How Do Protists Help Termites Digest Wood?
WouterTermites are global pests, damaging buildings and crops. But in their natural habitats, they are beneficial insects. They help to decompose dead trees, adding nutrients to the soil. They also aerate the soil.
Termites have hundreds of species of microbes in their guts. These protists help the termite to digest wood and convert it into fuel and nutrients. Termite gut bacteria are important for the production of nitrogen. These bacteria are involved in the synthesis of amino acids and cofactors.
The symbiotic intestinal flora of termites and other insects plays an important role in the digestion of lignocellulose. The microorganisms in the intestines of termites break down the cellulose found in plant cell walls. This carbohydrate is important in the structural properties of plants. It is the main substance in the cell walls of the plants.
Termite gut protists are a unique group of bacteria that is hosted by termites. These species are part of the phylum Parabasalia. They have thousands of flagella and bell-shaped bodies.
They occupy a large volume of the termite microbiome. They have been studied for their ability to fix nitrogen. But their exact metabolic functions are not known.
Researchers have discovered genes that explain their metabolic abilities. Acetate, which gives termites energy, and acetic acid, which is a vinegar-like substance, are produced. These genes are not yet known to be specific to wood digestion. But some are thought to be useful as markers of phylogenetic relationships.
