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Diversification of termites driven by the evolution of symbiosis and sociality

Research Project

Project/Area Number 07304052
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section総合
Research Field 生態
Research InstitutionKYOTO UNIVERSITY

Principal Investigator

ABE Takuya  Center for Ecological Research Kyoto University Professor, 生態学研究センター, 教授 (00045030)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) TSUNODA Kunio  Wood Research Institute Kyoto University Associate Professor, 木質科学研究所, 助教授 (30127104)
YAMAOKA Ikuo  Faculty of Sciences Yamaguchi University Professor, 理学部, 教授 (30034705)
YAMAMURA Norio  Center for Ecological Research Kyoto University Professor, 生態学研究センター, 教授 (70124815)
HIGASHI Masahiko  Center for Ecological Research Kyoto University Professor, 生態学研究センター, 教授 (40183917)
MATSUMOTO Tadao  Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo Profess, 教養学部, 教授 (90106609)
Project Period (FY) 1995 – 1996
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1996)
Budget Amount *help
¥12,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,900,000)
Fiscal Year 1996: ¥4,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,900,000)
Fiscal Year 1995: ¥8,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,000,000)
KeywordsTermites / Global diversification / Symbiosis / Sociality / Molecular phylogeny / Stable isotope analysis / Nitrogen fixation / Cellulose decomposition / 多様化プロセス / セルロース / メタン生成 / 共生系 / 土を食べるシロアリ(Soil Freeder)
Research Abstract

1 Biogeographical distribution of termites
The molecular phylogeny of termites suggests that the Rhinotermitidae are not mono-phyogenetic, and that Macrotermitinae have evolved most anciently among higher termites. The molecular phylogeny of the Rhinotermitidae were also examined in relation to the phylogeny of symbiotic protozoa and biogeography. Based on the faunal study of the distribution of termites, an hypothesis that higher termites evolved not in the forest but in the savanna.
2 Evolution of symbiosis
The evolutionary process of the symbiosis from lower termites to higher termites was examined in relation to nitrogen-fixing ability and cellulose decomposition system. The lower termites produce cellulase by themselves, although symbiotic protozoa also produce cellulase. The nitrogen fixing ability was high in the wood feeders of lower termites but low in soil-feeders of higher termites.
3.Ecological role of termites in ecosystem
The methane emission by various species of termites was examined. The rate was very high in the soil feeding termites.
4.Synthesis
The Synthesis on the diversification of termites driven by the evolution of symbiosis and sociality was done in the book edited by Abe, T., Levin, S.& Higashi, M.(1996) : Biodiversity, Springer.

Report

(3 results)
  • 1996 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1995 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (29 results)

All Other

All Publications (29 results)

  • [Publications] Holt, J. A.: "Microbial activity in the mounds of some Australian termites." Applied Soil Ecology. in press.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Thorne, B. L., E. Russek-Cohen, B. T. Forschler, N. L. Breisch, and J. F. A. Traniello.: "Evaluation of mark-release -recapture methods for estimating forager population size of subterranean termite colonies." Environmental Entomology. 25. 938-951. (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kambhampati, S., K. Kjer, and B. L. Thorne. 1996.: "Phylogenetic relationships among termite families based on DNA sequence of mitochondiral 16S ribosomal RNA gene." Insect Molecular Biology. 5. 229-238. (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Thorne, B. L.: "Evolution of eusociality in termites." Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. in press.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Inoue, T., Vijarnsorn, P. and Abe, T.: "Mound structure of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes gilvus in Thailand." Journal of Tropical Ecology. 13. 115-124 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Tayasu, I., Abe, T., Eggleton, P. and Binell, D. E.: "Nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios in termites (Isoptera) : an indicator of trophic habit along the gradient from wood-feeding to soil-feeding." Ecological Entomology. In press.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Higashi, M. and Abe, T.: "Global diversification of termites driven by the evolution of symbiosis and sociality. In : Biodiversity : A Ecological Perspective. (Abe, T., Levin, S. A. & Higashi, M. eds.)" Springer-Verlag, 83-112 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Holt, J.A.: "Microbial activity in the mounds of some Australian termites." Applied Soil Ecology. (in press).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Thorne, B.L., E.Russek-Cohen, B.T.Forschler, N.L.Breisch, and J.F.A.Traniello.: "Evaluation of mark-release-recapture methods for estimating forager population size of subterranean termite colonies." Environmental Entomology. 25. 938-951 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kambhampati, S., K.Kjer, and B.L.Thorne.: "Phylogenetic relationships among termite families based on DNA sequence of mitochondiral 16S ribosomal RNA gene." Insect Molecular Biology. 5. 229-238 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Thorne, B.L.: "Evolution of eusociality in termites." Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. (in press.).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Inoue, T., Vijarnsorn, P.and Abe, T.: "Mound structure of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes gilvus in Thailand." Jornal of Tropical Ecology. 13. 115-124 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Tayasu, I., Abe, T., Eggleton, P.and Binell, D.E.: "Nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios in termites (Isoptera) : an indicator fo trophic habit along the gradient from wood-feeding to soil-feeding." Ecological Entomology. (In press).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Higashi, M.and Abe, T.: Global diversification of termites driven by the evolution of symbiosis and sociallty. In : Biodiversity : A Ecological Perspective. (Abe, T., Levin, S.A.& Higashi, M.eds.). Springer-Verlag, 83-112 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Holt,J.A.: "Microbial activity in the mounds of some Australian termites." Applied Soil Ecology. (in press)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Thorne,B.L.,E.Russek-Cohen,B.T.Forschler,N.L.Breisch,and J.F.A.Traniello.: "Evaluation of mark-release-recapture methods for estimating forager population size of subterranean termite colonies." Environmental Entomology. 25. 938-951 (1996)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Kambhampati,S.,K.Kjer,and B.L.Thorne.1996.: "Phylogenetic relationships among termite families based on DNA sequence of mitochondiral 16S ribosomal RNA gene." Insect Molecular Biology. 5. 229-238 (1996)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Thorne,B.L.: "Evolution of eusociality in termites." Annual Review of Ecology and SYstematics. (in press.).

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Inoue,T.,Vijarsorn,P.and Abe,T.: "Mound structure of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes gilvus in Thailand." Journal of Tropical Ecology. 13. 115-124 (1997)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Tayasu,I.,Abe,T.,Eggleton,P.and Binell,D.E.: "Nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios in termites (Isoptera) : an indicator of trophic habit along the gradient from wood-feeding to soil-feeding." Ecological Entomology. (in press).

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Higashi,M.and Abe,T.: "Global diversification of termites driven by the evolution of symbiosis and sociality. In : Biodiversity : A Ecological Perspective. (Abe,T.,Levin,S.A. & Higashi,M.eds.)" Springer-Verlag, 83-112 (1996)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Abe, T: "Feeding activities and intra and interspecific interactions of fungus growing termite, Macrotermes michaelseni in the grassland of Kenya." Structure and function of soil communities (ed. Edowards, C. A., Abe, T. and Striganova, B. R.). 139-152 (1995)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Miura, T. and Matsumoto, T.: "Worker polymorphism and division of labor in the foreging behavior of the black marching termite Hospitalitermes madioflavus, on Borneo lsland." Naturwissenschaften. 82. 746-750 (1995)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Yamamura, N. and Tsuji, N.: "Optimal strategy of plant antiherbivore defense : Implication for apparency and resource avaliability theories." Ecological Reseach. 10. 19-30 (1995)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Takeda, H.: "Changes in the collembolan community during the decomposition of needle litter in a coniferous forest." Pedobiologia. 39. 304-317 (1995)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Sugimoto, A. and Wada, E.: "Hydrogen isotopic composition of bacterial methane : acetate fermentation and CO2/H2 reduction." Geochim. Cosmochim.59. 1329-1337 (1995)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Higashi, M. and Abe, T.: "Global diversification of termites driven by the evolution of symbiosis and sociality" Biodiversity : A Ecological Perspective. (ed. Abe, T., Simon. S. A. and Higashi, M.). (in press). (1996)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Abe, T., Simon, S. A. and Higashi, M.: "Biodiversity : A Ecological Perspective." Springer-Verlag, N. Y., USA. (in press), (1996)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Edowards, C. A., Abe, T. and Striganova, B. R.: "Structure and function of soil communities." Kyoto University Press, Japan., 152 (1995)

    • Related Report
      1995 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1995-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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