How do termites demonstrate endosymbiosis?
1 Answer
For the most part termites demonstrate symbiosis not endosymbiosis
Explanation:
termites have bacteria of different types living in special compartments in the termites guts. These bacteria are not part of the cellular mechanisms of the termites cells as are not therefore endosymbiosis. endo means inside. The bacteria are not inside the termites cells.
However the specialized bacteria are only known to exist inside the digestive system of the termites. How the bacteria come to live inside of the termite is not fully known. It is thought that the bacteria are passed from the adult termites to the young soon after birth. Without the bacteria the termites "starve". Experiments have shown that when chemical are used to kill the bacteria inside of the termites the termites can not digest the cellulose and the termites "starve" to death.
Both the termites and the specialized bacteria benefit from the relationship between them. This can of relationship is known as symbiosis.
