Caste‐specific N and C isotope ratios in fungus‐growing termites with special reference to uric acid preservation and their nutritional interpretation

Tayasu, Ichiro; Hyodo, Fujio; Abe, Takuya

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2311.2002.00414.x

Cited by 18 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…1983; Tyler et al . 1988) and to fungal nodules (Tayasu et al . 2002a) has been observed in Macrotermes species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tayasu, Hyodo & Abe (2002a) found that the δ 13 C values of fungal nodules were higher relative to those of old combs. Thus, in order to compare the difference in nutrition, the degree of selective assimilation of fungi ( C sa ) was defined by the following equation:…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The latter is used to indicate the δ 13 C value of the symbiotic fungal mycelium. δ 13 C values of subsamples from four colonies ( M. muelleri , M. gilvus , M. annandalei (colony 1), and M. carbonarius ) were presented independently by Tayasu et al . (2002a).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differential role of symbiotic fungi in lignin degradation and food provision for fungus‐growing termites (Macrotermitinae: Isoptera)

et al. 2003

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Summary 1.To investigate whether the role of symbiotic fungi in lignin degradation and food provision differs among fungus-growing termites (four species of Macrotermes , three species of Odontotermes , Hypotermes makhamensis , Ancistrotermes pakistanicus and Pseudacanthotermes militaris ), the chemical composition of fungus combs of different ages and the chitinolytic activity in the gut of termites were analysed. In addition, the carbon stable isotope ratios ( δ 13 C) in old combs, worker termite tissues and fungal nodules (aggregated conidia) were compared. 2. In Macrotermes spp., the carbohydrate : lignin ratio of the combs increased with increased comb age, but it decreased or remained the same in Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis , A. pakistanicus and P. militaris. In contrast, the chitin : carbohydrate ratio and ash content increased more over time in the combs of Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis , A. pakistanicus and P. militaris than in the combs of Macrotermes spp. 3. Chitinolytic activity in the gut of workers was higher in O. takensis , H. makhamensis and A. pakistanicus than in M. annandalei . 4. In all species examined, the δ 13 C value increased in the sequence: old combs < termites < fungal nodules. Based on a two-source model of δ 13 C, the contribution of fungi to termite nutrition was considered higher in Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis , A. pakistanicus and P. militaris than in Macrotermes spp. 5. These results suggest that symbiotic fungi play different roles among fungus-growing termites. In Macrotermes spp., the main role of symbiotic fungi is to degrade lignin, so that the termites can utilize cellulose more efficiently, whereas in Odontotermes spp., H. makhamensis , A. pakistanicus and P. militaris , it is to serve as a food source.

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“…1983; Tyler et al . 1988) and to fungal nodules (Tayasu et al . 2002a) has been observed in Macrotermes species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differential role of symbiotic fungi in lignin degradation and food provision for fungus‐growing termites (Macrotermitinae: Isoptera)

et al. 2003

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“…Because saprotrophic fungi serve as food sources for detritivores (Beare et al 1992), selective feeding on fungal tissues may account for 13 C enrichment in soil invertebrates. In fact, fungus-growing termites, which cultivate symbiotic fungi in their nests and use them for food, have higher d 13 C than plant materials Tayasu et al 2002a;Hyodo et al 2003). Another possible explanation for the elevated d 13 C signatures of soil invertebrates is that they selectively incorporate 13 C-enriched compounds such as carbohydrates (Pollierer et al 2009), similar to saprotrophic fungi.…”

Section: Belowground Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking aboveground and belowground food webs through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses

Hyodo

Kohzu

Tayasu

2010

Ecological Research

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Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (d 13 C and d 15 N) have been used for more than two decades in analyses of food web structure. The utility of isotope ratio measurements is based on the observation that consumer d 13 C values are similar (<1& difference) to those of their diet, while consumer d 15 N values are about 3& higher than those of their diet. The technique has been applied most often to aquatic and aboveground terrestrial food webs. However, few isotope studies have examined terrestrial food web structure that includes both above-and belowground (detrital) components. Here, we review factors that may influence isotopic signatures of terrestrial consumers in above-and belowground systems. In particular, we emphasize variations in d 13 C and d 15 N in belowground systems, e.g., enrichment of 13 C and 15 N in soil organic matter (likely related to soil microbial metabolism). These enrichments should be associated with the high 13 C ($3&) enrichment in belowground consumers relative to litter and soil organic matter and with the large variation in d 15 N ($6&) of the consumers. Because such enrichment and variation are much greater than the trophic enrichment generally used to estimate consumer trophic positions, and because many general predators are considered dependent on energy and material flows from belowground, the isotopic variation in belowground systems should be taken into account in d 13 C and d 15 N analyses of terrestrial food webs. Meanwhile, by measuring the d 13 C of key predators, the linkage between above-and belowground systems could be estimated based on observed differences in d 13 C of primary producers, detritivores and predators. Furthermore, radiocarbon ( 14 C) measurements will allow the direct estimation of the dependence of predators on the belowground systems.

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“…For this group, therefore, more attention to prevent deterioration and isotopic alteration is needed. Currently, for isotopic analysis, termites are immediately dried at 608C for 24 h [1,[7][8][9] or frozen after collection. [10] Very often, however, collections occur in remote regions, away from wellequipped labs.…”

Section: Dear Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

How to preserve termite samples in the field for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope studies?

Florencio

Rosa

Marins

et al. 2010

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Caste‐specific N and C isotope ratios in fungus‐growing termites with special reference to uric acid preservation and their nutritional interpretation

Cited by 18 publications

References 31 publications

Differential role of symbiotic fungi in lignin degradation and food provision for fungus‐growing termites (Macrotermitinae: Isoptera)

Differential role of symbiotic fungi in lignin degradation and food provision for fungus‐growing termites (Macrotermitinae: Isoptera)

Linking aboveground and belowground food webs through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses

How to preserve termite samples in the field for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope studies?

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