Yuliana, SriZul, DelitaMuhammad, Ahmad2014-03-282014-03-282014-03-28Rangga Dwijunanda Putrahttp://repository.unri.ac.id/xmlui/handle/123456789/5986The activities of subterranean termites inhabiting peatland habitats, such as processing peat into nest materials, have been suspected to affect the microbiological characteristics of peat. We carried out this preliminary study to clarify it by checking four parameters, i.e. microbial C biomass, respiration rate, total population of cellulolytic bacteria, and cellulase activity. Samples of both termite nests (Coptotermes curvignathus and Bulbitermes sp.) and peat were collected from acacia (Acacia crassicarpa) plantation (HTI) and rubber(Heveabrasiliensis) in the peatland area of Bukit Batu area, Bengkalis, Riau. Results showed that termite nest samples had larger microbial C biomass (averagely 284,76 :g C/g sample), higher respiration rate (averagely 0,44 mg CO 2/m2/hour), larger population of cellulolytic bacteria (averagely 3,19.105 CFU/g sampel), but lower cellulase activity (averagely 0,06 :g glukosa/hour/g sample). Microbial C biomass was not remarkably different in the nests of both termite species. Higher respiration rate was observed in Bulbitermes nests. Larger population of cellulolytic bacteria and higher cellulase activity were demonstrated in Coptotermes nests.otherAcacia plantationBulbitermesCoptotermes curvignathusmicrobiological characteristicsnestsrubber plantationsubterranean termitesOther