COMPARATIVE RESPIRATION AND METHANE PRODUCTION-RATES IN NEARCTIC TERMITES

Rates of oxygen consumption and the production of carbon dioxide and m ethane were measured in thirteen Nearctic termite species periodically , for 48h, at 25 degrees C. Decreased respiration rates were observed in several species with decreasing oxygen and increasing carbon dioxid e levels. Those species with apparently higher moisture requirements ( i.e. subterranean termites) generally had lower respiration rates comp ared with the dampwood (highest rates) and drywood (intermediate rates ) termites. Termite biomass significantly influenced respiration rates , with the largest species having the highest rates. Methane productio n occurred in seven of the thirteen species assayed. Of these apparent ly methanogenic species, only one of the eleven colonies of Incisiterm es minor and one of the two colonies of Prorhinotermes simplex produce d methane. The generally reduced respiration rates found at lower oxyg en and higher carbon dioxide levels are considered more representative of the conditions encountered in termite galleries, Bioassays conduct ed under more natural atmospheric conditions may be more representativ e of termite responses in the field. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd