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(15)N Discrimination and the Sensitivity of Nitrogen Fixation to Changes in Dietary Nitrogen in Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22182546     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Xylophagous termites possess symbiotic bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen (N(2)). Although symbiotic N(2) fixation is central to termite nutrition and ecologically important, it is energetically costly. Using stable isotopes, we tested the hypothesis that symbiotic N(2) fixation would decrease in workers of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar, which were exposed to high nitrogen diets. To calculate the isotope discrimination factor occurring as a result of digestion, Δ(dig), and which occurs as the result of N(2) fixation, Δ(fix), symbiotic N(2) fixation was inhibited via force feeding termites the antibiotic kanamycin. Antibiotic-treated termites and control (N(2)-fixing) termites were exposed to different concentrations of dietary N (0, 0.21, and 0.94% N), their (15)N signatures were obtained, and the percent nitrogen derived from the atmosphere within termite samples was calculated. As we hypothesized, symbiotic N(2) fixation rates were negatively correlated with dietary N, suggesting that high concentrations of dietary N suppressed symbiotic N(2) fixation in R. flavipes. A comparison of the (15)N isotope signatures of antibiotic-treated termites with their food sources demonstrated that Δ(dig) = 2.284‰, and a comparison of the (15)N isotope signatures of antibiotic-treated termites with control termites indicated that Δ(fix) = -1.238‰. These are the first estimates of Δ(dig) for R. flavipes, and the first estimate of Δ(fix) for any N(2)-fixing termite species.
Authors:
Megan E Meuti; Susan C Jones; Peter S Curtis
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Environmental entomology     Volume:  39     ISSN:  1938-2936     ISO Abbreviation:  Environ. Entomol.     Publication Date:  2010 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-12-20     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7502320     Medline TA:  Environ Entomol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1810-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Rothenbuhler Research Laboratory, 2501 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1065, USA.
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