Termites have a special relationship with protozoa. When protozoa lives inside a termite, they receieve shelter and food (cellulose from the eaten wood). Acetate is one of the many things produced and release by the protozoa. In return, the termite absorbs the Acetate and uses it as their energy source to do all their daily jobs. As a result, the protozoa and termite make a cycle together, creating a symbiotic relationship.
In This Photo: D. Richwine and Tim the Termite
Photo Credit: H. Hume-Kaina
"Tim's better features are being slowly ripped through his
abdomen while keeping a tight grip on his head!"
In This Photo: D. Richwine & Tim the Termite (sad death)
Photo Credit: H. Hume-Kaina
"Tim is being smushed onto a slide"
To try this lab on your own, follow these instructions:
1. place one pair of forceps on the termite's head.
2. place the other pair of forceps on the termite's abdomen (see above pictures)
3. gently pull on the very end of the abodomen to separate guts from body
4. place guts on a slide (see above pictures)
5. place slide under microscope and check out your guts
6. analyze or draw your results!
I found this lab to be slightly cruel at first, (thats why I didn't kill the termite). After seeing the protozoa in the microscope and comparing them to the pictures of the three different types, I thought it was pretty cool to see they looked just like they should. Our slide turned out really well and we could see all three different types of protozoa which was also pretty cool.
In This Photo: Protozoa in Tim the Termite's guts (up close!)
Photo Credit: H. Hume-Kaina
"View of Tim's guts once under a microscope"
"Symbiotic relationships include those associations in which one organism lives on another (ectosymbiosis), or where one partner lives inside the other (endosymbiosis). Symbiotic relationships may be either obligate, i.e., necessary for the survival of at least one of the organisms involved, or facultative, where the relationship is beneficial but not essential for survival of the organisms." -Wikipedia
