Tayasu I, Hyodo F, Takematsu Y, Sugimoto A, Inoue T, Kirtibutr N, Abe T
Laboratory of Forest Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan.
Isotopes Environ Health Stud. 2000;36(3):259-72. doi: 10.1080/10256010008036386.
Nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios and uric acid concentrations in termites sampled from a dry evergreen forest in Thailand, were determined across three kinds of feeding habits. Feeding habits of Microcerotermes crassus, which is an abundant wood-feeder, and Dicuspiditermes makhamensis, a common soil-feeding termite, were confirmed by isotopic signatures. Lichen feeding termites (Hospitalitermes birmanicus, H. bicolor and H. ataramensis) were characterized by low delta15N values, suggesting that they assimilated nitrogen deposited from the atmosphere. There was also a significant difference in uric acid concentrations between termites representing different feeding habits. No significant relationships were found between uric acid concentrations and delta15N or delta13C in Hospitalitermes. However, delta15N values were correlated with C/N ratios in H. birmanicus, except in one colony of H. ataramensis. delta13C values in both species were negatively correlated with C/N ratios.
对从泰国干燥常绿森林采集的白蚁，根据三种取食习性测定了氮和碳的稳定同位素比率以及尿酸浓度。通过同位素特征确定了丰富的木材取食者厚头微白蚁（Microcerotermes crassus）和常见的土壤取食白蚁马坎双齿白蚁（Dicuspiditermes makhamensis）的取食习性。地衣取食白蚁（缅甸好客白蚁（Hospitalitermes birmanicus）、双色好客白蚁（H. bicolor）和阿塔拉好客白蚁（H. ataramensis））的特点是δ15N值较低，这表明它们吸收了大气中沉积的氮。代表不同取食习性的白蚁之间的尿酸浓度也存在显著差异。在好客白蚁中，未发现尿酸浓度与δ15N或δ13C之间存在显著关系。然而，除了阿塔拉好客白蚁的一个蚁群外，缅甸好客白蚁的δ15N值与C/N比率相关。两个物种的δ13C值均与C/N比率呈负相关。
