Question

Dampwood termites locate their colonies in damp and often decaying wood but, once established, they can extend their activities into sound and even relatively dry wood.

1.True.
2.False.

Answer 1

Termites digest wood through the help of symbiotic protozoa and archaea in their guts, which produce enzymes that break down cellulose and lignin, allowing termites to derive nutrients from wood.

Step-by-step explanation:

Termites are known for their ability to digest wood, which is largely due to the symbiotic relationships they have with microorganisms in their guts. Specifically, termites host symbiotic protozoa and sometimes archaea that produce enzymes capable of breaking down cellulose and lignin, the primary components of wood. This mutualistic relationship allows termites to extract energy from wood that they would otherwise not be able to utilize. Furthermore, the termite gut is an extreme environment where these microorganisms thrive, facilitating the digestion process and making it possible for termites to live on a diet of wood.