1
|
Sorvari J, Huhta E, Hakkarainen H. Coexistence of territorial competitor ants in fragmented boreal forest landscape. Oecologia 2024; 206:187-197. [PMID: 39341907 PMCID: PMC11489285 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05626-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
The distribution of species in a patchy habitat may be influenced by competitive interactions. The dominant and highly competitive boreal ant species belong to the Formica rufa group. A pair of species, Formica aquilonia and Formica polyctena, require extensive territories due to their multi-nest breeding habits. The coexistence and habitat patterns of these two wood ant species in the boreal forest landscape were investigated. Forest characteristics in the vicinity of nests in forest patches were similar for both species, but they did not coexist in the same sampling plots of 0.79 ha in forest patches, indicating competitive exclusion. The sampling plots in large forest patches were more occupied by F. aquilonia, while no such association was found for F. polyctena. At a larger spatial scale (78.5 ha), we found that F. polyctena was more tolerant of smaller forest patches than F. aquilonia suggesting that these two ant species can coexist in moderately fragmented forest landscapes. However, forest habitat loss, fragmentation and climate-induced changes in forest tree structure may shift the species balance in favour of F. polyctena over F. aquilonia in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jouni Sorvari
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.
| | - Esa Huhta
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Ounasjoentie 6, 96200, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Balzani P, Dekoninck W, Feldhaar H, Freitag A, Frizzi F, Frouz J, Masoni A, Robinson E, Sorvari J, Santini G. Challenges and a call to action for protecting European red wood ants. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13959. [PMID: 35638587 PMCID: PMC10086985 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Red wood ants (RWAs) are a group of keystone species widespread in temperate and boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite this, there is increasing evidence of local declines and extinctions. We reviewed the current protection status of RWAs throughout Europe and their International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat classification. Only some RWA species have been assessed at a global scale, and not all national red lists of the countries where RWAs are present include these species. Different assessment criteria, inventory approaches, and risk categories are used in different countries, and data deficiency is frequent. Legislative protection is even more complex, with some countries protecting RWAs implicitly together with the wildlife fauna and others explicitly protecting the whole group or particular species. This complexity often occurs within countries, for example, in Italy, where, outside of the Alps, only the introduced species are protected, whereas the native species, which are in decline, are not. Therefore, an international, coordinated framework is needed for the protection of RWAs. This first requires that the conservation target should be defined. Due to the similar morphology, complex taxonomy, and frequent hybridization, protecting the entire RWA group seems a more efficient strategy than protecting single species, although with a distinction between autochthonous and introduced species. Second, an update of the current distribution of RWA species is needed throughout Europe. Third, a protection law cannot be effective without the collaboration of forest managers, whose activity influences RWA habitat. Finally, RWA mounds offer a peculiar microhabitat, hosting a multitude of taxa, some of which are obligate myrmecophilous species on the IUCN Red List. Therefore, RWAs' role as umbrella species could facilitate their protection if they are considered not only as target species but also as providers of species-rich microhabitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paride Balzani
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | | | - Heike Feldhaar
- Department of Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Anne Freitag
- Cantonal Museum of Zoology, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Frizzi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Jan Frouz
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Alberto Masoni
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | | | - Jouni Sorvari
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giacomo Santini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nouhaud P, Beresford J, Kulmuni J. Assembly of a Hybrid Formica aquilonia × F. polyctena Ant Genome From a Haploid Male. J Hered 2022; 113:353-359. [PMID: 35394540 PMCID: PMC9270870 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Formica red wood ants are a keystone species of boreal forest ecosystems and an emerging model system in the study of speciation and hybridization. Here, we performed a standard DNA extraction from a single, field-collected Formica aquilonia × Formica polyctena haploid male and assembled its genome using ~60× of PacBio long reads. After polishing and contaminant removal, the final assembly was 272 Mb (4687 contigs, N50 = 1.16 Mb). Our reference genome contains 98.5% of the core Hymenopteran BUSCOs and was pseudo-scaffolded using the assembly of a related species, F. selysi (28 scaffolds, N50 = 8.49 Mb). Around one-third of the genome consists of repeats, and 17 426 gene models were annotated using both protein and RNAseq data (97.4% BUSCO completeness). This resource is of comparable quality to the few other single individual insect genomes assembled to date and paves the way to genomic studies of admixture in natural populations and comparative genomic approaches in Formica wood ants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Nouhaud
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Biocenter 3, Viikinkaari 1, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J. A. Palménin tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland
| | - Jack Beresford
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Biocenter 3, Viikinkaari 1, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J. A. Palménin tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland
| | - Jonna Kulmuni
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Biocenter 3, Viikinkaari 1, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J. A. Palménin tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sartor CC, Cushman SA, Wan HY, Kretschmer R, Pereira JA, Bou N, Cosse M, González S, Eizirik E, de Freitas TRO, Trigo TC. The role of the environment in the spatial dynamics of an extensive hybrid zone between two neotropical cats. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:614-627. [PMID: 33484012 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Identifying factors that create and maintain a hybrid zone is of great interest to ecology, evolution and, more recently, conservation biology. Here, we investigated the role of environmental features in shaping the spatial dynamics of a hybrid zone between the southern tigrina, Leopardus guttulus, and Geoffroy's cat, L. geoffroyi, testing for exogenous selection as the main force acting on its maintenance. These Neotropical felid species are mainly allopatric, with a restricted area of sympatry in the ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and Pampa biomes. As both biomes have experienced high rates of anthropogenic habitat alteration, we also analysed the influence of habitat conversion on the hybrid zone structure. To do this, we used 13 microsatellite loci to identify potential hybrids and generated ecological niche models for them and their parental species. We compared the influence of variables on parental species and hybrid occurrence and calculated the amount of niche overlap among them. Parental species showed different habitat requirements and predicted co-occurrence was restricted to the forest-grassland mosaic of the ecotone. However, hybrids were found beyond this area, mainly in the range of L. geoffroyi. Hybrids demonstrated higher tolerance to habitat alteration than parental types, with a probability of occurrence that was positively related with mosaics of cropland areas and remnants of natural vegetation. These results indicate that exogenous selection alone does not drive the dynamics of the hybrid zone, and that habitat conversion influences its structure, potentially favouring hybrids over parental species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Charão Sartor
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Ho Yi Wan
- Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA
| | - Rafael Kretschmer
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Javier A Pereira
- CONICET, Grupo de Genética y Ecología en Conservación y Biodiversidad, Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 'Bernardino Rivadavia', Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nadia Bou
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mariana Cosse
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Susana González
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Eduardo Eizirik
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Tatiane Campos Trigo
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil.,Setor de Mastozoologia, Museu de Ciências Naturais do Rio Grande do Sul, Secretaria do Meio Ambiente e Infraestrutura, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sapp JR, Yost J, Lyon BE. The socially parasitic ant Polyergus mexicanus has host-associated genetic population structure and related neighbouring colonies. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2050-2062. [PMID: 32402118 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The genetic structure of populations can be both a cause and a consequence of ecological interactions. For parasites, genetic structure may be a consequence of preferences for host species or of mating behaviour. Conversely, genetic structure can influence where conspecific interactions among parasites lay on a spectrum from cooperation to conflict. We used microsatellite loci to characterize the genetic structure of a population of the socially parasitic dulotic (aka "slave-making") ant (Polyergus mexicanus), which is known for its host-specificity and conspecific aggression. First, we assessed whether the pattern of host species use by the parasite has influenced parasite population structure. We found that host species use was correlated with subpopulation structure, but this correlation was imperfect: some subpopulations used one host species nearly exclusively, while others used several. Second, we examined the viscosity of the parasite population by measuring the relatedness of pairs of neighbouring parasitic ant colonies at varying distances from each other. Although natural history observations of local dispersal by queens suggested the potential for viscosity, there was no strong correlation between relatedness and distance between colonies. However, 35% of colonies had a closely related neighbouring colony, indicating that kinship could potentially affect the nature of some interactions between colonies of this social parasite. Our findings confirm that ecological forces like host species selection can shape the genetic structure of parasite populations, and that such genetic structure has the potential to influence parasite-parasite interactions in social parasites via inclusive fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Sapp
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Jenn Yost
- Biological Sciences Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
| | - Bruce E Lyon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Reise H, Schwarzer AK, Hutchinson JMC, Schlitt B. Genital morphology differentiates three subspecies of the terrestrial slug Arion ater (Linnæus, 1758) s.l. and reveals a continuum of intermediates with the invasive A. vulgaris Moquin-Tandon, 1855. FOLIA MALACOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.12657/folmal.028.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
7
|
Cordonnier M, Gayet T, Escarguel G, Kaufmann B. From hybridization to introgression between two closely related sympatric ant species. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Cordonnier
- UMR5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, ENTPE Université Lyon Lyon France
| | - Thibault Gayet
- UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Université Lyon 1 Université de Lyon Lyon France
- Unité Cervidés Sangliers Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Birieux France
| | - Gilles Escarguel
- UMR5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, ENTPE Université Lyon Lyon France
| | - Bernard Kaufmann
- UMR5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, ENTPE Université Lyon Lyon France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Centorame M, Moschella F, Russini V, Fanfani A. DNA-barcoding of the Italian members of the Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): hybridization and biogeographic hypothesis. ZOOL ANZ 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
9
|
Romiguier J, Rolland J, Morandin C, Keller L. Phylogenomics of palearctic Formica species suggests a single origin of temporary parasitism and gives insights to the evolutionary pathway toward slave-making behaviour. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:40. [PMID: 29592795 PMCID: PMC5872393 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1159-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ants of the Formica genus are classical model species in evolutionary biology. In particular, Darwin used Formica as model species to better understand the evolution of slave-making, a parasitic behaviour where workers of another species are stolen to exploit their workforce. In his book “On the Origin of Species” (1859), Darwin first hypothesized that slave-making behaviour in Formica evolved in incremental steps from a free-living ancestor. Methods The absence of a well-resolved phylogenetic tree of the genus prevent an assessment of whether relationships among Formica subgenera are compatible with this scenario. In this study, we resolve the relationships among the 4 palearctic Formica subgenera (Formica str. s., Coptoformica, Raptiformica and Serviformica) using a phylogenomic dataset of 945 genes for 16 species. Results We provide a reference tree resolving the relationships among the main Formica subgenera with high bootstrap supports. Discussion The branching order of our tree suggests that the free-living lifestyle is ancestral in the Formica genus and that parasitic colony founding could have evolved a single time, probably acting as a pre-adaptation to slave-making behaviour. Conclusion This phylogenetic tree provides a solid backbone for future evolutionary studies in the Formica genus and slave-making behaviour. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1159-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Romiguier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,CNRS UMR-5554, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.
| | - Jonathan Rolland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, #4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Quartier Sorge, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claire Morandin
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laurent Keller
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Grabenstein KC, Taylor SA. Breaking Barriers: Causes, Consequences, and Experimental Utility of Human-Mediated Hybridization. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33:198-212. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
11
|
Beresford J, Elias M, Pluckrose L, Sundström L, Butlin RK, Pamilo P, Kulmuni J. Widespread hybridization within mound-building wood ants in Southern Finland results in cytonuclear mismatches and potential for sex-specific hybrid breakdown. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:4013-4026. [PMID: 28503905 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Hybridization and gene flow between diverging lineages are increasingly recognized as common evolutionary processes, and their consequences can vary from hybrid breakdown to adaptive introgression. We have previously found a population of wood ant hybrids between Formica aquilonia and F. polyctena that shows antagonistic effects of hybridization: females with introgressed alleles show hybrid vigour, whereas males with the same alleles show hybrid breakdown. Here, we investigate whether hybridization is a general phenomenon in this species pair and analyse 647 worker samples from 16 localities in Finland using microsatellite markers and a 1200-bp mitochondrial sequence. Our results show that 27 sampled nests contained parental-like gene pools (six putative F. polyctena and 21 putative F. aquilonia) and all remaining nests (69), from nine localities, contained hybrids of varying degrees. Patterns of genetic variation suggest these hybrids arise from several hybridization events or, instead, have backcrossed to the parental gene pools to varying extents. In contrast to expectations, the mitochondrial haplotypes of the parental species were not randomly distributed among the hybrids. Instead, nests that were closer to parental-like F. aquilonia for nuclear markers preferentially had F. polyctena's mitochondria and vice versa. This systematic pattern suggests there may be underlying selection favouring cytonuclear mismatch and hybridization. We also found a new hybrid locality with strong genetic differences between the sexes similar to those predicted under antagonistic selection on male and female hybrids. Further studies are needed to determine the selective forces that act on male and female genomes in these newly discovered hybrids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Beresford
- Department of Biosciences, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - M Elias
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB) - UMR 7205 - CNRS MNHN UPMC EPHE, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - L Pluckrose
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - L Sundström
- Department of Biosciences, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
| | - R K Butlin
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Marine Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - P Pamilo
- Department of Biosciences, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Kulmuni
- Department of Biosciences, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland.,Department of Biology and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Parmentier T, Bouillon S, Dekoninck W, Wenseleers T. Trophic interactions in an ant nest microcosm: a combined experimental and stable isotope (δ13C/δ15N) approach. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Parmentier
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Socioevolution, KU Leuven; Naamsestraat 59 BE-3000 Leuven Belgium
- Royal Belgian Inst. of Natural Sciences; Entomology Dept; Vautierstraat 29 BE-1000 Brussels Belgium
| | - Steven Bouillon
- Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences; KU Leuven; BE-3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Wouter Dekoninck
- Royal Belgian Inst. of Natural Sciences; Entomology Dept; Vautierstraat 29 BE-1000 Brussels Belgium
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Socioevolution, KU Leuven; Naamsestraat 59 BE-3000 Leuven Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Parmentier T, Dekoninck W, Wenseleers T. Metapopulation processes affecting diversity and distribution of myrmecophiles associated with red wood ants. Basic Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
14
|
Seifert B, Csösz S. Temnothoraxcrasecundus sp. n. - a cryptic Eurocaucasian ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) discovered by Nest Centroid Clustering. Zookeys 2015; 479:37-64. [PMID: 25685016 PMCID: PMC4319063 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.479.8510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The paper integrates two independent studies of numeric morphology-based alpha-taxonomy of the cryptic ant species Temnothoraxcrassispinus (Karavajev, 1926) and Temnothoraxcrasecundus sp. n. conducted by different investigators, using different equipment, considering different character combinations and evaluating different samples. Samples investigated included 603 individual workers from 203 nests - thereof 104 nest samples measured by Seifert and 99 by Csösz. The material originated from Europe, Asia Minor and Caucasia. There was a very strong interspecific overlap in any of the 29 shape characters recorded and subjective expert determination failed in many cases. Primary classification hypotheses were formed by the exploratory data analysis Nest Centroid (NC) clustering and corrected to final species hypotheses by an iterative linear discriminant analysis algorithm. The evaluation of Seifert's and Csösz's data sets arrived at fully congruent conclusions. NC-Ward and NC-K-means clustering disagreed from the final species hypothesis in only 1.9 and 1.9% of the samples in Seifert's data set and by 1.1 and 2.1% in Csösz's data set which is a strong argument for heterospecificity. The type series of Temnothoraxcrassispinus and Temnothoraxcrasecundus sp. n. were allocated to different clusters with p = 0.9851 and p = 0.9912 respectively. The type series of the junior synonym Temnothoraxslavonicus (Seifert, 1995) was allocated to the Temnothoraxcrassispinus cluster with p = 0.9927. Temnothoraxcrasecundus sp. n. and Temnothoraxcrassispinus are parapatric species with a long contact zone stretching from the Peloponnisos peninsula across Bulgaria northeast to the southern Ukraine. There is no indication for occurrence of interspecifically mixed nests or intraspecific polymorphism. However, a significant reduction of interspecific morphological distance at sites with syntopic occurrence of both species indicates local hybridization. The results are discussed within the context of the Pragmatic Species Concept of Seifert (2014). The taxonomic description and a differential diagnosis of Temnothoraxcrasecundus sp. n. are given.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Seifert
- Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Goerlitz, Am Museum 1, D - 02826 Goerlitz, Germany
| | - Sandor Csösz
- MTA-ELTE-MTM, Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1C, H-1117
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kannan L, Wheeler WC. Exactly computing the parsimony scores on phylogenetic networks using dynamic programming. J Comput Biol 2014; 21:303-19. [PMID: 24559134 PMCID: PMC3962649 DOI: 10.1089/cmb.2013.0134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scoring a given phylogenetic network is the first step that is required in searching for the best evolutionary framework for a given dataset. Using the principle of maximum parsimony, we can score phylogenetic networks based on the minimum number of state changes across a subset of edges of the network for each character that are required for a given set of characters to realize the input states at the leaves of the networks. Two such subsets of edges of networks are interesting in light of studying evolutionary histories of datasets: (i) the set of all edges of the network, and (ii) the set of all edges of a spanning tree that minimizes the score. The problems of finding the parsimony scores under these two criteria define slightly different mathematical problems that are both NP-hard. In this article, we show that both problems, with scores generalized to adding substitution costs between states on the endpoints of the edges, can be solved exactly using dynamic programming. We show that our algorithms require O(m(p)k) storage at each vertex (per character), where k is the number of states the character can take, p is the number of reticulate vertices in the network, m = k for the problem with edge set (i), and m = 2 for the problem with edge set (ii). This establishes an O(nm(p)k(2)) algorithm for both the problems (n is the number of leaves in the network), which are extensions of Sankoff's algorithm for finding the parsimony scores for phylogenetic trees. We will discuss improvements in the complexities and show that for phylogenetic networks whose underlying undirected graphs have disjoint cycles, the storage at each vertex can be reduced to O(mk), thus making the algorithm polynomial for this class of networks. We will present some properties of the two approaches and guidance on choosing between the criteria, as well as traverse through the network space using either of the definitions. We show that our methodology provides an effective means to study a wide variety of datasets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lavanya Kannan
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Richard Gilder Graduate School , American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Goropashnaya AV, Fedorov VB, Seifert B, Pamilo P. Phylogenetic relationships of Palaearctic Formica species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) based on mitochondrial cytochrome B sequences. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41697. [PMID: 22911845 PMCID: PMC3402446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 06/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Ants of genus Formica demonstrate variation in social organization and represent model species for ecological, behavioral, evolutionary studies and testing theoretical implications of the kin selection theory. Subgeneric division of the Formica ants based on morphology has been questioned and remained unclear after an allozyme study on genetic differentiation between 13 species representing all subgenera was conducted. In the present study, the phylogenetic relationships within the genus were examined using mitochondrial DNA sequences of the cytochrome b and a part of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6. All 23 Formica species sampled in the Palaearctic clustered according to the subgeneric affiliation except F. uralensis that formed a separate phylogenetic group. Unlike Coptoformica and Formica s. str., the subgenus Serviformica did not form a tight cluster but more likely consisted of a few small clades. The genetic distances between the subgenera were around 10%, implying approximate divergence time of 5 Myr if we used the conventional insect divergence rate of 2% per Myr. Within-subgenus divergence estimates were 6.69% in Serviformica, 3.61% in Coptoformica, 1.18% in Formica s. str., which supported our previous results on relatively rapid speciation in the latter subgenus. The phylogeny inferred from DNA sequences provides a necessary framework against which the evolution of social traits can be compared. We discuss implications of inferred phylogeny for the evolution of social traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Goropashnaya
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, EBC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kronauer DJC, Peters MK, Schöning C, Boomsma JJ. Hybridization in East African swarm-raiding army ants. Front Zool 2011; 8:20. [PMID: 21859477 PMCID: PMC3177866 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-8-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Accepted: 08/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hybridization can have complex effects on evolutionary dynamics in ants because of the combination of haplodiploid sex-determination and eusociality. While hybrid non-reproductive workers have been found in a range of species, examples of gene-flow via hybrid queens and males are rare. We studied hybridization in East African army ants (Dorylus subgenus Anomma) using morphology, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and nuclear microsatellites. RESULTS While the mitochondrial phylogeny had a strong geographic signal, different species were not recovered as monophyletic. At our main study site at Kakamega Forest, a mitochondrial haplotype was shared between a "Dorylus molestus-like" and a "Dorylus wilverthi-like" form. This pattern is best explained by introgression following hybridization between D. molestus and D. wilverthi. Microsatellite data from workers showed that the two morphological forms correspond to two distinct genetic clusters, with a significant proportion of individuals being classified as hybrids. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that hybridization and gene-flow between the two army ant species D. molestus and D. wilverthi has occurred, and that mating between the two forms continues to regularly produce hybrid workers. Hybridization is particularly surprising in army ants because workers have control over which males are allowed to mate with a young virgin queen inside the colony.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel JC Kronauer
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Laboratory of Insect Social Evolution, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Marcell K Peters
- Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Caspar Schöning
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Länderinstitut für Bienenkunde, Friedrich-Engels-Strasse 32, 16540 Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Jacobus J Boomsma
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Steiner FM, Seifert B, Grasso DA, Le Moli F, Arthofer W, Stauffer C, Crozier RH, Schlick-Steiner BC. Mixed colonies and hybridisation of Messor harvester ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-011-0045-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|