ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

cmd In maintained around 93-99% (Ilischer 1961) and never below 96.2%
in Ricrotermes bellicosust and 85-955 In Odontoterraps, obestin (Cheema
et al. 1962)o The moisture contents of fungus combs lie within 35-50%9
the rango most favourable to woodrotting fungi (Cartwright and Findlay
1958)o The moisture content of the Ancistroterrms cavithorax combs
producing Termitomyces pseudorhiza in slICjhtly higher than those not
producing. This increase in moisture centent was one of the factors
suggented in section
of cellulose
I an perhap3 initiating fruitbody production.
The source of this moisture would be from both the decomposition
(Lee and Wood 1971) by TernitomXces and by the metabolic
activity of the termites where the enzymic oxidation of glucoae would
release water and carbon dioxide
C6111206 + 602 1 6CO2 + 61120,
316.
scmmo of this water would be re-utilized in metabolic proce3sons and there
is doubt an to whether these two processes alone would provide enough
water to maintain the relative humidity*
The moisture content of the nest structure. 14%, (Table 7.1.3), is
greater than the surrounding soil (Table 7.1.8)t the soil moisture
content, in the areas where the Macrotermen bellico.., un mounds were found
usually being equal or less than 12%% even In the rainy season (Collins
1977). Hesse (1955) found the peftentag(y moisture-of Inhabited Were-
temea mounds to be -1*21.26.9%, - compared to 44-8% In uninhabited woundse
Lee and Wood (1971) have reported that termites bring fina wet subsoil
particles from near the water table for wound construction, and-thin as
uell an metabolic water would be r*nponsible for the higher moisture
contento of the internal nest structuro over the adjacent soil. Evapora-
tion occurs In H. -b-111conus
also helping to maintain the humidity*
from the spiral plate (Collins 1977)s thus