Microbiome study of termite mound and its surrounding. Termitarium

Archaea species contribute immensely to the ecosystem with regards to nutrient cycling within the soil. However, there is a paucity of information on these species concerning their identities within the microbial communities of the termiterium. In order to characterize these archaea, a high-throughput 16S amplicons sequencing technique was utilized in this study for the termiterium and its adjacent soil. This study revealed the identity of the unculturable as well as the culturable archaea with their species abundance. The methanogens identified in the samples were Methanocuelleus bourgensis and Methanocuelleus marisnigri both from the Methanomicrobiacea family, along with methanogenic prokaryotes that are not thoroughly characterized, but all of them contribute towards the total global methane production. Moreover, the most abundant phylum of archaea found was Crenarchaeota with the class Thermprotei. There is a significant difference in the distribution of archaea diversity pattern in the termiterium and its adjacent soil. However, Thermprotei was more prevalent in the adjacent soil than the termiterium itself. These Thermprotei are sulphur oxidizers that can assist in global sulphur cycle, reducing most toxic compound detrimental to the nitrifier in the soil, indirectly improving the soil health and fertility towards food safety and security