Soil organic matter is essential for colony growth in subterranean termites

Intrinsic dinitrogen (N-2) fixation by diazotrophic bacteria in termite hindguts has been considered an important pathway for nitrogen acquisition in termites. However, studies that supported this claim focused on measuring instant N-2 fixation rates and failed to address their relationship with termite colony growth and reproduction over time. We here argue that not all wood-feeding termites rely on symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria for colony growth. The present study looks at dietary nitrogen acquisition in a subterranean termite (Rhinotermitidae, Coptotermes). Young termite colonies reared with wood and nitrogen-rich organic soil developed faster, compared to those reared on wood and inorganic sand. More critically, further colony development was arrested if access to organic soil was removed. In addition, no difference of relative nitrogenase expression rates was found when comparing the hindguts of termites reared between the two conditions. We therefore propose that subterranean termite (Rhinotermitidae) colony growth is no longer restricted to metabolically expensive intrinsic N-2 fixation, as the relationship between diazotrophic bacteria and subterranean termites may primarily be trophic rather than symbiotic. Such reliance of Rhinotermitidae on soil microbial decomposition activity for optimal colony growth may also have had a critical mechanistic role in the initial emergence of Termitidae.

Automated summary

The reliance of Rhinotermitidae on nitrogen-rich organic soil for optimal colony growth suggests that not all wood-feeding termites depend on symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria. The study highlights the trophic relationship between diazotrophic bacteria and subterranean termites rather than a purely symbiotic one. This reliance on soil microbial decomposition activity for colony growth may have played a critical role in the emergence of Termitidae.