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Which of the following is found in the intestine of termites and produces enzymes needed to digest wood particles?

1) Giardia
2) Trichomonas
3) Trichonymphida
4) Nyctotherus

User Chicken
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Final answer:

The organism that helps termites digest wood by producing enzymes to break down cellulose is Trichonymphida, a type of protist that lives symbiotically in the termite's gut.

Step-by-step explanation:

The organism found in the intestines of termites that produces enzymes needed to digest wood particles is Trichonymphida. These protists live within the gut of termites and Wood-Eating Cockroaches, aiding in the breakdown of cellulose, a major component of wood. The Trichonymphida protists harbor symbiotic bacteria that actually produce the enzyme cellulase necessary for digesting cellulose. The termite benefits from this relationship by utilizing the soluble carbohydrates produced from the digestion process, while the protists gain a steady food source.

Other microorganisms, such as certain species of bacteria, archaea, and fungi, also contribute to this process. Specifically, within the termite gut, these microbes work together to help the termite derive nutrients from a substance that most animals are unable to digest on their own.

User Manish Basantani
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