Role of termites in the process of regeneration of subtropical rain forest

研究了白蚁在西表岛亚热带雨林更新过程中的作用。在西表岛的森林中发现了9种白蚁。其中2种为土食性，7种为枯木食性。在活木枯死部位发现新白蚁（Neotermeskoshunensis）、隐白蚁（Cryptotermescruticus）、木白蚁（Glyptotermesfuscus）、台湾乳白蚁（Coptotermesformosanus）和高砂乳白蚁（Nasutitermestakasagoensis）5种。新白蚁koshunensis有时被发现在树木的生活部分。在被台风吹倒的树干中部发现台湾乳白蚁和高淳新白蚁。在西表岛的红树林沼泽中设置了3个永久性的象限，记录了树枝腐烂和立木倒伏的过程，并特别记录了干木白蚁Neotermes Koshunensis的活动。在研究期间，许多红树林幼树死亡，但这主要是由于光照不足。然后许多白蚁群在枯木中建立起来。因此，白蚁对红树林沼泽中树枝和树木的死亡并不起重要作用。本研究对黄胸散白蚁（Reticulitermessperatus）肠道原生动物群落进行了分析。在白蚁肠道内共发现11种共生原虫。工人和士兵的原生动物种类组成相似。

The role of termites in the process of regeneration of subtropical rain forest of Iriomote-jima was studied. Nine species of termites were found in the forest of Iriomote-jima. Two of them were soil feeders, while 7 species were dead wood feeders. Five species, Neotermes koshunensis, Cryptotermes domesticus, Glyptotermes fuscus, Coptotermes formosanus and Nasutitermes takasagoensis were found in the dead parts of living trees. Neotermes koshunensis was sometimes found in living parts of trees. Coptotermes formosanus and Neotermes koshunensis were found in the central parts of tree trunks which were blown down by typhoon. However, no evidence was got to show that the falling down of those trees was caused by the termites' attack as well as typhoon.Three permanent quadrants were set in the mangrove swamp of Iriomote-jima, and the process of decay of branches and falling down of standing trees were recorded with special reference to the activities of a dry wood termite, Neotermes Koshunensis. During the study period, many young mangrove trees died, but this was mainly due to insufficiency of light. Then many colonies of termites founded in the dead wood. Therefore, it seemed that termites did not play an important role on the death of branches and trees in the mangrove swamp.Protozoan communities in the gut of Reticulitermes speratus were analyzed within the framework of the present project. Eleven species of symbiotic protozoa were found in the guts of termites. Species composition of Protozoa was similar in workers and soldiers.