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- Title
PIXE ANALYSIS ON PREDOMINANT ELEMENTAL ACCUMULATION ON THE MANDIBLE OF VARIOUS TERMITES.
- Authors
OHMURA, W.; SUZUKI, Y.; IMASEKI, H.; ISHIKAWA, T.; ISO, H.; YOSHIMURA, T.; TAKEMETSU, Y.
- Abstract
Information concerning the metallic component of termite mandibles may provide a significant clue for solving the evolutionary theory of termite species. Micro-beam scanning PIXE analysis was used, which is a power tool for detecting elemental components, along with two-dimensional information about the elemental distribution in the analyzed area. The distribution of three specific elements (Mn, Zn and Cl) is the focus of this paper. Especially, Mn and Zn are known to be distinctive factors in taxonomic studies of termite mandibles. In this study, mandibles of 12 species from 5 families were analyzed. Mn was detected in all the termites, except for Mastotermes darwiniensis. On the other hand, only kalotermitid termites had Zn as a predominant metal in the cutting edges. The elemental analysis of these mandibles showed significant information to solve the uncertainty of the phylogenetic relation of termites.
- Subjects
MANDIBLE; TERMITES; KALOTERMITIDAE; PROTON-induced X-ray emission; PHYLOGENY; METAL cutting
- Publication
International Journal of PIXE, 2007, Vol 17, Issue 3/4, p113
- ISSN
0129-0835
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1142/S0129083507001162