How are microbes found in the guts of adult termites passed to juvenile termites?
What is the process of transferring microbes from adult termites to juvenile termites?
A. The microbes are shed into termite eggs, so termite larva hatch with the microbes inside of them
B. The microbes are delivered when termite sperm fertilize the eggs, so larva hatch with microbes inside of them
C. Termite larva feed on feces shed by adult termites
D. Termite larva eat soil that contains the microbes.
Microbes found in the guts of adult termites are passed to juvenile termites as Termite larva feed on feces shed by adult termites (option C).
Termites play a crucial role in the transmission of gut microbes from adults to juveniles through a process known as coprophagy. Coprophagy refers to the behavior of consuming fecal material, and in the case of termites, it serves as a means of passing on essential gut microbes.
Adult termites have a diverse community of microorganisms in their guts, including bacteria, protists, and archaea, that aid in the digestion of wood fibers. When adult termites defecate, they excrete fecal pellets containing these gut microbes.
The termite larvae, in their early developmental stages, consume these fecal pellets as part of their feeding behavior. By ingesting the feces of adult termites, the termite larvae acquire the necessary gut microbes for their own digestion and survival.
This process allows for the transfer of microbial symbionts from one generation to the next, ensuring the continuity of the mutualistic relationship between termites and their gut microbes. In this way, termite larvae obtain the microbes from adult termites through feeding on feces, facilitating the transfer of beneficial gut microorganisms to the next generation.
Through coprophagy, termites demonstrate a fascinating mechanism for passing on essential microbes within their colony, highlighting the intricate and interconnected nature of their ecosystem.