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Absence of Microorganisms in Crustacean Digestive Tracts

1978; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 200; Issue: 4346 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.200.4346.1157

1095-9203

Paul J. Boyle, Ralph Mitchell,

Crustacean biology and ecology

Two marine and one terrestrial wood-boring isopod species and one wood-inhabiting amphipod species maintain a digestive tract free of microorganisms. Digestive tracts examined in toto with the scanning electron microscope were devoid of microorganisms. In contrast, the outer exoskeleton surfaces of these crustaceans support a dense bacterialflora. Observations of the hindgut of termites revealed a diverse gut microflora as expected.