# Collaborative Research: Termite Methane Emissions Across Tropical Savannas and Forests

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Utah State University (UT) · $832,871

## Abstract

Termites are highly abundant and impactful social insects found across more than half of the Earth’s land surface, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. They play a major role in decomposing up to 60% of plant litter and fallen wood in these areas. During this process, termites rely on a partnership with microorganisms in their guts to help break down organic matter. In the process, some termites can also produce substantial amounts of methane that can be released into the atmosphere. There is still much uncertainty about how much methane termites release worldwide due to a lack of understanding of the processes that determine termite methane production and emission. The goals of this project are to understand the differences in methane production rate across termite species and how that relates to the microorganisms in their guts, and to estimate total methane emissions from termites across large areas using field measurements and remote sensing data. The fieldwork focuses on termites in the tropical savannas and forests of Odzala-Kokoua National Park, home to an exceptionally wide variety of termite species. The results from this project could greatly improve understanding of how much methane termites produce and how it happens, from individual species to whole colonies and larger areas, helping to fill important gaps in knowledge of termites' role in contributing to atmospheric methane. The project will train early-career scientists and engage K-12 students and the 

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2437124
- **Awardee organization:** Utah State University (UT)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** SPE2YDWHDYU4
- **PI:** Yong Zhou
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** —
- **Estimated total:** $832,871
- **Funds obligated:** $832,871
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 08/31/2025

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2437124

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2437124, Collaborative Research: Termite Methane Emissions Across Tropical Savannas and Forests. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2437124. Licensed CC0.

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