Iron Reduction in the Iron-rich Termite gut: Impacts on Community Structure, Lignocellulose Decomposition, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

California Institute Of Technology, Pasadena CA

Investigators

Abstract

The gut ecosystem of termites is only about 1 microliter in volume, but contains a highly-structured community consisting of several hundred, unique microbial species. Many of these are poisoned by oxygen. Operating together within their insect host, these microbes play well-established roles in the global cycling of carbon and nitrogen. However, our understanding of this ecosystem is yet in its infancy. The PI has discovered that iron is found abundant in the guts of several lower termites examined, and that its reduction supports a heretofore unrecognized gut niche. The research seeks to reach an understanding of the impact that the biogeochemical cycling of iron has on the carbon and electron flow in, community structure of, and trace and greenhouse gasses emitted from this fascinating ecosystem. The program involves the training of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scientists pursuing a fundamental understanding of how small yet complex ecosystems function.