Termitophily
Script error: No such module "AfC submission catcheck". Script error: No such module "AfC submission catcheck". Termitophily (lit. love of termites) is the term applied to mutualistic inter-species relationships between termites and other organisms. Termitophily in its most narrow use refers only to positive associations with termites, though it is also sometimes used to refer to commensal or even parasitic relationships. Because termites are eusocial, some termitophilic species are symphiles, however there are many termitophiles (e.g. Trichonympha gut protozoa and Termitomyces fungi) which are symbionts, but not symphiles.
Evolution of Termitophily[edit]
The oldest known evidence of termitophily dates back into the Mesozoic, close to the Around 150 million years ago[1].
Evolution of Symphilic relationships with Termites[edit]
Eusocial pheromone production and perception genes evolved in termites 50 million years before eusocial pheromone genes evolved in bees and ants [1].
Termitophilic Gut Organisms[edit]
Termites are categorized based on their feeding habits into higher termites and lower termites. Higher termites feed on a wide variety of foods and have only a few gut bacteria. Lower termites feed primarily on wood and have co-evolved with protozoa and bacteria which assist in digesting the high levels of cellulose in their diet.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harrison, M.C.; Jongepier, E.; Robertson, H.M. "Hemimetabolous genomes reveal molecular basis of termite eusociality". Nature Ecology & Evolution. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
References[edit]
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