Termites depend on other organisms in order to digent wood

In order to digest wood, termites are dependent upon their relationship with protists and bacterium that live inside of their gut, according to an article in The New York Times. The relationship, called symbiosis, occurs when organisms are dependent upon each other for survival. Termites rely upon a unique case of triple symbiosis.

Japanese researchers were able to determine how termites were able to digest wood by analyzing the genetic makeup of the bacterium. They determined that the termite swallowed the wood pulp which was then absorbed by the protists. The protist breaks down the cellulose of the wood and gets the nitrogen it needs from the bacterium. The net result is that the two organisms living in the termite provide it with sugar and other nutrients.