Methan Emission by Gut Symbionts of Termites

Methanogenesis is a microbial process in which organic matter is assimilated and metabolized with the ultimate production of biogas that contains methane and carbon dioxide in the approximate ratio of 2:1. It represents a major electron sink in the metabolism of termites. An understanding of the dominant methanogens inside termite gut and their efficiency in the production of methane can find applications in the technology of methanogenesis. In this study, two methanogenic bacteria viz., Methanobacteria and Methanosarcina were identified and isolated. The effect of six methanogenic substrates, acetate, formate, tri methylamine, mono methylamine, methanol and H + CO , in situ emission by 2 2 Methanosarcina isolated from termite gut was studied under different temperatures. Maximum methane release was found to be 1596.32 μmol/g/h at 30 ± 2°C when acetate was used as a substrate while hydrogen and formate were found to be very poor substrates for the production of methane at both the temperatures. Among different castes of termites methane and carbon dioxide emission were maximum for higher termites (Macrotermitidae). In situ, queens of higher termites produced 0.69 and 0.30 μmol/g/h of methane and carbon dioxide respectively.