Biogeography history, morphological variation of Macrotermes gilvus and patterns of interaction specificity with its fungal symbiont, Termitomyces sp. in Southeast Asia

The Southeast Asia Sunda archipelago harbours a rich biodiversity with a substantial proportion of endemic species. Various environmental forces were identified to drastically influence the evolutionary history of these species including tectonic movements, glacial cycles, climatic changes and volcanic activities. Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen), an indigenous subterranean and fungus-growing termite species of Southeast Asia is well suited to investigate the relative impact of these forces in shaping the natural distribution of this species across Southeast Asia. This paper summarizes the biogeography history, morphological variation, and fungal symbiont interaction specificity of M. gilvus which may serve as a model of generalisation for early terrestrial dispersal pattern across Southeast Asia and additionally provide an insight into the termite-symbiont mutualism in a complex insular environment of Southeast Asia.