TABLE 4.
Comparison of the relative contributions of methanogenesis and homoacetogenesis to the overall electron flow in a soil-feeding termite and a wood-feeding termite
| Parameter | Result fora:
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cubitermes orthognathus
|
Reticulitermes flavipes
|
|||
| Rate (μmol g−1 h−1) | Electron flow (%)b | Rate (μmol g−1 h−1) | Electron flow (%) | |
| Respiration rate (CO2 formation); In vivo | 3.68 (36) | 15.90 (27) | ||
| Methanogenesis; In vivo | 0.158 (33) | 8.6 | 0.116 (16) | 1.5 |
| Homoacetogenesis | ||||
| In situ | 0.018c | 1.0 | 0.833 (35) | 10.5 |
| In situ + exogenous H2 | 0.141c | 7.7 | 0.855 (35) | 10.8 |
a
References are given in parentheses.
b
Calculated from respiratory CO2 formation, assuming organic substrates with an average oxidation state of zero.
c
Calculated from the combined rates of the individual compartments (Table 3).