Animals cannot produce enzymes to digest cellulose, yet many termite species consume cellulose from plant material as a main part of their diet. how do termites access the nutrients contained in cellulose?

a. termites have specialized mouthparts to mechanically break down the cellulose.
b. mutualistic bacteria in the hindgut of the termite digest the cellulose into sugars.
c. cellulose is digested intracellularly in the termite hindgut.
d. the ingested plant material also contains enzymes for cellulose digestion.

Mutualistic bacteria in the hindgut of the termite digest the cellulose into sugars. (Ans. B)

Explanation:

Animals lack the enzymes which is necessary to digest cellulose, yet many termite species and herbivores consume cellulose from plant material as a main part of their diet. These species not containing these enzymes to digest the cellulose.

Termite contains single celled organism known as protists, called mastigophorans which is present in their guts that help in the digestion of cellulose into sugars. Mastigophorans are known as trichonympha, and this species can cause a parasitic infection in humans.

"a.) well–developed vascular system."