Gut Microbiota Reveal Ecological Adaptations in the Inquilinism of Ancistrotermes dimorphus and Its Host Macrotermes barneyi

Ancistrotermes dimorphus (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae), a facultative inquiline termite, frequently inhabits the nests of host species such as Macerotermes barneyi (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae), but can also establish independent nests. To explore the ecological consequences of inquilinism on gut microbiota, we employed 16S rRNA sequencing to compare the microbial communities of A. dimorphus and M. barneyi under both independent and inquilinism nesting conditions.