what do ternites do? what role do they play in the environment? how do they help the ecosystem?

Answer 1

Termites, sometimes known as white ants, are a group of truly social insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order, Isoptera.

IMPORTANT->

Termites usually prefer to feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter or soil, and about 10% of the 4,000 odd species (about 2,600 taxonomically known) are economically important as pests that can cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests.

Termites are significant detrivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions, and their recycling of wood and other plant matter is of considerable ecological importance.

Termites are generally grouped according to their feeding behaviour.

Thus the commonly used general groupings are: Subterranean, Soil-feeding, Drywood, Dampwood and Grass eating. Of these, subterraneans and drywoods are primarily responsible for damage to human structures.

All termites eat cellulose in its various forms as plant fiber.

Cellulose is a rich energy source (think of the amount of energy released when wood is burned), but remains difficult to digest.

Termites rely primarily upon symbiotic protozoa (metamonads) such as Trichonympha, and other microbes in their gut to digest the cellulose for them, absorbing the end products for their own use. Gut protozoa such as Trichonympha, in turn rely on symbiotic bacteria embedded on their surfaces to produce some of the necessary digestive enzymes.

This relationship is one of the finest examples of mutualism among animals. Most so called "higher termites", especially in the Family Termitidae can produce their own cellulase enzymes. However, they still retain a rich gut fauna with bacteria dominant.

Due to closely related bacterial species, it is strongly presumed that the termites' gut flora are descended from the gut flora of the ancestral wood-eating cockroachs, like those of the genus Cryptocercus.

Because of their wood-eating habits, termites sometimes do great damage to buildings and other wooden structures.

Their habit of remaining concealed often results in their presence being undetected until the timbers are severely damaged and exhibit surface changes.

Once termites have entered a building they do not limit themselves just to wood, also damaging paper, cloth, carpets, and other cellulosic materials.

Often, other soft materials are damaged and may be used for construction. Particles taken from soft plastics, plaster, rubber and sealants such as silicon rubber and acrylics are often employed in constuction.

IMPORTANT->

Ecologically, termites are important in nutrient recycling, habitat creation, soil formation and quality and, particularly the winged reproductives, as food for countless predators.

The role of termites in hollowing timbers and thus providing shelter and increased wood surface areas for other creatures is critical for the survival of a large number of timber-inhabiting species.

Globally termites are found roughly between 50 degrees North & South, with the greatest biomass in the tropics and the greatest diversity in tropical forests and Mediterranean shrublands.

Termites are also considered to be a major source of atmospheric methane, one of the prime greenhouse gases. Termites have been common since at least the Cretaceous period.

Termites photos
http://images.google.co.in/images?hl=en&q=TERMITES&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

Answer 2

Okay, origin of the universe (not Adam and Eve, abiogensis, evolution, or any of the other issues.) Last time I checked, science was pretty shaky about the actual origin of the universe. The Big Bang sounded good for so many years, and it wasn't entirely against the Divine Origin theory, either, since everything that spread out from one point had to have existed a minute prior to the start of the Big Bang. Maybe God did do it, we can't really say. Then the theoretical physicists proposed Membrane Theory and String Theory, which are difficult for the ordinary person to understand. But still, not an answer to the Beginning, because the Membranes had to exist. Who or what made them? People who would like to exclude the possibility of a god don't get a lot of help from theoretical physicists, they are a slippery bunch, unwilling to go on record as saying that something of another dimension could NOT exist. But then, of course, that's what a true scientist would say.

Answer 3

Termites digest and breakdown cellulose and lignin in tree bark. Cellulose and liginin are complex carbohydrate molecuse that are very difficult to breakdown by most organisms. Tree trunks would last many years without degredation if organisms such as termites did not breakdown these molecues screwing up the ecosystem nutrient cycle. Since they do breakdown these into form that can be used by other decomposers in the environment (like bacteria and nematodes), the nutrient cycle in the ecosystem can continue at an uninterrupted pace.

Answer 4

Termites eat wood and other plant material that most heterotrophs would not eat. That process clears up fallen plant material around the world and helps put the molecules from the plant matter back into the nutrient cycle. Termites are very, very numerous and play a part in the food chains of many mammals, birds, and other creatures.

Answer 5

If you mean termites basicly they ruin our houses XD but basicly they demolish wood until it it so weak that u can break it so easily. also makes wood seem more like dry wall. i hope i helped you some =D

Answer 6

they helps to breakdown dead trees or any things made of wood, they're also (part of the food chain)food for certain animals, too much termite they starts to destroy healthy living trees

Answer 7

They recycle dead plant material ,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termites