Termites & Intestinal Flagellates
SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
WHAT IS A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
- A symbiotic relationship is a special relationship between species.
What type of symbiotic relationship do the two species have?
- Termites and intestinal flagellates have a mutualistic relationship.
- The flagellates digest the cellulose in the termites diet.
- This allows the termites to absorb nutrients, which benefits the termites.
- The flagellates also benefits because the termite gut provides a safe place for the flagellates to live and breed.
TERMITES AND FLAGELLATES
FUN FACTS!!!!!
FUN FACTS ABOUT TERMITES
- Termites never sleep.
- Also they don't like sunlight, if they are exposeed to sunlight they can die.
- There are more termites on earth than humans.
- They have been around since Dinosaur times in fact they have been alive for over 250 Million Years.
- Termite queens can live for between 15 to 25 Years.
FUN FACTS ABOUT INTESTINAL FLAGELLATES
- the flagellate lives inside the termite.
- It also benefits from living in the gut of the termite.
- the termite provides a place to feed and breed for the flagellate.
HOW DO THESE SPECIES INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER?
HOW DO TERMITES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM?
- Despite their strange habbitat termites play an important role as distributers of terristrial decomposers.
- Termites have close relation with tropical forest communities as they need woods and soils to acquire energies.
HOW DO TERMITES AND FLAGELLATES INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER?
- Termites are usually rich in having carbon due to their diet, but this also leads to insufficient amount of nitrogen.
- Because of these problems termites establish symbiotic relationship with gut microbs such as intestinal flagellates.
WHERE ARE TERMITES FOUND ?
- Termites are found in the forests, in decaying wood, grass, animal dung, and plant litter.