Termites and protozoa? YES! They have what is called a symbiotic relationship. A symbiotic relationship is the association of two dissimilar organisms in a beneficial relationship. So by the protozoa living inside the gut of the termite, they both benefit off of each other. Heres how: The protozoa, by living inside the termites gut, is given a home and cellulose (food) by the wood the termite eats. The cellulose is digested and acetate, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane are produced, then released. Acetate is produced by the protozoa and the termites use the acetate as their energy source to carry out daily bodily functions.
In this lab we wanted to see if we could identify the different types of protozoa inside the termites gut. The materials we used were:
- Formosan Subterranian Termites (workers)
- 2 Forceps
- 1 Light Microscope
- 1 Cover Slip
- 1 Microscope Slide
- 2 Drops of Saline Solution
- 1 Disposable Pipette
- Kimwipes
Our procedure was this...
- Place a drop of saline solution on a microscope slide.
- With your two forceps, gently and carefully grab the termites head and thorax.
- Locate the tip of the abdomen and the end of the termites gut. Once spotted, take the forcep at the thorax end of the termite, grab and pull out the termites gut.
- Place the gut in the saline solution on the microscope slide.
- Slowly place your cover slip over the saline solution and termite gut. Do this starting at one end and then the other to not get any bubbles. Gently press down, without crushing the gut. Use the kimwipes to wipe anything up that is unnecessary to this procedure.
- Place the slide under the microscope and adjust the magnification to when you can clearly observe the different types of protozoa.
- Record your data and make illustrations of the three different types of protozoa you can identify, then label your illustrations. See if you can find the wood/food/cellulose inside the protozoa body, the cytoplasm, the cilia and anything else.
Below are some pictures of the experiment
Removing the Termites guts
Katie Schweiner identifying the Protozoa
The Protozoa Swarming Around in the Microscope Slide
Credit for photos: Tenajah, Domingo and Katie Schweiner
When I saw the protozoa squirming around the slide under the microscope I was amazed at the activity that was taking place. The protozoa were all different sizes and varied in shapes. I could see their cytoplasm and in some, I could see the wood particles engulfed by the organism. The cilia around and on the protozoa were very interesting and amazing to observe as well. Although I never get to see them at their work besides under a microscope, they were so alive just like other human beings and I. It was very fun to watch them. After that lab, I now have more knowledge on the topic of termites and protozoa, also have a better understanding of what symbiosis means and a symbiotic relationship.
