ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

workers with a lower nitrogen requirement ate fungua combo OthCr,
nutrients concentrated In the fungus comb and mycorutes were phosphorus
and potasniumt but magnesium and calcium were not concentrated in the
mycot9teso Thisqoncentration and conservation of nutrients in probably
one of the Important funrtjon: s of Termit=ces and the fungus comb system,,
Comparisons can be made between normal decomposition processes and
the termite-fungus system* In normal decomposition of plant material
It way be very gradually broken down in the s=e spot by a succession
of different types of organism* This may be a lengthy process,
(eago
more than 7 Years for pine needless Gray and William 1971)9 but during
it soluble compounds would be leached out of the material ard go back
into the soil quite quicklyo Other litters especially that of deciduous
forests may be more quickly Incorporated Into the soil
months for ash leiaves)-q (Gray
(e,, (), 12 to 18
3680
and William 1971). ý! any of the decompost-
tion products of plant material may bo, Incorporated Into animal and
microbial cells, but the soil animals will return their faecon to the
soil and may die there. The normal decomposition processes Would
Involve a large range of different microbes and animals at different
stages of the decomposition*
One Important feature with termites to that food material over the
foraging area Is brought to and concentrated In one place In the case
of termites with centrallsed hives such an Macrotermes bellicosuss or
In several places in species with scattered combse A result of this In
to remove nutrients from the normal recycling processeal the only losses
to the system being via animal tissue when alates and foraging workers
are preyed on, The organic matter and nutrients from a wide Area will
be concentrated In the nest* and there In no direct return of faeces to