We think of termites as insects that "eat" wood. In fact, however, termites rely on a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic gut microbes to digest cellulose—without the microbes, the termites will ingest wood, but will starve. Without the termites, the microbes would lack a place to live and would not receive food. This, then, is an example of a(n)?

Termites benefit by having the wood they consumed being acted upon and broken down by the microbes present in their gut while the microbes also benefit by getting shelter to live in and also food from the termites. The two species benefits mutually.

WeAreHelping WeAreHelping · Answer 2 · 2020-01-25T07:17:31+01:00

This is an example of symbiotic mutualism

However, the symbiosis of termite mutualism turns out not only with flagellates but with all the contents of its stomach. Not only termites, but it turns out cockroaches also establish a symbiotic relationship of mutualism with the microbes inhabiting the body.

Further Explanation

In the past, termites were placed in a separate order, namely Isoptera (iso: same; ptera: wing). However, based on molecular evidence, termites are apparently closely related to cockroaches. They were collected in the Blattodea order.

This microscopic organism is very important for the survival of Blattodea members. The symbiosis between Blattodea and its microbial symbionts is based on the premise of the termite or cockroach getting additional nutrients from the symbionts, while the symbionts have a safe place to live and regular nutrient intake compared to when living in the wild.

Almost all species of cockroaches have obligate endosymbiont bacteria, Blattabacterium, which live in the fat body (fat storage network). The term obligates means that neither the cockroach nor the endosymbiont bacteria can live alone without the other. Uniquely, Blattabacterium was also found in species of termites Mastotermes darwiniensis, a termite symbiont that is usually found in the intestine of the stomach, not in body tissues. The presence of Blattabacterium in these species of termites proves that at one time termites and cockroaches came from the same ancestor.

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Symbiotic Mutualism https://brainly.com/question/13823957

Termites and Cockroaches https://brainly.com/question/13823957

Details

Class: High School

Subject: Biology

Keyword: symbiotic, termites, microbe