Termites Digest Wood Thanks To Microbes I Contain Multitudes

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=e02keFYEWeU

The next time you spot a termite chomping down on wood, know that they’re not dining alone. • In this episode, Ed Yong explores the secrets behind termites’ power to digest an abundant source of food: wood. The key is microbes in their gut. Ed checks in with Princeton scientist Xinning Zhang to learn how termites evolved into wood-eating specialists about 150 million years ago, and how they use a unique social behavior to pass along the microbes. Surprisingly, the termite way of being social is through...ehem...butt-licking. Or, more formally, “proctodeal trophallaxis.” Ed and Xinning examine footage of the microbes (in this case, protists) living inside the termite’s gut to see what their feast looks like up close. • Explore more from I Contain Multitudes on Medium: / hhmi-science • Follow us on Facebook for articles, videos, and daily updates: / hhmisciencemedia

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