Phylogenetic diversity, abundance, and axial distribution of bacteria in the intestinal tract of two soil-feeding termites (Cubitermes spp.).

ABSTRACT: The hindgut of soil-feeding termites is highly compartmentalized and characterized by pronounced axial dynamics of the intestinal pH and microbial processes such as hydrogen production, methanogenesis, and reductive acetogenesis. Nothing is known about the bacterial diversity and the abundance or axial distribution of the major phylogenetic groups in the different gut compartments. In this study, we showed that the variety of physicochemical conditions is reflected in the diversity of the microbial communities in the different gut compartments of two Cubitermes species (TERMITIDAE: Termitinae). 16S rRNA gene clones from the highly alkaline first proctodeal segment (P1) of Cubitermes orthognathus represented almost exclusively gram-positive bacteria with low G+C content (LGC bacteria). In t

SUBMITTER: Schmitt-Wagner D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC201194 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature