Question

Animals cannot produce enzymes to digest cellulose, yet many termite species consume cellulose from plant material as a main part of their diet. How do termites access the nutrients contained in cellulose?

A. Termites have specialized mouthparts to mechanically break down the cellulose.
B. Mutualistic bacteria in the hindgut of the termite digest the cellulose into sugars.
C. Cellulose is digested intracellularly in the termite hindgut.
D. The ingested plant material also contains enzymes for cellulose digestion.

Answer 1

Mutualistic bacteria in the hindgut of the termite digest the cellulose into sugars. (Ans. B)

Step-by-step explanation:

Animals lack the enzymes which is necessary to digest cellulose, yet many termite species and herbivores consume cellulose from plant material as a main part of their diet. These species not containing these enzymes to digest the cellulose.

Termite contains single celled organism known as protists, called mastigophorans which is present in their guts that help in the digestion of cellulose into sugars. Mastigophorans are known as trichonympha, and this species can cause a parasitic infection in humans.

Answer 2

B. Mutualistic bacteria in the hindgut of the termite digest the cellulose into sugars

Step-by-step explanation:

Cellulose is a polysaccharide, cell walls of plant cells are made of cellulose. Termites eat cellulose and live on cellulose for their energy needs. Termites chew dead wood, but for its digestion termites depend on bacteria and protozoa which are present in their gut. They provide enzymes which can digest the cellulose of wood. Thus, they are in mutualistic relationship with termites. These microbes may starve ouside the termite body.