenced by both morphology and distance from the fragment edge, with more termitophiles found in nests further away from the edge. This suggests that both Corotoca and Termitocola termitophiles are negatively affected by edge effects, despite the protective characteristics of their host nests. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of specialized, obligate symbionts to habitat fragmentation and underscore the importance of considering external factors and the specificity of cohabitants in ecological studies of edge effects.