Termite feeding and symbiotic protozoa

Symbiosis is a relationship between two different organisms that are interdependent; or they depend on each other. One symbiotic relationship is one between termites and the protozoa that are housed within the intestines of the termite. When the termite consumes wood it passes into what is called the hind gut and is later consumed by its protozoans; who then release something called acetate with this being said, the acetate is then absorbed by the termite(s).



In this lab, we took one termite and two pairs forceps; then we took a termite grabbed its head with a forcep then we grabbed its abdomen with the other forcept and lightly pulled one side to left and the other to the right. Untill we successfully managed to pull out its gut. We then dropped this liquid on two small, thin pieces of glass and slipped the gut into the watery solution. Then the glass slide was put under the microscope and we adjusted the light, focus, ect, on the scope until there was kind of a clear view of what the protozoa were up to.



I thought this lab was actually kind of entertaining. I did something that I'd never thought I'd do. Also, looking at the little protozoa swim around was pretty trippy.