CELLULOSE METABOLISM OF THE SYMBIOTIC PROTOZOA IN TERMITE, COPTOTERMES-FORMOSANUS-SHIRAKI (ISOPTERA, RHINOTERMITIDAE) .2. SELECTIVE DEFAUNATION OF PROTOZOA AND ITS EFFECT ON CELLULOSE METABOLISM
T. Yoshimura et al., CELLULOSE METABOLISM OF THE SYMBIOTIC PROTOZOA IN TERMITE, COPTOTERMES-FORMOSANUS-SHIRAKI (ISOPTERA, RHINOTERMITIDAE) .2. SELECTIVE DEFAUNATION OF PROTOZOA AND ITS EFFECT ON CELLULOSE METABOLISM, Mokuzai Gakkaishi, 39(2), 1993, pp. 227-230
The largest protozoa, Pseudotrichonympha grassii Koidzumi, in the work
ers of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki was selectively defaunated. The
defaunated workers were employed in examining whether or not they coul
d utilize cellulose substrates with large DP such as akamatsu (Pinus d
ensiflora Sieb. et Zucc) wood meal and fibrous cellulose powder along
with the other two protozoa, Holomastigotoides hartmanni Koidzumi and
Spirotrichonympha leidyi Koidzumi. From the results on forced-feeding
of the defaunated workers, H. hartmanni and S. leidyi were shown not t
o utilize native greatly polymerized cellulose as their nutrients. The
protozoa probably have their inherent roles in the metabolism of cell
ulose.