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Caste‐specific N and C isotope ratios in fungus‐growing termites with special reference to uric acid preservation and their nutritional interpretation
Author(s) -
Tayasu I.,
Hyodo F.,
Abe T.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2311.2002.00414.x
Subject(s) - termitidae , biology , uric acid , fungus , δ15n , δ13c , isotope , isotopes of nitrogen , isotopes of carbon , zoology , nitrogen , stable isotope ratio , botany , ecology , biochemistry , chemistry , total organic carbon , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
1. Nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios and uric acid concentrations in fungus‐growing termites (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae), sampled in Cameroon and Thailand, were determined in order to compare castes that are known to differ in behaviour and feeding habits. 2. Nitrogen isotope ratios (δ 15 N) were either not significantly changed or lower in workers compared with the diet (the fungus combs), whereas carbon isotope ratios (δ 13 C) were higher in worker termites than in the fungus combs. 3. In old workers, δ 15 N values were unexpectedly low and correlated negatively with whole‐body uric acid concentrations. This indicates that older workers retain uric acid, which has a low δ 15 N value, to conserve nitrogen within the colony and, furthermore, that older colony members may ultimately be consumed by younger conspecifics.