Protein-bound amino acid content of normally and abnormally faunated Formosan termites, Coptotermes formosanus

InCoptotermes formosanus workers containing all (normally faunated), none (completely defaunated), or all but one species (partially defaunated) of their symbiotic protozoa, protein-bound amino acid contents changed little in 1, 3, 5, or 8 weeks after defaunation. There were few differences in the amino acid contents of the three termite groups at any one time. Thus, the termites may be able to maintain their protein levels without protozoa, dead protozoa probably do not furnish needed nitrogen, and symbiotic protozoa gave no evidence of the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen.