ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

Intentionally by the termites and regarded them as commensals which
are tolerated by the termitest with the mycot'etes occasionally being
eaten by the adults to limit the growth of the funguso Heimts theory
was that the quality, nature and traits of Tormitomycenlresulted. from
exceptional adaptation to the conditions of life on the comb and that
there was no symbiotic relationship between the termites and fungi
(Heim 1952a)o Later, (Helm 1977)9 he amended his view and considered
it a symbiotic association,
Grassii (1949) showed that the fungus was eaten by finding
remains of mycotAtes in the alimentary canal of workers and same
larvae* lie considered it might be the source of some nutritional
requirement such as vitamins or growth substancese
it
Uischer (1951a, 1961) revived the microclimato function theory to
include the maintenance of a more constant nest temperature by the
metabolic heat of the fungi, This heat production caused convection
currents which circulated air and allowed for Can exchange,, Other
proponents of this role havo included Cheem& at alo 1962 and Harris
1951- Collins (1977) and Rohrmann (1977) measured fungus comb
respiration and calculated metabolic heat and water production showing
a high respiration rate for fresh combs*
Sands (1956) established the vital role of the fungus in nutrLtion
of the termites,, Without the fungus CMontotermes badius. survived no
longer In captivity than when starved, and he concluded their relation-
ship was a symbiotic ones This was In contrast to the previously
mentioned view of Helm (1952&),, Ausat et ale (1962) also found the
fungus essential in the diet of Cdontotermen obeaus.
32,