Use of RAPD markers for the study of microbial community similarity from termite mounds and tropical soils

In this study, we test the use of the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DN A) molecular markers as a way to estimate the similarity of the microbial c ommunities in various termite mounds and soils. In tropical ecosystems, ter mite activities induce changes in the chemical and physical properties of s oil. The question then arises as to whether or not termites affect the pres ence of natural microbial communities. Successful 16S rDNA amplifications p rovided evidence of the occurrence of bacterial DNA in termite construction s including both soil feeder and fungus grower materials. A phenetic dendro gram using the similarity distance calculated from pairwise data including 88 polymorphic RAPD markers was reconstructed and bootstrap scores mapped. The microbial communities of the mounds of the four soil-feeding termites w ere clustered in the same clade, while those of the mounds of the fungus-gr owing species were distinct like those of control soils. Microbial changes in nests result from termite building behavior, depending on whether they i nclude feces in their constructions for soil-feeders or use saliva as parti cle cement for fungus-growers. It is argued that RAPDs are useful markers t o detect differences in microbial community structure not only between term itaries and control soils but also between mounds of soil-feeders. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.