Transformation and mineralization of nitrogenous soil components in the gut of soil-feeding termites [Elektronische Ressource] / by David Kamanda Ngugi

Kamanda

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• Publié par: philipps-universitat_marburg
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Transformation and mineralization
of nitrogenous soil components in the gut
of soil-feeding termites

Doctoral thesis
Submitted in partial fulfillment for the award of a Doctoral degree
“Doktorgrad der Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat.)”
to the Faculty of Biology, Philipps University Marburg



by
David Kamanda Ngugi
from Eldoret, Kenya





Marburg/Lahn
2008
The work described in this thesis was carried out in the Department of
Biogeochemistry at the Max Plank Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology,
between June 2005 and July 2008, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Andreas
Brune.



















Thesis was submitted to the Dean, Faculty of Biology, Philipps University,
Marburg on: 05.08.2008


First reviewer: Prof. Dr. Andreas Brune
Second reviewer: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Buckel


Date of oral examination: 21.10.2008 Declaration
I certify that the following thesis entitled:
“Transformation and mineralization of nitrogenous soil components in the gut
of soil-feeding termites (Isoptera: Termitidae)”
was carried out with legally authorized methods and devices. The experimental
work described was executed entirely by my self. Information derived from
published work is specifically acknowledged in text and references therein
appended. To the best of my knowledge, the contents of this thesis have not
been previously submitted for examination to any university for any award.
Marburg, August 2008

David Kamanda Ngugi







Acknowledgements
This study was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Andreas Brune in
the Department of Biogeochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial
Microbiology in Marburg, Germany.
I would like to pass my sincere gratitude to my supervisor for his immense
contribution especially at the beginning of my work and for the many
suggestions that became wonderful surprises during my research, for his
kindness and availability even when his itinerary was full, and certainly for the
many exciting tales and cold beers in humid summer evenings.
I am also grateful to the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) for
granting me a scholarship and for several extensions when the going seemed
impossible.
I will always be indebted to the entire “termite group” both present (Tim Köhler,
Wakako Ikeda, Mahesh Desai, Tobias Wienemann, Daniel Herlemann, and
Christine Schauer) and the past (Michael Pester, Janet Andert, and Sibylle
Frankenberg) for providing a favourable working atmosphere, valuable
discussions and suggestions in and out of the lab, and for making my stay in
Germany a memorable experience. To Katja Meuser – many thanks for your
willingness to help with the initial lab familiarization and numerous useful tasks
in the course of my study, and to Oliver Geissinger, “gracious” for the useful
discussions beside the HPLC. I also owe special thanks to Dr. Ji Rong for his
15assistance in the initial set-up of the N tracer experiments. I also acknowledge
the cooperation provided by Prof. Dr. Damste Sinninghe of the Royal
Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), the Netherlands, in the analysis
of anammox “ladderane” lipids.
I would also like to thank my parents and siblings for their constant prayers and
support. Mum, thank you for always reminding me that “a journey of a
thousand miles begins with the first step”.

The following manuscripts were submitted or were in preparation
by the date of submission of the present thesis
Submitted
Ngugi, D.K., and Brune, A. Intestinal nitrate reduction and emission of nitrous
oxide (N O) and N by soil-feeding termites (Cubitermes and Ophiotermes 2 2
spp.). Environmental Microbiology.
In preparation
Ngugi, D.K., and Brune, A. Gross N mineralization and nitrification-
denitrification rates during soil gut transit in soil-feeding termites (Cubitermes
spp.). Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry.
Ngugi, D.K., Fujita, A., Li, X., Geissinger, O., Boga, I.H., and Brune, A.
Proteolytic activities and microbial utilization of amino acids in the intestinal
tract of soil-feeding termites (Isoptera: Termitidae). Applied and Environmental
Microbiology.
Ngugi, D.K., Ji, R., and Brune, A. Evidence for cross-epithelial transfer and
excretion of ammonia in the intestinal tract of soil-feeding higher termites: a
15N tracer approach. Journal of Insect Physiology.
Fujita, A., Ngugi, D.K., Miambi, E., and Brune, A. Cellulolytic activities and in
situ rates of glucose turnover in the highly compartmentalized intestinal tract of
soil-feeding termites. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.




Table of contents
1 Introduction
________________________________________________________
Termites: taxonomy, distribution, and ecology 1
Soil-feeding termites 2
Soil organic matter 4
Current concepts of humus digestion in the gut 5
The objectives of this study 7
References 8
2 Gross N mineralization and nitrification-denitrification rates
during soil gut transit in soil-feeding termites (Cubitermes spp.)
________________________________________________________
Abstract 12
Introduction 13
Materials and methods 15
Result 19
Discussion 25
References 31
3 Proteolytic activities and microbial utilization of amino acids in
the intestinal tract of soil-feeding termites (Isoptera: Termitidae)
________________________________________________________
Abstract 35
Introduction 36
Materials and methods 38
Result 42
Discussion 50
References 55


4 Intestinal nitrate reduction and emission of N O and N by soil-2 2
feeding termites (Cubitermes and Ophiotermes spp.)
________________________________________________________
Abstract 62
Introduction 63
Materials and methods 65
Result 69
Discussion 77
References 83
5 Evidence for cross-epithelial transfer and excretion of ammonia in
15the hindgut of soil-feeding termites: a N tracer approach
________________________________________________________
Abstract 87
Introduction
Materials and methods 90
Result 93
Discussion 100
References 105
6 Other supporting results
________________________________________________________
No evidence for classical bacterial or archaeal nitrifiers 109
Absence of anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) 110
References 112
7 General discussion and outlook
________________________________________________________
Mineralization of soil organic matter during soil gut passage 114
Intestinal N transformation: a conceptual model in termites 115
Ecological implications 117
References 118
Summary 121
Zusammenfassung 123
Publication list 126 Contribution by other people 127
Curriculum vitae 128
1 Introduction
Termites: taxonomy, distribution, and ecology
Termites are terrestrial arthropods collectively classified under the order
Isoptera (Nutting, 1990). They inhabit approximately 75% of the Earth’s land
surface and, are distributed between the latitudes of 45°N and 45°S (Lee and
Wood, 1971; Wood, 1988). To date, seven termite families within the order
Isoptera are recognized (Figure 1), including six families of lower termites and
one family of higher termites (Abe et al., 2000; and references therein).

1/1/11CoCockrockroaaccheshes
MMaassttototerermimittiiddaaee
21/449 jjjj
KalotermitidaeIsoptera
jjjj
3/19(termites)
Hodotermitidae jjjj Lower termites
5/21 jjjj
Termopsidae
13/359
Rhinotermitidae
14/363
jjjj Macrotermitinae2/3
SSSeeerritrritrriteeerrrmmmitititiiidddaaaeee
241/241/20120122 1414//336633 jjjjjjjjjjjj 42/42/42/208208208
Higher termitesTermitidae Apicotermitinae
93/675 Higher termites
Nasutitermitinae
92/766
Termitinae
Figure 1. Phylogenetic scheme of termite evolution showing the presumed
relationship of the seven different termite families and their position to the closely
related cockroaches (modified from Bignell and Eggleton, 1995; Higashi and Abe,
1996). Numbers placed on the branches denote the numbers of genera/species in the
respective families as catalogued in the most current On-line Termite Database
(http://www.unb.br/ib/zoo/docente/constant/catal/catnew.html). The subfamily Termiti-
nae includes species of the genera Cubitermes, Microcerotermes, Ophiotermes,
Procubitermes, and Thoracotermes, which were used as model insects for various
investigations outlined in this study.

Lower termites principally feed on wood, and contain numerous populations
of flagellate protists in their hindgut, many of which assist their hosts to
degrade cel