Ectosymbioses
of
Protozoa -
The
intestinal
flagellates
of
wood
eating
termites
and
cockroaches.
The
cellulose
and
lignin
components
of
woody
tissues
of
trees
can
not
be
utilised
by
most
animals,
since
they
lack
the
enzymes
for
degradation
of
these
polymers.
Nevertheless,
many
insects
obtain
their
food
from
wood
through
an
ectosymbiotic
association
with
cellulose
and
lignin-digesting
microorganisms.
In
cockroaches,
symbionts
provide
the
host
with
some
essential
amino
acids.
In
some
insects
they
appear
to
help
the
host
in
the
breakdown
nitrogenous
waste
products
(uric
acid,
urea,
xanthine
etc.)
Index >> Growth of Microorganism >> Ectosymbioses of Protozoa
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