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Timmermans J, Hellemans S, Křivánek J, Kaymak E, Fontaine N, Bourguignon T, Hanus R, Roisin Y. How inquilinism shaped breeding systems in a termite host-inquiline relationship. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17494. [PMID: 39136107 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17494] [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: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Social insects have developed a broad diversity of nesting and foraging strategies. One of these, inquilinism, occurs when one species (the inquiline) inhabits the nest built and occupied by another species (the host). Obligatory inquilines must overcome strong constraints upon colony foundation and development, due to limited availability of host colonies. To reveal how inquilinism shapes reproductive strategies in a termite host-inquiline dyad, we carried out a microsatellite marker study on Inquilinitermes inquilinus and its host Constrictotermes cavifrons. The proportion of simple, extended and mixed families was recorded in both species, as well as the presence of neotenics, parthenogenesis and multiple foundations. Most host colonies (95%) were simple families and all were monodomous. By contrast, the inquiline showed a higher proportion of extended (30%) and mixed (5%) families, and frequent neotenics (in 25% of the nests). This results from the simultaneous foundation in host nests of numerous incipient colonies, which, as they grow, may compete, fight, or merge. We also documented the use of parthenogenesis by female-female pairs. In conclusion, the classical monogamous colony pattern of the host species suggests uneventful development of simple foundations dispersed in the environment, in accordance with the wide distribution of their resources. By contrast, the multiple reproductive patterns displayed by the inquiline species reveal strong constraints on foundation sites: founders first concentrate into host nests, then must attempt to outcompete or absorb the neighbouring foundations to gain full control of the resources provided by the host nest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanne Timmermans
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Simon Hellemans
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Jan Křivánek
- Chemistry of Social Insects Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Esra Kaymak
- Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Nicolas Fontaine
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Bourguignon
- Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Robert Hanus
- Chemistry of Social Insects Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yves Roisin
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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2
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Merchant A, Zhou X. Caste-biased patterns of brain investment in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. iScience 2024; 27:110052. [PMID: 38883809 PMCID: PMC11176635 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110052] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Investment into neural tissue is expected to reflect the specific sensory and behavioral capabilities of a particular organism. Termites are eusocial insects that exhibit a caste system in which individuals can develop into one of several morphologically and behaviorally distinct castes. However, it is unclear to what extent these differences between castes are reflected in the anatomy of the brain. To address this question, we used deformation-based morphometry to conduct pairwise comparisons between the brains of different castes in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. Workers exhibited enlargement in the antennal lobes and mushroom bodies, while reproductives showed increased investment into the optic lobes and central body. In addition, caste-specific enlargement was observed in regions that could not be mapped to distinct neuropils, most notably in soldiers. These findings demonstrate a significant influence of caste development on brain anatomy in termites alongside convergence with eusocial hymenopteran systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Merchant
- Department of Entomology, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, School of Integrative Biology, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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3
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Ewart KM, Ho SYW, Chowdhury AA, Jaya FR, Kinjo Y, Bennett J, Bourguignon T, Rose HA, Lo N. Pervasive relaxed selection in termite genomes. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232439. [PMID: 38772424 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2439] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic changes that enabled the evolution of eusociality have long captivated biologists. More recently, attention has focussed on the consequences of eusociality on genome evolution. Studies have reported higher molecular evolutionary rates in eusocial hymenopteran insects compared with their solitary relatives. To investigate the genomic consequences of eusociality in termites, we analysed nine genomes, including newly sequenced genomes from three non-eusocial cockroaches. Using a phylogenomic approach, we found that termite genomes have experienced lower rates of synonymous substitutions than those of cockroaches, possibly as a result of longer generation times. We identified higher rates of non-synonymous substitutions in termite genomes than in cockroach genomes, and identified pervasive relaxed selection in the former (24-31% of the genes analysed) compared with the latter (2-4%). We infer that this is due to reductions in effective population size, rather than gene-specific effects (e.g. indirect selection of caste-biased genes). We found no obvious signature of increased genetic load in termites, and postulate efficient purging of deleterious alleles at the colony level. Additionally, we identified genomic adaptations that may underpin caste differentiation, such as genes involved in post-translational modifications. Our results provide insights into the evolution of termites and the genomic consequences of eusociality more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M Ewart
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simon Y W Ho
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Al-Aabid Chowdhury
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Frederick R Jaya
- Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Yukihiro Kinjo
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- Okinawa International University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Juno Bennett
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Bourguignon
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Harley A Rose
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nathan Lo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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4
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Wu Y, Chen J, Takata M, Matsuura K. Maternal determination of soldier proportion and paternal determination of soldier sex ratio in hybrid Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) termite colonies. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293096. [PMID: 37917766 PMCID: PMC10621947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293096] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Altruistic caste, including worker and soldier (derived from worker), plays a critical role in the ecological success of social insects. The proportion of soldiers, soldier sex ratios, and the number of workers vary significantly between species, and also within species, depending on colony developmental stage and environmental factors. However, it is unknown whether there are sex-linked effects from parents on controlling the caste fate or not. Here, we compared soldier sex ratios, soldier proportions, and population size among a four mating types of Reticulitermes amamianus (Ra) and R. speratus (Rs) (male × female, mRa × fRa, mRa × fRs, mRs × fRa, mRs × fRs) and demonstrate that the soldier sex ratio and worker population size of hybrid colonies skew to colonies of king's species, while the soldier proportion skew to queen's species. The survival rate of offspring resulting from interspecies hybridization was significantly higher for mRa × fRs than for mRs × fRa. The results of this study demonstrate the asymmetric influence of kings and queens on caste determination and colony growth, which can contribute to our better understanding of parental influence on the colony dynamics of social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wu
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiaming Chen
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mamoru Takata
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Takata M, Nagai S, Inagaki T, Ohkubo Y, Tasaki E, Matsuura K. Heritable effects on caste determination and colony-level sex allocation in termites under field conditions. iScience 2023; 26:106207. [PMID: 36876124 PMCID: PMC9982680 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The ecological success of social insects is attributed to the division of labor, where newly hatched offspring differentiate into either fertile progeny or functionally sterile worker castes. There is growing evidence for the heritable (genetic or epigenetic) effects on caste determination based on laboratory experiments. Here, we indirectly demonstrate that heritable factors have the principal role in caste determination and strongly affect colony-level production of both sexes of fertile dispersers (i.e., alates) in field colonies of the termite Reticulitermes speratus. An egg-fostering experiment suggests that the colony-dependent sex-specific caste fates were almost entirely determined before oviposition. Our investigation of field colonies revealed that such colony-dependent sex-specific caste fates result in the intercolonial variation in the numerical sex ratio of differentiated fertile offspring and, eventually, that of alates. This study contributes to better understanding the mechanisms underlying the division of labor and life-history traits in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoru Takata
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto Universit, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Shuya Nagai
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto Universit, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Inagaki
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto Universit, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.,School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technolog, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Yusaku Ohkubo
- Center for Data Assimilation Research and Applications, Joint Support Center for Data Science Research, Research Organization of Information and Systems, 10-3, Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.,The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Research Organization of Information and Systems, 10-3, Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eisuke Tasaki
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto Universit, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi 2-no-cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto Universit, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Wu J, Wang J, Wang Y, Hassan A. Same-sex Pairs Retain Their Reproductive Capacity as a Potential Opportunity for Individual Reproductive Success in Termites. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:9. [PMID: 36757064 PMCID: PMC9909647 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In eusocial termites, successful pairing is an essential element of dispersal and distribution after the departure of alates from natal colonies. Two situations could arise during the pairing process: mixed-sex pairs and same-sex pairs. However, most previous studies focused on mixed-sex pairs, overlooking groups formed by same-sex pairings, especially potential fecundity (the total number of oocytes or ovarioles), oogenesis and the development stage of oocytes of females in female-female pairs, and spermatogenesis and testis development of males in male-male pairs. In this study, through experimentation, we investigated the reproductive ability of virgin dealates based on various pairing types as mentioned above. We found that the life spans of virgin dealates can cover 1 yr or even more when they establish a nest with a partner, which is more than 10-fold longer than the life span of individuals establishing a colony alone. After 1 yr of pairing, the potential fecundity of virgin same sex dealates did not degenerate significantly compared with newly emerged dealates, including the number of ovarioles, size of testis, oogenesis, and the development stage of the oocytes. Moreover, when individuals of same-sex pairings experimentally changed into mixed-sex pairs after 1 yr, the eggs produced in the colony hatched into larvae. These findings suggest that dealates which through same-sex pairs retain fecundity after 1 yr have more reproductive potential than dealates that failed to pair with heterosexuals, shedding light on the ecological significance of homosexual behaviors in terms of the successful extension and fecundity of eusocial termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wu
- Applied Research Center for Life Science, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710077, China
- College of Medicine, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710077, China
| | | | - Yonghui Wang
- College of Engineering, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710077, China
| | - Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
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7
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Differential Selection on Caste-Associated Genes in a Subterranean Termite. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13030224. [PMID: 35323522 PMCID: PMC8955789 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Analyzing the information-rich content of RNA can help uncover genetic events associated with social insect castes or other social polymorphisms. Here, we exploit a series of cDNA libraries previously derived from whole-body tissue of different castes as well as from three behaviourally distinct populations of the Eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. We found that the number (~0.5 M) of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) was roughly equal between nymph, worker and soldier caste libraries, but dN/dS (ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions) analysis suggested that some of these variants confer a caste-specific advantage. Specifically, the dN/dS ratio was high (~4.3) for genes expressed in the defensively specialized soldier caste, relative to genes expressed by other castes (~1.7−1.8) and regardless of the North American population (Toronto, Raleigh, Boston) from which the castes were sampled. The populations, meanwhile, did show a large difference in SNV count but not in the manner expected from known demographic and behavioural differences; the highly invasive unicolonial population from Toronto was not the least diverse and did not show any other unique substitution patterns, suggesting any past bottleneck associated with invasion or with current unicoloniality has become obscured at the RNA level. Our study raises two important hypotheses relevant to termite sociobiology. First, the positive selection (dN/dS > 1) inferred for soldier-biased genes is presumably indirect and of the type mediated through kin selection, and second, the behavioural changes that accompany some social insect urban invasions (i.e., ‘unicoloniality’) may be detached from the loss-of-diversity expected from invasion bottlenecks.
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8
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Yashiro T, Tea YK, Van Der Wal C, Nozaki T, Mizumoto N, Hellemans S, Matsuura K, Lo N. Enhanced heterozygosity from male meiotic chromosome chains is superseded by hybrid female asexuality in termites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2009533118. [PMID: 34903643 PMCID: PMC8713478 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009533118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although males are a ubiquitous feature of animals, they have been lost repeatedly in diverse lineages. The tendency for obligate asexuality to evolve is thought to be reduced in animals whose males play a critical role beyond the contribution of gametes, for example, via care of offspring or provision of nuptial gifts. To our knowledge, the evolution of obligate asexuality in such species is unknown. In some species that undergo frequent inbreeding, males are hypothesized to play a key role in maintaining genetic heterozygosity through the possession of neo-sex chromosomes, although empirical evidence for this is lacking. Because inbreeding is a key feature of the life cycle of termites, we investigated the potential role of males in promoting heterozygosity within populations through karyotyping and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism analyses of the drywood termite Glyptotermes nakajimai We showed that males possess up to 15 out of 17 of their chromosomes as sex-linked (sex and neo-sex) chromosomes and that they maintain significantly higher levels of heterozygosity than do females. Furthermore, we showed that two obligately asexual lineages of this species-representing the only known all-female termite populations-arose independently via intraspecific hybridization between sexual lineages with differing diploid chromosome numbers. Importantly, these asexual females have markedly higher heterozygosity than their conspecific males and appear to have replaced the sexual lineages in some populations. Our results indicate that asexuality has enabled females to supplant a key role of males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihisa Yashiro
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia;
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yi-Kai Tea
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
- Ichthyology, Australian Museum Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Cara Van Der Wal
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Tomonari Nozaki
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Mizumoto
- Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son 904-0495, Japan
| | - Simon Hellemans
- Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son 904-0495, Japan
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Nathan Lo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia;
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Clay NA, Siegert C, Tang JD, Little NS, Eckhardt LG, Riggins JJ. Termite Presence and Feeding on Loblolly Pine Wood Differs Among Four Root-Infecting Bluestain (ophiostomatoid) Fungal Species. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:1118-1126. [PMID: 34131713 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvab052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bark beetles and root weevils can impact forests through tree death on landscape scales. Recently, subterranean termites have been linked to these beetles via the presence of bluestain fungi (Ascomycota: Ophiostomataceae), which are vectored to trees by beetles. However, only a small subset of bluestain species have been examined. Here, we tested whether termite-bluestain association patterns in the field reflect termite feeding preference in laboratory choice trials. We documented the presence of four bluestain fungi (Leptographium procerum (W.B. Kendr.), L. terebrantis (Barras & Perry), Grosmannia huntii (Rob.-Jeffr.), and G. alacris (T.A. Duong, Z.W. de Beer & M.J. Wingf.) in the roots of 2,350 loblolly pine trees in the southeastern United States and whether termites were present or absent on these roots and paired this with laboratory choice feeding trials. Termites were found 2.5-fold on tree roots with at least one bluestain fungus present than tree roots without bluestain fungi. Although termites in this study and others were associated with L. procerum, L. terebrantis, and marginally G. huntii, termites only showed preferential feeding on wood inoculated with G. huntii in laboratory trials. This suggests that increased termite presence on wood with bluestain fungi may be driven by factors other than increased wood palatability. Termites could thus disproportionately affect wood turnover rates for specific pools (e.g., bark beetle and root weevil attacked trees) and in some cases (e.g., G. huntii) accelerate wood decomposition. This study supports the growing evidence that the association between subterranean termites and bluestain fungi is spatially and taxonomically widespread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A Clay
- School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA
| | - Courtney Siegert
- Department of Forestry, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Juliet D Tang
- USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 201 Lincoln Green, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - Nathan S Little
- USDA-ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS, USA
| | - Lori G Eckhardt
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, 602 Duncan Drive, Suite 3301, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - John J Riggins
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Box 9775, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
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10
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Dai Z, Trettin CC, Burton AJ, Jurgensen MF, Page-Dumroese DS, Forschler BT, Schilling JS, Lindner DL. Coarse woody debris decomposition assessment tool: Model development and sensitivity analysis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251893. [PMID: 34086700 PMCID: PMC8177548 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Coarse woody debris (CWD) is an important component in forests, hosting a variety of organisms that have critical roles in nutrient cycling and carbon (C) storage. We developed a process-based model using literature, field observations, and expert knowledge to assess woody debris decomposition in forests and the movement of wood C into the soil and atmosphere. The sensitivity analysis was conducted against the primary ecological drivers (wood properties and ambient conditions) used as model inputs. The analysis used eighty-nine climate datasets from North America, from tropical (14.2° N) to boreal (65.0° N) zones, with large ranges in annual mean temperature (26.5°C in tropical to -11.8°C in boreal), annual precipitation (6,143 to 181 mm), annual snowfall (0 to 612 kg m-2), and altitude (3 to 2,824 m above mean see level). The sensitivity analysis showed that CWD decomposition was strongly affected by climate, geographical location and altitude, which together regulate the activity of both microbial and invertebrate wood-decomposers. CWD decomposition rate increased with increments in temperature and precipitation, but decreased with increases in latitude and altitude. CWD decomposition was also sensitive to wood size, density, position (standing vs downed), and tree species. The sensitivity analysis showed that fungi are the most important decomposers of woody debris, accounting for over 50% mass loss in nearly all climatic zones in North America. The model includes invertebrate decomposers, focusing mostly on termites, which can have an important role in CWD decomposition in tropical and some subtropical regions. The role of termites in woody debris decomposition varied widely, between 0 and 40%, from temperate areas to tropical regions. Woody debris decomposition rates simulated for eighty-nine locations in North America were within the published range of woody debris decomposition rates for regions in northern hemisphere from 1.6° N to 68.3° N and in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohua Dai
- Center for Forested Watershed Research, USDA Forest Service, Cordesville, South Carolina, United States of America
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Carl C. Trettin
- Center for Forested Watershed Research, USDA Forest Service, Cordesville, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Burton
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Martin F. Jurgensen
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States of America
| | | | - Brian T. Forschler
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jonathan S. Schilling
- Plant & Microbial Biology, Itasca Biological Station & Laboratories, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Daniel L. Lindner
- Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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11
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Nozaki T, Matsuura K. Oocyte resorption in termite queens: Seasonal dynamics and controlling factors. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 131:104242. [PMID: 33845091 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Female insects can resorb their oocytes that could not be oviposited. Oocyte resorption is proposed to be an adaptive mechanism to optimize fitness in hostile environments, recouping resources that might otherwise be lost. Social insects have developed reproductive division of labor, wherein a small number of queens are devoted to egg production. Matured queens are highly specialized in reproduction and are largely dependent on nestmate workers for their nourishment. Therefore, oocyte resorption in the queens should be influenced by social factors such as the amount of available workforce, as well as external and abiotic factors. In this study, we investigated the seasonal dynamics and regulation factors of oocyte resorption in actively reproducing termite queens. We continuously collected the field-nests of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus and demonstrated that queens frequently resorbed their oocytes in late summer, even though it is one of the most productive seasons in this species. On the other hand, our laboratory experiment showed that oocyte resorption itself was strongly induced regardless of the season. We also found that the rate of oocyte resorption was influenced by colony size (the number of attending workers). These results suggest that termite queens seasonally resorb their oocytes, yet oocyte resorption itself is regulated by social factors rather than by seasonal factors. Our study provides a unique insight into the regulation of reproduction in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonari Nozaki
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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12
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Colony Suppression and Possible Colony Elimination of the Subterranean Termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus by Discontinuous Soil Treatment Using a Diluent of Fipronil Suspension Concentrate. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12040334. [PMID: 33918013 PMCID: PMC8068406 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Termites play an important role in maintaining ecosystems, but they are also pests, exerting major economic impacts. Among the over 3000 known termite species, Coptotermes species and Reticulitermes species are the most common pest species. As one of the primary methods for controlling these subterranean termites, liquid termiticide is applied to the soil under and next to the building foundation to create a continuous chemical barrier. Nonrepellent slow-acting liquid termiticides, such as fipronil and imidacloprid, are used as the active ingredients in termite soil treatments. In the present study, to minimize the use of insecticides, a discontinuous soil treatment using fipronil was applied against subterranean termites, namely Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus, instead of the traditional continuous chemical barrier of termiticides. C. formosanus and R. speratus colonies were subjected to discontinuous soil treatments with fipronil and were strongly affected by the treatment at the colony level, resulting in colony suppression and possible colony elimination. Termite activity in the treated colony of C. formosanus was not found for more than two years, while that of R. speratus was not detected for three years. Abstract We assessed the efficacy of a discontinuous soil treatment using a diluent of fipronil suspension concentrate in controlling colonies of Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. In-ground monitoring stations were installed at Isogi Park and Kindai University, and individual termites inhabiting the stations were collected for four or six years to determine the numbers and locations of colonies present in test areas before and after the discontinuous soil treatment. Microsatellite genotyping indicated that two C. formosanus and two R. speratus colonies in the test area at Isogi Park and five R. speratus colonies in the test area at Kindai University were active and that their territories fluctuated every year. One of the two C. formosanus colonies at Isogi Park and one of the five R. speratus colonies at Kindai University were subjected to discontinuous soil treatments with fipronil and were strongly affected by the treatment at the colony level, resulting in the suppression and possible elimination of colonies. Termite activity of the fipronil-treated colony of C. formosanus was detected within one week after the discontinuous soil treatment and was not found for more than two years (28 months), while termite activity of the fipronil-treated colony of R. speratus was detected within four days and three weeks after the discontinuous soil treatment and was not detected thereafter for three years. Fipronil residue analysis showed that workers of C. formosanus moved at least 28 m and that workers of R. speratus moved 6 m from the treated soil locations for up to three weeks.
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Aguero CM, Eyer P, Martin JS, Bulmer MS, Vargo EL. Natural variation in colony inbreeding does not influence susceptibility to a fungal pathogen in a termite. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3072-3083. [PMID: 33841768 PMCID: PMC8019025 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Reduced genetic diversity through inbreeding can negatively affect pathogen resistance. This relationship becomes more complicated in social species, such as social insects, since the chance of disease transmission increases with the frequency of interactions among individuals. However, social insects may benefit from social immunity, whereby individual physiological defenses may be bolstered by collective-level immune responses, such as grooming or sharing of antimicrobial substance through trophallaxis. We set out to determine whether differences in genetic diversity between colonies of the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, accounts for colony survival against pathogens. We sampled colonies throughout the United States (Texas, North Carolina, Maryland, and Massachusetts) and determined the level of inbreeding of each colony. To assess whether genetically diverse colonies were better able to survive exposure to diverse pathogens, we challenged groups of termite workers with two strains of a pathogenic fungus, one local strain present in the soil surrounding sampled colonies and another naïve strain, collected outside the range of this species. We found natural variation in the level of inbreeding between colonies, but this variation did not explain differences in susceptibility to either pathogen. Although the naïve strain was found to be more hazardous than the local strain, colony resistance was correlated between two strains, meaning that colonies had either relatively high or low susceptibility to both strains regardless of their inbreeding coefficient. Overall, our findings may reflect differential virulence between the strains, immune priming of the colonies via prior exposure to the local strain, or a coevolved resistance toward this strain. They also suggest that colony survival may rely more upon additional factors, such as different behavioral response thresholds or the influence of a specific genetic background, rather than the overall genetic diversity of the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M. Aguero
- Department of EntomologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | | | - Jason S. Martin
- Department of Biological SciencesTowson UniversityTowsonMDUSA
| | - Mark S. Bulmer
- Department of Biological SciencesTowson UniversityTowsonMDUSA
| | - Edward L. Vargo
- Department of EntomologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
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Eyer PA, Salin J, Helms AM, Vargo EL. Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4471. [PMID: 33627740 PMCID: PMC7904765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83976-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of royal pheromones by reproductives (queens and kings) enables social insect colonies to allocate individuals into reproductive and non-reproductive roles. In many termite species, nestmates can develop into neotenics when the primary king or queen dies, which then inhibit the production of additional reproductives. This suggests that primary reproductives and neotenics produce royal pheromones. The cuticular hydrocarbon heneicosane was identified as a royal pheromone in Reticulitermes flavipes neotenics. Here, we investigated the presence of this and other cuticular hydrocarbons in primary reproductives and neotenics of this species, and the ontogeny of their production in primary reproductives. Our results revealed that heneicosane was produced by most neotenics, raising the question of whether reproductive status may trigger its production. Neotenics produced six additional cuticular hydrocarbons absent from workers and nymphs. Remarkably, heneicosane and four of these compounds were absent in primary reproductives, and the other two compounds were present in lower quantities. Neotenics therefore have a distinct 'royal' blend from primary reproductives, and potentially over-signal their reproductive status. Our results suggest that primary reproductives and neotenics may face different social pressures. Future studies of these pressures should provide a more complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying social regulation in termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-André Eyer
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2143, USA.
| | - Jared Salin
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2143, USA
| | - Anjel M Helms
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2143, USA
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2143, USA
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Janowiecki M, Vargo EL. Seasonal Activity, Spatial Distribution, and Physiological Limits of Subterranean Termites ( Reticulitermes Species) in an East Texas Forest. INSECTS 2021; 12:86. [PMID: 33498416 PMCID: PMC7909443 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
One of the major goals of ecology is to understand how co-habiting species partition limited resources. In the eastern U.S., at least three species of Reticulitermes subterranean termites often occur in sympatry; however, little is known about how these species divide food resources. In this study, we characterized the foraging activity of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), R. hageni Banks, and R. virginicus (Banks) across seasons to assess the impact of environmental conditions on resource partitioning. A field site consisting of two grids of wooden monitors was sampled monthly for 28 months. Foraging activity in all three species was correlated with the interaction of temperature and moisture. This correlation was influenced by temperature and moisture approximately equally in R. flavipes, whereas temperature contributed more to the correlation in R. hageni, and moisture contributed more in R. virginicus. These differences caused each species to preferentially forage during specific environmental conditions: R. flavipes continued foraging after high moisture events, R. hageni increased foraging under higher soil moisture, and R. virginicus increased foraging under lower soil temperatures. We attempted to explain these patterns by the species' physiological limits; however, we found no differences in upper lethal limit, desiccation, or submersion limits across species. These results add to the overall understanding of resource partitioning by emphasizing the ability of multiple species to utilize the same resource under different environmental conditions and raise questions regarding the physiological and/or behavioral mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Janowiecki
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
- New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board, New Orleans, LA 70122, USA
| | - Edward L. Vargo
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
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da Silva IB, Haifig I, Vargo EL, Casarin FE, da Mota ML, Lima JT, Costa-Leonardo AM. Ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aquilinus (Holmgren) (Blattaria: Isoptera: Termitidae): developmental origin, fecundity, and genetics. INSECT SCIENCE 2020; 27:1322-1333. [PMID: 31553524 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Termite colonies are usually headed by primary reproductives, which establish nests during the swarming season. However, secondary reproductives may develop in some species and become supplementary or replacement breeders, extending colony lifespan. Here we investigate the developmental origin, fecundity and genetic characterization of ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aquilinus (Holmgren), using morphometrical and histological techniques, five microsatellite loci and the COI mitochondrial DNA. Twelve measurements performed on 208 apterous individuals of N. aquilinus revealed 10 groups, including ergatoid females, which developed from major workers through two successive molts, and were characterized by the presence of imaginal features such as eyes and wing buds. The differentiation of these features was correlated to physogastric development in these ergatoids. Histology revealed oocytes in all maturation stages in worker-derived reproductives of N. aquilinus, presence of nonflagellate spermatozoa inside the spermatheca, and royal fat body. Thus, ergatoid reproductives were reproductively functional. According to the genotypes of 221 individuals from 11 nests, and mitochondrial haplotypes of 43 ergatoids, 73% of the colonies were simple families, whereas 27% were extended families. Despite the occurrence of related reproductives, low inbreeding rates were detected within and among colonies. Such values could be explained given that sib mating itself cannot result in a higher inbreeding rate but depend on several factors discussed in detail. This is the first study to investigate the genetic structure of termite colonies influenced by the development of ergatoids, and further investigations are encouraged to understand the influence of these reproductives on colony lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iago Bueno da Silva
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Ives Haifig
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Fabiana Elaine Casarin
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Luiz da Mota
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, UFU, Monte Carmelo, MG, Brazil
| | - Juliana Toledo Lima
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
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Development and annotation of species-specific microsatellite markers from transcriptome sequencing for a higher group termite, Globitermes sulphureus Haviland (Blattodea: Termitidae). Meta Gene 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2019.100568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Hyseni C, Garrick RC. The role of glacial-interglacial climate change in shaping the genetic structure of eastern subterranean termites in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4621-4636. [PMID: 31031931 PMCID: PMC6476779 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, currently inhabits previously glaciated regions of the northeastern U.S., as well as the unglaciated southern Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas. We hypothesized that Pleistocene climatic fluctuations have influenced the distribution of R. flavipes, and thus the evolutionary history of the species. We estimated contemporary and historical geographic distributions of R. flavipes by constructing Species Distribution Models (SDM). We also inferred the evolutionary and demographic history of the species using mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I and II) and nuclear (endo-beta-1,4-glucanase) DNA sequence data. To do this, genetic populations were delineated using Bayesian spatial-genetic clustering, competing hypotheses about population divergence were assessed using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), and changes in population size were estimated using Bayesian skyline plots. SDMs identified areas in the north with suitable habitat during the transition from the Last Interglacial to the Last Glacial Maximum, as well as an expanding distribution from the mid-Holocene to the present. Genetic analyses identified three geographically cohesive populations, corresponding with northern, central, and southern portions of the study region. Based on ABC analyses, divergence between the Northern and Southern populations was the oldest, estimated to have occurred 64.80 thousand years ago (kya), which corresponds with the timing of available habitat in the north. The Central and Northern populations diverged in the mid-Holocene, 8.63 kya, after which the Central population continued to expand. Accordingly, phylogeographic patterns of R. flavipes in the southern Appalachians appear to have been strongly influenced by glacial-interglacial climate change. OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has been awarded Open Materials, Open Data Badges. All materials and data are publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5hr7f31.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaz Hyseni
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MississippiOxfordMississippi
| | - Ryan C. Garrick
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MississippiOxfordMississippi
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Perdereau E, Baudouin G, Bankhead-Dronnet S, Chevalier Z, Zimmermann M, Dupont S, Dedeine F, Bagnères AG. Invasion Dynamics of A Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, at Different Spatial Scales in France. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10010030. [PMID: 30650655 PMCID: PMC6358928 DOI: 10.3390/insects10010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Termites are social insects that can also be major pests. A well-known problem species is the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. It is invasive in France and is thought to have arrived from Louisiana during the 18th century. While the putative source of French populations has been identified, little is known about how the termite spread following its establishment. Here, we examined expansion patterns at different spatial scales in urban areas to clarify how R. flavipes spread in France. Based on our analyses of phylogeography and population genetics, results suggest a scenario of successive introductions into the Charente-Maritime region, on the Atlantic Coast. Two major expansion fronts formed: one that spread toward the northeast and the other toward the southeast. At the regional scale, different spatial and genetic distribution patterns were observed: there was heterogeneity in Île-de-France and aggregation in Centre-Val de Loire. At the local scale, we found that our three focal urban sites each formed a single large colony that contained several secondary reproductives. Our findings represent a second step in efforts to reconstruct termite’s invasion dynamics. They also highlight the role that may have been played by the French railway network in transporting termites over long distances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elfie Perdereau
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours. Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, Tours 37200, France.
| | - Guillaume Baudouin
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours. Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, Tours 37200, France.
| | | | - Zoé Chevalier
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours. Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, Tours 37200, France.
| | - Marie Zimmermann
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours. Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, Tours 37200, France.
| | - Simon Dupont
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours. Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, Tours 37200, France.
| | - Franck Dedeine
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours. Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, Tours 37200, France.
| | - Anne-Geneviève Bagnères
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours. Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, Tours 37200, France.
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier 34000, France.
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Martin JS, Bulmer MS. A Lab-Based Study of Temperate Forest Termite Impacts on Two Common Wood-Rot Fungi. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 47:1388-1393. [PMID: 30192929 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvy122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Termites and fungi are the primary decomposers of dead wood. Interactions between wood-feeding termites and wood-rot fungi are inevitable given their shared food source. Termites have developed multiple defense strategies against infectious fungi, such as Metarhizium spp., that include antifungal proteins in their saliva and fungal inhibition properties in their gut. The antifungal properties of termite salivary secretions depend on β-1,3-glucanases that are likely to be effective against a broad spectrum of filamentous fungi. Given the overlap in niches, there is opportunity for interference competition between termites and wood-rot fungi to occur. Here we demonstrate that β-1,3-glucanases in the saliva and the antifungal properties of the gut of the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) affects the growth of two common wood-rot fungi, Gloeophyllum trabeum Persoon (Murrill) (Gloeophyllales: Gloeophyllaceae) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium (Burdsall) (Polyporales: Phanerochaetaceae).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD
| | - Mark S Bulmer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD
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21
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Zheng C, Yang F, Zeng L, Vargo EL, Xu Y. Genetic diversity and colony structure of Tapinoma melanocephalum on the islands and mainland of South China. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5427-5440. [PMID: 29938063 PMCID: PMC6010919 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Tapinoma melanocephalum is listed as one of the most important invasive pest species in China. Information regarding the patterns of invasion and effects of geographic isolation on the population genetics of this species is largely lacking. LOCATION South China. METHODS To address this problem, we genotyped 39 colonies (two colonies were collapsed due to genetic similarity) using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA sequencing to compare colony genetic structure of T. melanocephalum on the mainland and islands of South China. RESULTS An analysis of the colony genotypes showed that the genetic diversity of the mainland population was slightly higher than that of the island populations but not significantly so. However, the observed heterozygosity on Shangchuan Island (SCD) was significantly lower than that of the other colonies. We also found six haplotypes in 111 mitochondrial DNA COI sequences. The relatedness (r) value between colonies of SCD was 0.410, higher than that of the other populations. The genetic clusters among colonies were not related to geographic locations and exhibited admixture likely due to frequent human-mediated dispersal associated with trade between the mainland population and the islands. Pairwise FSTs between populations showed differentiation among mainland populations, while SCD displayed high levels of divergence (FST > 0.15) from most mainland populations. There was no significant isolation by distance among colonies. Most populations showed signs of a bottleneck effect. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that there was no significant difference in the genetic diversity among the islands and the mainland; however, the lower genetic diversity, the higher degree of genetic divergence from other colonies, and the higher relatedness among nestmates made the SCD population stand out from all the others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Zheng
- Department of EntomologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of EntomologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ling Zeng
- Department of EntomologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Edward L. Vargo
- Department of EntomologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexas
| | - Yijuan Xu
- Department of EntomologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Baudouin G, Bech N, Bagnères AG, Dedeine F. Spatial and genetic distribution of a north American termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, across the landscape of Paris. Urban Ecosyst 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-018-0747-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Fournier D, Hellemans S, Hanus R, Roisin Y. Facultative asexual reproduction and genetic diversity of populations in the humivorous termite Cavitermes tuberosus. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.0196. [PMID: 27252019 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Termite colonies are typically founded by a pair of sexually reproducing dispersers, which can sometimes be replaced by some of their offspring. Some Reticulitermes and Embiratermes species routinely practice asexual queen succession (AQS): the queen is replaced by neotenic daughters produced by parthenogenesis, which mate with the primary king. Here, to cast light on the evolution of AQS, we investigated another candidate species, Cavitermes tuberosus (Termitinae). Of 95 nests, 39 contained a primary queen and 28 contained neotenic females (2-667 individuals), usually with the primary king. Microsatellite analyses confirmed that colonies were initiated by single pairs after large dispersal flights. More than 80% of the neotenic females were of exclusively maternal origin and completely homozygous, suggesting automictic parthenogenesis with gamete duplication. Conversely, workers, soldiers, and most alates and primary reproductives were produced sexually. AQS often occurs late, after colonies have reached maturity, whereas early AQS in other species may boost the young colony's growth rate. We suggest additional benefits of AQS in C. tuberosus, related with a smaller size, lesser stability and higher mobility of colonies. Our data add to the phylogenetical dispersion and diversity of modalities of AQS in termites, supporting a multiple evolutionary origin of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Fournier
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Simon Hellemans
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Hanus
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium Chemistry of Social Insects, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yves Roisin
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Hellemans S, Fournier D, Hanus R, Roisin Y. Secondary queens in the parthenogenetic termite Cavitermes tuberosus develop through a transitional helper stage. Evol Dev 2017; 19:253-262. [PMID: 29115023 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In termite species with asexual queen succession (AQS), parthenogenetically produced immatures mostly differentiate into secondary queens, called "neotenics." In order to elucidate the ontogenetic origin of neotenics in Cavitermes tuberosus (Termitidae: Termitinae), a neotropical termite with AQS, we investigated developmental pathways of offspring according to their sex and genetic origin using both morphometric and genetic tools. The caste system of C. tuberosus follows the classical pathway of Termitidae. After the first larval instar, there is a bifurcation between two developmental lines. The apterous line is composed of a second larval instar, several worker instars, presoldiers, and soldiers. Workers display a consistent male bias and soldiers are female-only. The nymphal line is composed of five nymphal instars and the imago stage. We highlight that neotenic queens derive from third and fourth instar nymphs displaying peculiar morphological traits, here termed "aspirants," most of which are produced by parthenogenesis. Aspirants are present in all nests and perform worker tasks while waiting for the queen's death to differentiate into neotenic queens. Aspirants can successfully be used to demonstrate the occurrence of parthenogenesis in termite species whose reproductive cores are difficult to access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Hellemans
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Denis Fournier
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Hanus
- Chemistry of Social Insects, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Yves Roisin
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Potential spread of the invasive North American termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, and the impact of climate warming. Biol Invasions 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1581-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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27
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An American termite in Paris: temporal colony dynamics. Genetica 2017; 145:491-502. [DOI: 10.1007/s10709-017-9991-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Zhang M, Evans TA. Determining urban exploiter status of a termite using genetic analysis. Urban Ecosyst 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-016-0628-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Su NY, Guidry E, Mullins AJ, Cotonne C. Reinvasion Dynamics of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Following the Elimination of All Detectable Colonies in a Large Area. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 109:809-814. [PMID: 26896535 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tow018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Following the elimination of all detectable termite colonies in the 32-acre Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, LA, in 2002–2003, termite activity was monitored by using 808 Sentricon stations. Between January 2004 and July 2005, termites were found in 8–11 stations. In August 2005, the Park was flooded by Hurricane Katrina, but termites remained active. Post-Katrina termite activity levels of 16–21 stations were recorded throughout 2006, and in October 2007, the activity drastically increased to 43 stations. This rapid increase of termite activity continued into 2008, and a total of 94 stations harbored termite activities by July 2008. Termite activity peaked at 109 stations in September 2008 and then leveled down to 64 stations in March 2009. Termite activity in the Park between 2004 and 2009 was described by a Sigmoid model with a carrying capacity of 76 stations, and a Sigmoid mid-point of 1,202 d. In April 2009, a total of 14 colonies of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and one colony of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) were delineated by using microsatellite genotyping and mark–recapture protocol. Of the 15 colonies, eight near the Park border probably originated from existing colonies from outside, and seven C. formosanus colonies found inside the Park were probably initiated by alate pairs. Our results showed that, if surrounded by high population pressure of termites and no control measures are applied, an area cleared of termite populations by baits can be completely re-populated by termites from outside in 53 mo.
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Fougeyrollas R, Dolejšová K, Sillam-Dussès D, Roy V, Poteaux C, Hanus R, Roisin Y. Asexual queen succession in the higher termite Embiratermes neotenicus. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20150260. [PMID: 26019158 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Asexual queen succession (AQS), in which workers, soldiers and dispersing reproductives are produced sexually while numerous non-dispersing queens arise through thelytokous parthenogenesis, has recently been described in three species of lower termites of the genus Reticulitermes. Here, we show that AQS is not an oddity restricted to a single genus of lower termites, but a more widespread strategy occurring also in the most advanced termite group, the higher termites (Termitidae). We analysed the genetic structure in 10 colonies of the Neotropical higher termite Embiratermes neotenicus (Syntermitinae) using five newly developed polymorphic microsatellite loci. The colonies contained one primary king accompanied either by a single primary queen or by up to almost 200 neotenic queens. While the workers, the soldiers and most future dispersing reproductives were produced sexually, the non-dispersing neotenic queens originated through thelytokous parthenogenesis of the founding primary queen. Surprisingly, the mode of thelytoky observed in E. neotenicus is most probably automixis with central fusion, contrasting with the automixis with terminal fusion documented in Reticulitermes. The occurrence of AQS based on different mechanisms of ploidy restoration raises the hypothesis of an independent evolutionary origin of this unique reproductive strategy in individual lineages of lower and higher termites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Klára Dolejšová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Sillam-Dussès
- iEES-Paris, IRD-Sorbonne Universités, UMR 242, Bondy, France LEEC, EA4443, Université Paris 13-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Virginie Roy
- iEES-Paris, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Chantal Poteaux
- LEEC, EA4443, Université Paris 13-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Robert Hanus
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yves Roisin
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Su XH, Xue W, Liu H, Chen JL, Zhang XJ, Xing LX, Liu MH. The development of adultoid reproductives and brachypterous neotenic reproductives from the last instar nymphs in Reticulitermes labralis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): a comparative study. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2015; 15:147. [PMID: 26494776 PMCID: PMC4622179 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iev130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Secondary reproductives develop primarily from nymphs. However, they have been rarely studied; in particular, the development of adultoid reproductives (AR) with floppy wings is still unclear. In this study, the change in juvenile hormone (JH) levels, vitellogenin gene expression, and oogenesis during the development of AR and brachypterous neotenic reproductives (BN) from the last instar nymphs of Reticulitermes labralis are investigated and compared. The results showed that the AR derived from the last instar nymphs by molting, and they were more similar to neotenic reproductives in morphology. In addition, the paired AR were not able to survive in the absence of workers. In R. labralis, the process of the last instar nymphs developing into AR and BN took an increase in JH level as a starting point. The JH level of the last instar nymphs molting into BN was approximately 1.5-fold higher than that of the AR. Additionally, The JHIII level of BN peaked on day 5, and that of AR peaked on day 10, which induced the onset of vitellogenesis in BN and AR, respectively. After molting, the vitellogenin gene expression levels of both BN and AR initially increased and then declined, and the expression levels in the BN were significantly higher than those in the AR. In addition, the oocytes of BN matured earlier than those of the AR, and the number of eggs laid by the BN was higher than the number laid by the AR. Our results demonstrate that, in R. labralis, the last instar nymphs can develop into AR, which are significantly different from BN in their development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hong Su
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Xue
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - He Liu
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiao Ling Chen
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao Jing Zhang
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lian Xi Xing
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ming Hua Liu
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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Bankhead-Dronnet S, Perdereau E, Kutnik M, Dupont S, Bagnères AG. Spatial structuring of the population genetics of a European subterranean termite species. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:3090-102. [PMID: 26357538 PMCID: PMC4559052 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In population genetics studies, detecting and quantifying the distribution of genetic variation can help elucidate ecological and evolutionary processes. In social insects, the distribution of population-level genetic variability is generally linked to colony-level genetic structure. It is thus especially crucial to conduct complementary analyses on such organisms to examine how spatial and social constraints interact to shape patterns of intraspecific diversity. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial COII gene for 52 colonies of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), sampled from a population in southwestern France. Three haplotypes were detected, one of which was found exclusively in the southern part of the study area (near the Pyrenees). After genotyping 6 microsatellite loci for 512 individual termites, we detected a significant degree of isolation by distance among individuals over the entire range; however, the cline of genetic differentiation was not continuous, suggesting the existence of differentiated populations. A spatial principal component analysis based on allele frequency data revealed significant spatial autocorrelation among genotypes: the northern and southern groups were strongly differentiated. This finding was corroborated by clustering analyses; depending on the randomized data set, two or three clusters, exhibiting significant degrees of differentiation, were identified. An examination of colony breeding systems showed that colonies containing related neotenic reproductives were prevalent, suggesting that inbreeding may contribute to the high level of homozygosity observed and thus enhance genetic contrasts among colonies. We discuss the effect of evolutionary and environmental factors as well as reproductive and dispersal modes on population genetic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Bankhead-Dronnet
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, EA 1207, Université d’Orléans45067, Orléans, France
- Correspondence Stéphanie Bankhead-Dronnet, Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC), EA 1207, Université d’Orléans, rue de Chartres, BP 6759, 45067 Orléans, France., Tel: 33 (0) 238 417 153;, Fax: 33 (0) 238 494 089;, E-mail:
| | - Elfie Perdereau
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261 CNRS - Université François Rabelais. UFR Sci. & Tech.Tours, 37200, France
| | - Magdalena Kutnik
- FCBA - Institut technologique, Dpt Biologie et Préservation du BoisAllée de Boutaut BP227, 33028, Bordeaux, France
| | - Simon Dupont
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261 CNRS - Université François Rabelais. UFR Sci. & Tech.Tours, 37200, France
| | - Anne-Geneviève Bagnères
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261 CNRS - Université François Rabelais. UFR Sci. & Tech.Tours, 37200, France
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Perdereau E, Bagnères AG, Vargo EL, Baudouin G, Xu Y, Labadie P, Dupont S, Dedeine F. Relationship between invasion success and colony breeding structure in a subterranean termite. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:2125-42. [PMID: 25641360 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Factors promoting the establishment and colonization success of introduced populations in new environments constitute an important issue in biological invasions. In this context, the respective role of pre-adaptation and evolutionary changes during the invasion process is a key question that requires particular attention. This study compared the colony breeding structure (i.e. number and relatedness among reproductives within colonies) in native and introduced populations of the subterranean pest termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. We generated and analysed a data set of both microsatellite and mtDNA loci on termite samples collected in three introduced populations, one in France and two in Chile, and in the putative source population of French and Chilean infestations that has recently been identified in New Orleans, LA. We also provided a synthesis combining our results with those of previous studies to obtain a global picture of the variation in breeding structure in this species. Whereas most native US populations are mainly composed of colonies headed by monogamous pairs of primary reproductives, all introduced populations exhibit a particular colony breeding structure that is characterized by hundreds of inbreeding reproductives (neotenics) and by a propensity of colonies to fuse, a pattern shared uniquely with the population of New Orleans. These characteristics are comparable to those of many invasive ants and are discussed to play an important role during the invasion process. Our finding that the New Orleans population exhibits the same breeding structure as its related introduced populations suggests that this native population is pre-adapted to invade new ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Perdereau
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS - Université François-Rabelais, UFR Sciences, Parc Grandmont, Tours, 37200, France
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Termite queens close the sperm gates of eggs to switch from sexual to asexual reproduction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:17212-7. [PMID: 25404335 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1412481111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Males and females are in conflict over genetic transmission in the evolution of parthenogenesis, because it enhances female reproductive output but deprives the males' genetic contribution. For males, any trait that coerces females into sexual reproduction should increase their fitness. However, in the termite Reticulitermes speratus, queens produce their replacements (neotenic queens) parthenogenetically while using normal sexual reproduction to produce other colony members. Here, we show that termite queens produce parthenogenetic offspring in the presence of kings by closing the micropyles (sperm gates; i.e., openings for sperm entry) of their eggs. Our field survey showed that termite eggs show large variation in numbers of micropyles, with some having none. Microsatellite analysis showed that embryos of micropyleless eggs develop parthenogenetically, whereas those of eggs with micropyles are fertilized and develop sexually. Surveys of eggs among queens of different age groups showed that queens begin to lay micropyleless eggs when they are older and thus, need to produce their replacements parthenogenetically. In addition, we found clear seasonality in new neotenic queen differentiation and micropyleless egg production. This micropyle-dependent parthenogenesis is the first identification, to our knowledge, of the mechanism through which females control egg fertilization over time in diploid animals, implying a novel route of the evolution of parthenogenesis in favor of female interests without interference from males.
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Lima JT, Costa-Leonardo AM. Foraging in subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): how do Heterotermes tenuis and Coptotermes gestroi behave when they locate equivalent food resources? BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2014; 104:525-533. [PMID: 24783950 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485314000297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A previous research suggests that when subterranean termites locate equivalent food they consume the initial food resource. However, little is known about the movement of foragers among these food sources. For this reason, this study analyzed the feeding behavior of Heterotermes tenuis and Coptotermes gestroi in the presence of equivalent foods. The experimental arenas were composed of a release chamber connected to food chambers. The consumption of each wood block and percentage of the foraging individuals recruited for the food chambers were observed in relation to the total survival rate. The results showed that in the multiple-choice tests, wood block consumptions and the recruitment of individuals did not differ between replicates of each termite species. However, in different tests of tenacity, the chambers with the first food presented higher feeding rates by both H. tenuis and C. gestroi and resulted in a higher recruitment of workers and soldiers. In these conditions, it may be concluded that foragers of either species do not concentrate their efforts on the consumption of only one food resource when they are able to reach multiple cellulosic sources simultaneously. Additionally, the data concerning tenacity tests suggest that there is a chronologic priority of consumption in relation to the discovery of available food sources. Knowledge about the foraging biology of subterranean termites is important for future studies of their feeding behavior, and it is indispensable for improving control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T Lima
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências,UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista,Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900,Brazil
| | - A M Costa-Leonardo
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências,UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista,Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900,Brazil
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Sex ratio biases in termites provide evidence for kin selection. Nat Commun 2013; 4:2048. [PMID: 23807025 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Inclusive fitness theory, also known as kin selection theory, is the most general expansion of Darwin's natural selection theory. It is supported by female-biased investment by workers in the social Hymenoptera where relatedness to sisters is higher than to brothers because of haplodiploidy. However, a strong test of the theory has proven difficult in diploid social insects because they lack such relatedness asymmetry. Here we show that kin selection can result in sex ratio bias in eusocial diploids. Our model predicts that allocation will be biased towards the sex that contributes more of its genes to the next generation when sex-asymmetric inbreeding occurs. The prediction matches well with the empirical sex allocation of Reticulitermes termites where the colony king can be replaced by a queen's son. Our findings open broad new avenues to test inclusive fitness theory beyond the well-studied eusocial Hymenoptera.
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King JR, Warren RJ, Bradford MA. Social insects dominate eastern US temperate hardwood forest macroinvertebrate communities in warmer regions. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75843. [PMID: 24116079 PMCID: PMC3792987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Earthworms, termites, and ants are common macroinvertebrates in terrestrial environments, although for most ecosystems data on their abundance and biomass is sparse. Quantifying their areal abundance is a critical first step in understanding their functional importance. We intensively sampled dead wood, litter, and soil in eastern US temperate hardwood forests at four sites, which span much of the latitudinal range of this ecosystem, to estimate the abundance and biomass m(-2) of individuals in macroinvertebrate communities. Macroinvertebrates, other than ants and termites, differed only slightly among sites in total abundance and biomass and they were similar in ordinal composition. Termites and ants were the most abundant macroinvertebrates in dead wood, and ants were the most abundant in litter and soil. Ant abundance and biomass m(-2) in the southernmost site (Florida) were among the highest values recorded for ants in any ecosystem. Ant and termite biomass and abundance varied greatly across the range, from <1% of the total macroinvertebrate abundance (in the northern sites) to >95% in the southern sites. Our data reveal a pronounced shift to eusocial insect dominance with decreasing latitude in a temperate ecosystem. The extraordinarily high social insect relative abundance outside of the tropics lends support to existing data suggesting that ants, along with termites, are globally the most abundant soil macroinvertebrates, and surpass the majority of other terrestrial animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) groups in biomass m(-2). Our results provide a foundation for improving our understanding of the functional role of social insects in regulating ecosystem processes in temperate forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R. King
- Biology Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Warren
- Biology Department, SUNY Buffalo State, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Bradford
- Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Huang Q, Li G, Husseneder C, Lei C. Genetic analysis of population structure and reproductive mode of the termite Reticulitermes chinensis snyder. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69070. [PMID: 23894408 PMCID: PMC3718804 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder is an important pest of trees and buildings in China. Here, we characterized genetic structure and reproductive modes of R. chinensis from China for the first time. A total of 1,875 workers from 75 collection sites in Huanggang, Changsha and Chongqing cities were genotyped at eight microsatellite loci. Analysis of genetic clusters showed two subpopulations in Chongqing city. The Huanggang population showed a uniform genetic pattern and was separated from the other populations by the largest genetic distances (F ST: 0.17-0.20). In contrast, smaller genetic distances (F ST: 0.05-0.12) separated Changsha, Chongqing-1 and Chongqing-2 populations. Chongqing-1 was the only population showing a genetic bottleneck. Isolation by distance among colonies in the Huanggang population indicated limited alate dispersal or colony budding. Lack of isolation by distance among colonies within the populations of Changsha, Chongqing-1 and Chongqing-2, suggested long-range dispersal by alates and/or human-mediated transport. Overall, extended family colonies (73.91%) were predominant in all four populations, followed by simple (20.29%), and mixed family colonies (5.80%). Most simple families were headed by inbred related reproductive pairs in the Changsha population, while most simple families in the Chongqing-1 population were headed by outbred unrelated pairs. Simple families in the Huanggang population were a mixture of colonies headed by outbred or inbred reproductive pairs. The sample size of simple families in the Chongqing-2 population was too small to yield significant results. Extended families in all four populations were headed on the average by ≤10 neotenics. Mixed families likely originated from pleometrosis. Presence of heterozygote genotypes showed that all neotenic reproductives collected in addition from five field colonies in Wuhan city were sexually produced, suggesting that these colonies did not undergo parthenogenesis. This study contributes to better understanding of the variance of genetic structure and reproductive mode in the genus Reticulitermes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ganghua Li
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Claudia Husseneder
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Chaoliang Lei
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail:
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Howard KJ, Johns PM, Breisch NL, Thorne BL. Frequent colony fusions provide opportunities for helpers to become reproductives in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1569-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Luchetti A, Dedeine F, Velonà A, Mantovani B. Extreme genetic mixing within colonies of the wood-dwelling termiteKalotermes flavicollis(Isoptera, Kalotermitidae). Mol Ecol 2013; 22:3391-402. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2012] [Revised: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Luchetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche; Geologiche e Ambientali - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna; via Selmi 3 Bologna 40126 Italy
| | - F. Dedeine
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte; UMR CNRS 7261; Faculté des Sciences; Université de Tours; Parc de Grandmont Tours 37 200 France
| | - A. Velonà
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche; Geologiche e Ambientali - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna; via Selmi 3 Bologna 40126 Italy
| | - B. Mantovani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche; Geologiche e Ambientali - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna; via Selmi 3 Bologna 40126 Italy
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Li G, Gao Y, Sun P, Lei C, Huang Q. Factors affecting mate choice in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). J ETHOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-013-0363-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Vargo EL, Leniaud L, Swoboda LE, Diamond SE, Weiser MD, Miller DM, Bagnères AG. Clinal variation in colony breeding structure and level of inbreeding in the subterranean termitesReticulitermes flavipesandR. grassei. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:1447-62. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Revised: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 11/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edward L. Vargo
- Department of Entomology; W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology; North Carolina State University; Campus Box 7613 Raleigh NC 27695 USA
| | - Laurianne Leniaud
- I.R.B.I. CNRS UMR 7261; Faculté des Sciences et Techniques; Université François Rabelais; Parc de Grandmont 37200 Tours France
| | - Lois E. Swoboda
- Department of Entomology; Virginia Tech University; Blacksburg VA 24061 USA
| | - Sarah E. Diamond
- Department of Biology; North Carolina State University; Campus Box 7617 Raleigh NC 27695 USA
| | - Michael D. Weiser
- Department of Biology; North Carolina State University; Campus Box 7617 Raleigh NC 27695 USA
| | - Dini M. Miller
- Department of Entomology; Virginia Tech University; Blacksburg VA 24061 USA
| | - Anne-Geneviève Bagnères
- I.R.B.I. CNRS UMR 7261; Faculté des Sciences et Techniques; Université François Rabelais; Parc de Grandmont 37200 Tours France
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Cronin AL, Molet M, Doums C, Monnin T, Peeters C. Recurrent evolution of dependent colony foundation across eusocial insects. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2012; 58:37-55. [PMID: 22934981 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120811-153643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The spectacular success of eusocial insects can be attributed to their sophisticated cooperation, yet cooperation is conspicuously absent during colony foundation when queens are alone. Selection against this solitary stage has led to a dramatically different strategy in thousands of eusocial insect species in which colonies are started by groups of nestmates and the benefits of sociality are retained continuously. Dependent colony foundation (DCF) evolved recurrently multiple times across the ants, bees, and wasps, though its prevalence in termites remains unclear. We review adaptations at both the colony level (reproductive investment shifts from sexuals to workers) and the individual level (wingless queens evolve in ants), and other consequences for life history (invasiveness, parasite transmission). Although few studies have focused on DCF, the accumulated data from anecdotal reports, supported by indirect information including morphology, population genetics, and colony demographics, make it clear that this strategy is more diverse and widespread than is usually recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L Cronin
- Laboratoire Écologie & Évolution CNRS UMR 7625, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75 005 Paris, France.
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Hu J, Forschler BT. Neotenic Phenotype and Sex Ratios Provide Insight into Developmental Pathways in Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). INSECTS 2012; 3:538-52. [PMID: 26466543 PMCID: PMC4553610 DOI: 10.3390/insects3020538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Revised: 05/13/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Several thousand Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) including worker, nymph, soldier, neotenic and alate castes were collected from three pine logs brought into the laboratory on dates five years apart. The neotenics, all nymphoid, were divided into three groups based on the extent of cuticle pigmentation and termed regular neotenics (RN), black-headed neotenics (BHN) or black neotenics (BN). All castes, from Log A, in 2008, provided a neutral sex ratio except BHN (N = 378) and BN (N = 51) which were exclusively male while the soldiers (N = 466) were female-biased. This information suggests that there is a sex-linked bifurcation along the path for termite development with a male-biased neotenic or female-biased soldier as the choice. In contrast, termites collected in 2004 from Log B provided sex ratios that included a female biased RN (N = 1017), a neutral soldier (N = 258) and male biased BHN (N = 99) and workers (N = 54). Log C, collected in 2009, provided female biased soldiers (N = 32), RNs (N = 18) and BHNs (N = 4) and only male BN (N = 5). Eight laboratory cultures, ranging in age from five to 14 years old, also were sampled and all castes sexed. The census included a 14-year old queen-right colony, an 8-year old polyandrous colony and six colonies provided nymphs and male-biased worker populations. Together these data indicate a flexible caste determination system providing a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the flexible developmental options available in R. flavipes that we discuss relative to the literature on Reticulitermes ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Hu
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Brian T Forschler
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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Matsuura K. Multifunctional queen pheromone and maintenance of reproductive harmony in termite colonies. J Chem Ecol 2012; 38:746-54. [PMID: 22623152 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-012-0137-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2012] [Revised: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Pheromones are likely involved in all social activities of social insects including foraging, sexual behavior, defense, nestmate recognition, and caste regulation. Regulation of the number of fertile queens requires communication between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals. Queen-produced pheromones have long been believed to be the main factor inhibiting the differentiation of new reproductive individuals. However, since the discovery more than 50 years ago of the queen honeybee substance that inhibits the queen-rearing behavior of workers, little progress has been made in the chemical identification of inhibitory queen pheromones in other social insects. The recent identification of a termite queen pheromone and subsequent studies have elucidated the multifaceted roles of volatile pheromones, including functions such as a fertility signal, worker attractant, queen-queen communication signal, and antimicrobial agent. The proximate origin and evolutionary parsimony of the termite queen pheromone also are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
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Owens CB, Su NY, Husseneder C, Riegel C, Brown KS. Molecular genetic evidence of formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colony survivorship after prolonged inundation. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2012; 105:518-522. [PMID: 22606822 DOI: 10.1603/ec11150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Levee breaches because of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 inundated 80% of the city of New Orleans, LA. Formosan subterranean termites were observed actively foraging within in-ground monitoring stations within months after this period of flooding. It was unknown if the activity could be attributed to preexisting colonies that survived inundation or to other colonies surviving flooding by being located at higher elevations readily invading these territories. Genotypic profiles of 17 termite colonies collected from eight inundated locations before flooding were compared with termite colonies after flooding from the same locations to determine Formosan subterranean termite survival after sustained flooding. Results indicate that 14 colonies were able to survive inundation for extended periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie B Owens
- City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board, 2100 Leon C. Simon Drive, New Orleans, LA 70122, USA.
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The Evolution of Inbred Social Systems in Spiders and Other Organisms. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394288-3.00003-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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Husseneder C, McGregor C, Lang RP, Collier R, Delatte J. Transcriptome profiling of female alates and egg-laying queens of the Formosan subterranean termite. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2011; 7:14-27. [PMID: 22079412 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2011.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Revised: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Termites are known to have an extraordinary reproductive plasticity and capacity, but the underlying genetic patterns of termite reproductive biology are relatively understudied. The goal of this study was to identify genes for which expression levels differ between dealated precopulatory females (virgins) and egg-laying queens of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. We constructed a normalized polyphenic expressed sequence tag (EST) library that represents genomic material from most of the castes and life stages of the Formosan subterranean termite. Microarrays were designed using probes from this EST library and public genomic resources. Virgin females and queens were competitively hybridized to these microarrays and differentially expressed candidate genes were identified. Differential expression of eight genes was subsequently confirmed via reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR). When compared to virgins, queens had higher expression of genes coding for proteins related to immunity (gram negative binding protein), nutrition (e.g., termite-derived endo-beta-1,4-glucanase), protein storage, regulation of caste differentiation and reproduction (hexamerin, juvenile hormone binding protein). Queens also had higher transcript levels for genes involved in metabolism of xenobiotics, fat, and juvenile hormone (glutathione-S-transferase-like proteins, and cytochrome P450), among others. In particular, hexamerin, juvenile hormone binding protein, and a cytochrome P450 from the 4C subfamily are likely to be involved in initiating the inactive period during the reproductive cycle of the queen. Vice versa, virgins had higher expression than queens of genes related to respiration, probably due to recent flight activity, and several genes of unknown function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Husseneder
- Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Department of Entomology, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
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Yamamoto Y, Matsuura K. Genetic influence on caste determination underlying the asexual queen succession system in a termite. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1249-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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