Mound architecture and season affect concentrations of <scp>CO₂</scp>, <scp>CH₄</scp> and <scp>N₂O</scp> in nests of African fungus‐growing termites

Abstract Termites are a significant natural source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), but quantifying emissions especially from large termite mounds is problematic as they rarely fit in measurement chambers. Predicting fluxes based on internal and atmospheric concentrations could provide an indirect way to assess mound emissions, developing such models necessitates better understanding the concentration levels their variance. We used gas chromatography measure carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ) nitrous oxide (N O) within nests two co‐occurring species fungus‐growing termites both dry wet seasons Kenya, with Macrotermes michaelseni building closed subhyalinus open ventilation system. Gas were 3–100 times higher than global averages atmosphere, implying that sources all three GHGs. Carbon mounds. Methane remained constant mounds, whereas exhibited considerable variation between across seasons. Concentrations CH N O correlated positively volume during season, interactions size not observed CO or driest sampling period. These findings underline among termites, size, type precipitation affect nest this likely magnitude GHG emissions. Potential reasons behind relationships discussed, including differences population biomass fungus gardens oxidation.