Symbiotic hindgut flagellate communities of the subterranean termites Reticulitermes virginicus and Reticulitermes flavipes in texas (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

摘要

The structure of the symbiotic flagellate community in the hindgut of two species of termite in the genus Reticulitermes was examined. Species composition of the community in Reticulitermes virginicus was identical at two Texas sites. Species composition of the commtmity in Reticulitermes flavipes was identical at three Texas sites and similar to the composition in R. virginicus. We observed infra- and interspecific geographical differences in mean infra-assemblage abundance, mean species abundance, and relative species abundance. The results demonstrate the importance of using several indicators of community structure to compare termite flagellate communities.