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Lecocq de Pletincx N, Cerdà X, Kiran K, Karaman C, Taheri A, Aron S. Ecological diversification preceded geographical expansion during the evolutionary radiation of Cataglyphis desert ants. iScience 2024; 27:109852. [PMID: 38779477 PMCID: PMC11109030 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological diversity often arises as organisms adapt to new ecological conditions (i.e., ecological opportunities) or colonize suitable areas (i.e., spatial opportunities). Cases of geographical expansion followed by local ecological divergence are well described; they result in clades comprising ecologically heterogeneous subclades. Here, we show that the desert ant genus Cataglyphis likely originated in open grassland habitats in the Middle East ∼18 million years ago and became a taxon of diverse species specializing in prey of different masses. The genus then colonized the Mediterranean Basin around 9 million years ago. The result was the rapid accumulation of species, and the appearance of local assemblages containing species from different lineages that still displayed ancestral foraging specialties. These findings highlight that, in Cataglyphis, ecological diversification preceded geographical expansion, resulting in a clade composed of ecologically homogeneous subclades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Lecocq de Pletincx
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 160/12, av. FD Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xim Cerdà
- Department of Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Kadri Kiran
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Trakya University, Edirne 22030, Türkiye
| | - Celal Karaman
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Trakya University, Edirne 22030, Türkiye
| | - Ahmed Taheri
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization, Faculty of Sciences of El Jadida, University Chouaïb Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco
| | - Serge Aron
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 160/12, av. FD Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Liu M, Hu SY, Li M, Sun H, Yuan ML. Comparative mitogenomic analysis provides evolutionary insights into Formica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302371. [PMID: 38857223 PMCID: PMC11164359 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Formica is a large genus in the family Formicidae with high diversity in its distribution, morphology, and physiology. To better understand evolutionary characteristics of Formica, the complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two Formica species were determined and a comparative mitogenomic analysis for this genus was performed. The two newly sequenced Formica mitogenomes each included 37 typical mitochondrial genes and a large non-coding region (putative control region), as observed in other Formica mitogenomes. Base composition, gene order, codon usage, and tRNA secondary structure were well conserved among Formica species, whereas diversity in sequence size and structural characteristics was observed in control regions. We also observed several conserved motifs in the intergenic spacer regions. These conserved genomic features may be related to mitochondrial function and their highly conserved physiological constraints, while the diversity of the control regions may be associated with adaptive evolution among heterogenous habitats. A negative AT-skew value on the majority chain was presented in each of Formica mitogenomes, indicating a reversal of strand asymmetry in base composition. Strong codon usage bias was observed in Formica mitogenomes, which was predominantly determined by nucleotide composition. All 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes of Formica species exhibited molecular signatures of purifying selection, as indicated by the ratio of non-synonymous substitutions to synonymous substitutions being less than 1 for each protein-coding gene. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitogenomic data obtained fairly consistent phylogenetic relationships, except for two Formica species that had unstable phylogenetic positions, indicating mitogenomic data are useful for constructing phylogenies of ants. Beyond characterizing two additional Formica mitogenomes, this study also provided some key evolutionary insights into Formica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Grassland Science Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Shi-Yun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Grassland Science Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Min Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Hao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Grassland Science Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Ming-Long Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Grassland Science Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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3
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Lapeva-Gjonova A, Csősz S, Mifsud D. Further records of social parasitic ants in Europe and review of the Bulgarian species. Biodivers Data J 2024; 12:e123575. [PMID: 38841133 PMCID: PMC11150874 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.12.e123575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Social parasitic ants exploit the colonies of other ant species, either permanently or temporarily. The permanent parasites are amongst the rarest species of ants, although their hosts may be very common. Due to their rarity and often restricted distribution range, most of them are listed as vulnerable. Filling in the gaps in geographical and host ranges will advance our understanding of the social parasitic lifestyle's origin and evolution. New information This study reports the first records of the slave-makers Myrmoxenusalgerianus (Cagniant, 1968) for Europe (Italy, Sicily) and M.ravouxi (André 1896) for Albania and the inquiline Anergatesatratulus (Schenck, 1852) for Malta (Gozo). We also report new localities of Camponotusuniversitatis Forel, 1890 for Albania and Myrmoxenusgordiagini Ruzsky, 1902, M.kraussei (Emery, 1915) and Anergatesatratulus for Bulgaria. Diversity, type of parasite-host relationships, host range, distribution and conservation of social parasitic ant species in Bulgaria are discussed. Although social parasitic ants are still understudied in Bulgaria, they represent 21% of the regional ant fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albena Lapeva-Gjonova
- Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University, 8 Dragan Tsankov str., Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University, 8 Dragan Tsankov str.SofiaBulgaria
| | - Sándor Csősz
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter ave 1/C, Budapest 1117, HungaryHUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter ave 1/CBudapest 1117Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE-Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter ave 1/C, Budapest 1117, HungaryDepartment of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE-Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter ave 1/CBudapest 1117Hungary
| | - David Mifsud
- Institute of Earth Systems, Division of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, MaltaInstitute of Earth Systems, Division of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, University of MaltaMsida MSD 2080Malta
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Cover SP, Rabeling C. Four new inquiline social parasite species in the dolichoderine ant genus Tapinoma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zookeys 2024; 1202:111-134. [PMID: 38800561 PMCID: PMC11112158 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1202.120478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Four new inquiline social parasites are described in the dolichoderine ant genus Tapinoma from the Nearctic region, and keys are provided for queens and males of the Nearctic Tapinoma species. The new social parasite species represent the first inquiline species in the genus Tapinoma and the first confirmed inquilines known from the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae. The four new species appear to be workerless inquilines that exploit a single host, Tapinomasessile (Say), and they represent at least two distinct life history syndromes. Tapinomaincognitum Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. is highly derived morphologically and is a host-queen-tolerant inquiline. In contrast, T.inflatiscapus Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. shows a lesser degree of morphological modification and appears to be a host-queen-intolerant social parasite. The life history of T.pulchellum Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. is presently unknown, but its close similarity to T.incognitum suggests that it is also a host-queen-tolerant inquiline. The life history of T.shattucki Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. is still uncertain. Our findings provide novel insights into the complex biology of ant inquiline life history syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan P. Cover
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States of America
| | - Christian Rabeling
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States of America
- Department of Integrative Taxonomy of Insects, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
- KomBioTa – Center for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy Research, University of Hohenheim & State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Stuttgart, GermanyUniversity of Hohenheim & State Museum of Natural History StuttgartStuttgartGermany
- Social Insect Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 550 E Orange Street, Tempe, AZ 85281, USAArizona State UniversityTempeUnited States of America
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5
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Bastide H, Legout H, Dogbo N, Ogereau D, Prediger C, Carcaud J, Filée J, Garnery L, Gilbert C, Marion-Poll F, Requier F, Sandoz JC, Yassin A. The genome of the blind bee louse fly reveals deep convergences with its social host and illuminates Drosophila origins. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1122-1132.e5. [PMID: 38309271 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Social insects' nests harbor intruders known as inquilines,1 which are usually related to their hosts.2,3 However, distant non-social inquilines may also show convergences with their hosts,4,5 although the underlying genomic changes remain unclear. We analyzed the genome of the wingless and blind bee louse fly Braula coeca, an inquiline kleptoparasite of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera.6,7 Using large phylogenomic data, we confirmed recent accounts that the bee louse fly is a drosophilid8,9 and showed that it had likely evolved from a sap-breeder ancestor associated with honeydew and scale insects' wax. Unlike many parasites, the bee louse fly genome did not show significant erosion or strict reliance on an endosymbiont, likely due to a relatively recent age of inquilinism. However, we observed a horizontal transfer of a transposon and a striking parallel evolution in a set of gene families between the honey bee and the bee louse fly. Convergences included genes potentially involved in metabolism and immunity and the loss of nearly all bitter-tasting gustatory receptors, in agreement with life in a protective nest and a diet of honey, pollen, and beeswax. Vision and odorant receptor genes also exhibited rapid losses. Only genes whose orthologs in the closely related Drosophila melanogaster respond to honey bee pheromone components or floral aroma were retained, whereas the losses included orthologous receptors responsive to the anti-ovarian honey bee queen pheromones. Hence, deep genomic convergences can underlie major phenotypic transitions during the evolution of inquilinism between non-social parasites and their social hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Bastide
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Hélène Legout
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Noé Dogbo
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - David Ogereau
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Carolina Prediger
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Julie Carcaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jonathan Filée
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lionel Garnery
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Clément Gilbert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Frédéric Marion-Poll
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, 91123 Palaiseau Cedex, France
| | - Fabrice Requier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Sandoz
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Amir Yassin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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6
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Scarparo G, Palanchon M, Brelsford A, Purcell J. Social antagonism facilitates supergene expansion in ants. Curr Biol 2023; 33:5085-5095.e4. [PMID: 37979579 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.049] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Antagonistic selection has long been considered a major driver of the formation and expansion of sex chromosomes. For example, sexually antagonistic variation on an autosome can select for suppressed recombination between that autosome and the sex chromosome, leading to a neo-sex chromosome. Autosomal supergenes, chromosomal regions containing tightly linked variants affecting the same complex trait, share similarities with sex chromosomes, raising the possibility that sex chromosome evolution models can explain the evolution of genome structure and recombination in other contexts. We tested this premise in a Formica ant species, wherein we identified four supergene haplotypes on chromosome 3 underlying colony social organization and sex ratio. We discovered a novel rearranged supergene variant (9r) on chromosome 9 underlying queen miniaturization. The 9r is in strong linkage disequilibrium with one chromosome 3 haplotype (P2) found in multi-queen (polygyne) colonies. We suggest that queen miniaturization is strongly disfavored in the single-queen (monogyne) background and is thus socially antagonistic. As such, divergent selection experienced by ants living in alternative social "environments" (monogyne and polygyne) may have contributed to the emergence of a genetic polymorphism on chromosome 9 and associated queen-size dimorphism. Consequently, an ancestral polygyne-associated haplotype may have expanded to include the polymorphism on chromosome 9, resulting in a larger region of suppressed recombination spanning two chromosomes. This process is analogous to the formation of neo-sex chromosomes and consistent with models of expanding regions of suppressed recombination. We propose that miniaturized queens, 16%-20% smaller than queens without 9r, could be incipient intraspecific social parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Scarparo
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, 165 Entomology Bldg. Citrus Drive, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Marie Palanchon
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, 2710 Life Science Bldg., Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Alan Brelsford
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, 2710 Life Science Bldg., Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jessica Purcell
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, 165 Entomology Bldg. Citrus Drive, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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Qin M, Jiang L, Qiao G, Chen J. Phylosymbiosis: The Eco-Evolutionary Pattern of Insect-Symbiont Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15836. [PMID: 37958817 PMCID: PMC10650905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115836] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects harbor diverse assemblages of bacterial and fungal symbionts, which play crucial roles in host life history. Insects and their various symbionts represent a good model for studying host-microbe interactions. Phylosymbiosis is used to describe an eco-evolutionary pattern, providing a new cross-system trend in the research of host-associated microbiota. The phylosymbiosis pattern is characterized by a significant positive correlation between the host phylogeny and microbial community dissimilarities. Although host-symbiont interactions have been demonstrated in many insect groups, our knowledge of the prevalence and mechanisms of phylosymbiosis in insects is still limited. Here, we provide an order-by-order summary of the phylosymbiosis patterns in insects, including Blattodea, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. Then, we highlight the potential contributions of stochastic effects, evolutionary processes, and ecological filtering in shaping phylosymbiotic microbiota. Phylosymbiosis in insects can arise from a combination of stochastic and deterministic mechanisms, such as the dispersal limitations of microbes, codiversification between symbionts and hosts, and the filtering of phylogenetically conserved host traits (incl., host immune system, diet, and physiological characteristics).
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Qin
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
| | - Liyun Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
| | - Gexia Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
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8
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Mera-Rodríguez D, Jourdan H, Ward PS, Shattuck S, Cover SP, Wilson EO, Rabeling C. Biogeography and evolution of social parasitism in Australian Myrmecia bulldog ants revealed by phylogenomics. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023:107825. [PMID: 37244505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Studying the historical biogeography and life history transitions from eusocial colony life to social parasitism contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms generating biodiversity in eusocial insects. The ants in the genus Myrmecia are a well-suited system for testing evolutionary hypotheses about how their species diversity was assembled through time because the genus is endemic to Australia with the single exception of the species M. apicalis inhabiting the Pacific Island of New Caledonia, and because at least one social parasite species exists in the genus. However, the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the disjunct biogeographic distribution of M. apicalis and the life history transition(s) to social parasitism remain unexplored. To study the biogeographic origin of the isolated, oceanic species M. apicalis and to reveal the origin and evolution of social parasitism in the genus, we reconstructed a comprehensive phylogeny of the ant subfamily Myrmeciinae. We utilized Ultra Conserved Elements (UCEs) as molecular markers to generate a comprehensive molecular genetic dataset consisting of 2,287 loci per taxon on average for 66 out of the 93 known Myrmecia species as well as for the sister lineage Nothomyrmecia macrops and selected outgroups. Our time-calibrated phylogeny inferred that: (i) stem Myrmeciinae originated during the Paleocene ∼58 Ma ago; (ii) the current disjunct biogeographic distribution of M. apicalis was driven by long-distance dispersal from Australia to New Caledonia during the Miocene ∼14 Ma ago; (iii) the single social parasite species, M. inquilina, evolved directly from one of the two known host species, M. nigriceps, in sympatry via the intraspecific route of social parasite evolution; and (iv) 5 of the 9 previously established taxonomic species groups are non-monophyletic. We suggest minor changes to reconcile the molecular phylogenetic results with the taxonomic classification. Our study enhances our understanding of the evolution and biogeography of Australian bulldog ants, contributes to our knowledge about the evolution of social parasitism in ants, and provides a solid phylogenetic foundation for future inquiries into the biology, taxonomy, and classification of Myrmeciinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Mera-Rodríguez
- Social Insect Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. 550 E Orange St., Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America; Department of Integrative Taxonomy of Insects, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim. Garbenstraße 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; KomBioTa - Center for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy, University of Hohenheim and State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Hervé Jourdan
- Institute of Research for Development. Promenade Roger Laroque, Nouméa 98848, New Caledonia
| | - Philip S Ward
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - Steven Shattuck
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America
| | - Stefan P Cover
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America
| | - Edward O Wilson
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America
| | - Christian Rabeling
- Social Insect Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. 550 E Orange St., Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America; Department of Integrative Taxonomy of Insects, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim. Garbenstraße 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; KomBioTa - Center for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy, University of Hohenheim and State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany; Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America.
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9
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Chapuisat M. Evolution: A social parasite was born from a virgin. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R225-R228. [PMID: 36977384 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The sudden appearance of small winged queens within a lineage of asexually reproducing ant workers reveals that such social parasites can appear abruptly. The parasitic queens differ in a large genomic region, suggesting that a supergene instantly equipped the social parasite with a suite of co-adapted traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Chapuisat
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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10
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Jackson R, Patapiou PA, Golding G, Helanterä H, Economou CK, Chapuisat M, Henry LM. Evidence of phylosymbiosis in Formica ants. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1044286. [PMID: 37213490 PMCID: PMC10196114 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1044286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Insects share intimate relationships with microbes that play important roles in their biology. Yet our understanding of how host-bound microbial communities assemble and perpetuate over evolutionary time is limited. Ants host a wide range of microbes with diverse functions and are an emerging model for studying the evolution of insect microbiomes. Here, we ask whether phylogenetically related ant species have formed distinct and stable microbiomes. Methods To answer this question, we investigated the microbial communities associated with queens of 14 Formica species from five clades, using deep coverage 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Results We reveal that Formica species and clades harbor highly defined microbial communities that are dominated by four bacteria genera: Wolbachia, Lactobacillus, Liliensternia, and Spiroplasma. Our analysis reveals that the composition of Formica microbiomes mirrors the phylogeny of the host, i.e., phylosymbiosis, in that related hosts harbor more similar microbial communities. In addition, we find there are significant correlations between microbe co-occurrences. Discussion Our results demonstrate Formica ants carry microbial communities that recapitulate the phylogeny of their hosts. Our data suggests that the co-occurrence of different bacteria genera may at least in part be due to synergistic and antagonistic interactions between microbes. Additional factors potentially contributing to the phylosymbiotic signal are discussed, including host phylogenetic relatedness, host-microbe genetic compatibility, modes of transmission, and similarities in host ecologies (e.g., diets). Overall, our results support the growing body of evidence that microbial community composition closely depends on the phylogeny of their hosts, despite bacteria having diverse modes of transmission and localization within the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaella Jackson
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patapios A. Patapiou
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Golding
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heikki Helanterä
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
| | - Chloe K. Economou
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Chapuisat
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lee M. Henry
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Lee M. Henry,
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11
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Nouhaud P, Martin SH, Portinha B, Sousa VC, Kulmuni J. Rapid and predictable genome evolution across three hybrid ant populations. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001914. [PMID: 36538502 PMCID: PMC9767332 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridization is frequent in the wild but it is unclear when admixture events lead to predictable outcomes and if so, at what timescale. We show that selection led to correlated sorting of genetic variation rapidly after admixture in 3 hybrid Formica aquilonia × F. polyctena ant populations. Removal of ancestry from the species with the lowest effective population size happened in all populations, consistent with purging of deleterious load. This process was modulated by recombination rate variation and the density of functional sites. Moreover, haplotypes with signatures of positive selection in either species were more likely to fix in hybrids. These mechanisms led to mosaic genomes with comparable ancestry proportions. Our work demonstrates predictable evolution over short timescales after admixture in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Nouhaud
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail: (PN); (JK)
| | - Simon H. Martin
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz Portinha
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Department of Animal Biology, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vitor C. Sousa
- cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Department of Animal Biology, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jonna Kulmuni
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
- * E-mail: (PN); (JK)
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12
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Lotterhos KE, Fitzpatrick MC, Blackmon H. Simulation Tests of Methods in Evolution, Ecology, and Systematics: Pitfalls, Progress, and Principles. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2022; 53:113-136. [PMID: 38107485 PMCID: PMC10723108 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102320-093722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Complex statistical methods are continuously developed across the fields of ecology, evolution, and systematics (EES). These fields, however, lack standardized principles for evaluating methods, which has led to high variability in the rigor with which methods are tested, a lack of clarity regarding their limitations, and the potential for misapplication. In this review, we illustrate the common pitfalls of method evaluations in EES, the advantages of testing methods with simulated data, and best practices for method evaluations. We highlight the difference between method evaluation and validation and review how simulations, when appropriately designed, can refine the domain in which a method can be reliably applied. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of different evaluation metrics. The potential for misapplication of methods would be greatly reduced if funding agencies, reviewers, and journals required principled method evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E Lotterhos
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew C Fitzpatrick
- Appalachian Lab, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Heath Blackmon
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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13
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Jackson R, Monnin D, Patapiou PA, Golding G, Helanterä H, Oettler J, Heinze J, Wurm Y, Economou CK, Chapuisat M, Henry LM. Convergent evolution of a labile nutritional symbiosis in ants. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:2114-2122. [PMID: 35701539 PMCID: PMC9381600 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01256-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Ants are among the most successful organisms on Earth. It has been suggested that forming symbioses with nutrient-supplementing microbes may have contributed to their success, by allowing ants to invade otherwise inaccessible niches. However, it is unclear whether ants have evolved symbioses repeatedly to overcome the same nutrient limitations. Here, we address this question by comparing the independently evolved symbioses in Camponotus, Plagiolepis, Formica and Cardiocondyla ants. Our analysis reveals the only metabolic function consistently retained in all of the symbiont genomes is the capacity to synthesise tyrosine. We also show that in certain multi-queen lineages that have co-diversified with their symbiont for millions of years, only a fraction of queens carry the symbiont, suggesting ants differ in their colony-level reliance on symbiont-derived resources. Our results imply that symbioses can arise to solve common problems, but hosts may differ in their dependence on symbionts, highlighting the evolutionary forces influencing the persistence of long-term endosymbiotic mutualisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaella Jackson
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - David Monnin
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Patapios A Patapiou
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Gemma Golding
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Heikki Helanterä
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, 90014, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
| | - Jan Oettler
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93040, Germany
| | - Jürgen Heinze
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93040, Germany
| | - Yannick Wurm
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Alan Turing Institute, London, NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Chloe K Economou
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Michel Chapuisat
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lee M Henry
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK.
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14
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Dahan RA, Rabeling C. Multi-queen breeding is associated with the origin of inquiline social parasitism in ants. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14680. [PMID: 36038583 PMCID: PMC9424252 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17595-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Social parasites exploit the brood care behavior of their hosts to raise their own offspring. Social parasites are common among eusocial Hymenoptera and exhibit a wide range of distinct life history traits in ants, bees, and wasps. In ants, obligate inquiline social parasites are workerless (or nearly-so) species that engage in lifelong interactions with their hosts, taking advantage of the existing host worker forces to reproduce and exploit host colonies’ resources. Inquiline social parasites are phylogenetically diverse with approximately 100 known species that evolved at least 40 times independently in ants. Importantly, ant inquilines tend to be closely related to their hosts, an observation referred to as ‘Emery’s Rule’. Polygyny, the presence of multiple egg-laying queens, was repeatedly suggested to be associated with the origin of inquiline social parasitism, either by providing the opportunity for reproductive cheating, thereby facilitating the origin of social parasite species, and/or by making polygynous species more vulnerable to social parasitism via the acceptance of additional egg-laying queens in their colonies. Although the association between host polygyny and the evolution of social parasitism has been repeatedly discussed in the literature, it has not been statistically tested in a phylogenetic framework across the ants. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of ant social structure and social parasitism, testing for an association between polygyny and inquiline social parasitism with a phylogenetic correction for independent evolutionary events. We find an imperfect but significant over-representation of polygynous species among hosts of inquiline social parasites, suggesting that while polygyny is not required for the maintenance of inquiline social parasitism, it (or factors associated with it) may favor the origin of socially parasitic behavior. Our results are consistent with an intra-specific origin model for the evolution of inquiline social parasites by sympatric speciation but cannot exclude the alternative, inter-specific allopatric speciation model. The diversity of social parasite behaviors and host colony structures further supports the notion that inquiline social parasites evolved in parallel across unrelated ant genera in the formicoid clade via independent evolutionary pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain A Dahan
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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15
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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] [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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Nouhaud
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
| | - Jack Beresford
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
| | - Jonna Kulmuni
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
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16
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Stoldt M, Macit MN, Collin E, Foitzik S. Molecular (co)evolution of hymenopteran social parasites and their hosts. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 50:100889. [PMID: 35181562 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Social parasitism describes a fascinating way of life in which species exploit the altruistic behaviour of closely related, social species. Social parasites have repeatedly evolved in the social Hymenoptera, including ants, bees, and wasps. The common ancestry and shared (social) environment with their hosts facilitates the study of molecular adaptations to the parasitic lifestyle. Moreover, when social parasites are widespread and virulent, they exert strong selection pressure on their hosts, leading to the evolution of defense mechanisms and triggering a coevolutionary arms race. Recent advances in sequencing technology now make it possible to study the molecular basis of this coevolutionary process. In addition to describing the latest developments, we highlight open research questions that could be tackled with genomic, transcriptomic, or epigenetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marah Stoldt
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Maide Nesibe Macit
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Erwann Collin
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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17
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Lagunas-Robles G, Purcell J, Brelsford A. Linked supergenes underlie split sex ratio and social organization in an ant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2101427118. [PMID: 34772805 PMCID: PMC8609651 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101427118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually reproducing organisms usually invest equally in male and female offspring. Deviations from this pattern have led researchers to new discoveries in the study of parent-offspring conflict, genomic conflict, and cooperative breeding. Some social insect species exhibit the unusual population-level pattern of split sex ratio, wherein some colonies specialize in the production of future queens and others specialize in the production of males. Theoretical work predicted that worker control of sex ratio and variation in relatedness asymmetry among colonies would cause each colony to specialize in the production of one sex. While some empirical tests supported theoretical predictions, others deviated from them, leaving many questions about how split sex ratio emerges. One factor yet to be investigated is whether colony sex ratio may be influenced by the genotypes of queens or workers. Here, we sequence the genomes of 138 Formica glacialis workers from 34 male-producing and 34 gyne-producing colonies to determine whether split sex ratio is under genetic control. We identify a supergene spanning 5.5 Mbp that is closely associated with sex allocation in this system. Strikingly, this supergene is adjacent to another supergene spanning 5 Mbp that is associated with variation in colony queen number. We identify a similar pattern in a second related species, Formica podzolica. The discovery that split sex ratio is determined, at least in part, by a supergene in two species opens future research on the evolutionary drivers of split sex ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- German Lagunas-Robles
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Jessica Purcell
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Alan Brelsford
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521;
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18
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Similarities in Recognition Cues Lead to the Infiltration of Non-Nestmates in an Ant Species. J Chem Ecol 2021; 48:16-26. [PMID: 34762209 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-021-01325-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Chemical cues are among the most important information-sharing mechanisms in insect societies, in which cuticular hydrocarbons play a central role, e.g., from nestmate recognition to queen signaling. The nestmate recognition mechanism usually prevents intruders from taking advantage of the resources stored in the nest. However, nestmate recognition is not unconditionally effective, and foreign individuals can sometimes infiltrate unrelated nests and take advantage of the colony resources. In this study, we investigated the role of overall colony odor profiles on the ability of conspecific workers to drift into unrelated colonies. We hypothesized that drifters would have higher chances of success by infiltrating colonies with the odor profiles most similar to their own nest, avoiding being detected as non-nestmates. By performing a drifting bioassay, we found that workers of the ant Formica fusca infiltrated unrelated conspecific colonies at a rate of 2.4%, significantly infiltrating colonies displaying CHC profiles most similar to their natal nests. Notably, methyl branched hydrocarbons seem to play a role as recognition cues in this species. In addition, we show that environmental rather than genetic factors are responsible for most contributions on the CHC phenotype, presenting ca. of 50% and 27.5% of explained variation respectively, and playing a major role in how worker ants detect and prevent the infiltration of non-nestmates in the colony. Hence, relying on cuticular hydrocarbons similarities could be a profitably evolutionary strategy by which workers can identify conspecific colonies, evade detection by guards, and avoid competition with genetic relatives.
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19
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Pathways to parasitic strategies in ants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2115607118. [PMID: 34620717 PMCID: PMC8589076 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115607118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
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20
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Purcell J, Lagunas-Robles G, Rabeling C, Borowiec ML, Brelsford A. The maintenance of polymorphism in an ancient social supergene. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6246-6258. [PMID: 34570409 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Supergenes, regions of the genome with suppressed recombination between sets of functional mutations, contribute to the evolution of complex phenotypes in diverse systems. Excluding sex chromosomes, most supergenes discovered so far appear to be young, being found in one species or a few closely related species. Here, we investigate how a chromosome harbouring an ancient supergene has evolved over about 30 million years (Ma). The Formica supergene underlies variation in colony queen number in at least five species. We expand previous analyses of sequence divergence on this chromosome to encompass about 90 species spanning the Formica phylogeny. Within the nonrecombining region, the gene knockout contains 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are consistently differentiated between two alternative supergene haplotypes in divergent European Formica species, and we show that these same SNPs are present in most Formica clades. In these clades, including an early diverging Nearctic Formica clade, individuals with alternative genotypes at knockout also have higher differentiation in other portions of this chromosome. We identify hotspots of SNPs along this chromosome that are present in multiple Formica clades to detect genes that may have contributed to the emergence and maintenance of the genetic polymorphism. Finally, we infer three gene duplications on one haplotype, based on apparent heterozygosity within these genes in the genomes of haploid males. This study strengthens the evidence that this supergene originated early in the evolution of Formica and that just a few loci in this large region of suppressed recombination retain strongly differentiated alleles across contemporary Formica lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Purcell
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - German Lagunas-Robles
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Marek L Borowiec
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Alan Brelsford
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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