Technical Note: Rapid image-based field methods improve the quantification of termite mound structures and greenhouse-gas fluxes

Abstract

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Termite mounds (TMs) mediate biogeochemical processes with global relevance, such as turnover of the important greenhouse gas methane (CH<sub>4</sub>). However, the complex internal and external morphology of TMs impede an accurate quantitative description. We compare two novel field methods to quantify TM external and internal mound structure against established methods for 29 TMs of three termite species. Photogrammetry (PG) was used to measure epigeal volume (<i>V</i><sub><i>E</i></sub>), surface area (<i>A</i><sub><i>E</i></sub>) and mound basal ar..