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Cárdenas RE, Rodríguez-Ortega C, Utreras D, Forrister DL, Endara MJ, Queenborough SA, Alvia P, Menéndez-Guerrero PA, Báez S, Donoso DA. Long-term strict ant-plant mutualism identity characterises growth rate and leaf shearing resistance of an Amazonian myrmecophyte. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17813. [PMID: 39090121 PMCID: PMC11294366 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67140-4] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Over 125 million years of ant-plant interactions have culminated in one of the most intriguing evolutionary outcomes in life history. The myrmecophyte Duroia hirsuta (Rubiaceae) is known for its mutualistic association with the ant Myrmelachista schumanni and several other species, mainly Azteca, in the north-western Amazon. While both ants provide indirect defences to plants, only M. schumanni nests in plant domatia and has the unique behaviour of clearing the surroundings of its host tree from heterospecific plants, potentially increasing resource availability to its host. Using a 12-year survey, we asked how the continuous presence of either only M. schumanni or only Azteca spp. benefits the growth and defence traits of host trees. We found that the continuous presence of M. schumanni improved relative growth rates and leaf shearing resistance of Duroia better than trees with Azteca. However, leaf herbivory, dry matter content, trichome density, and secondary metabolite production were the same in all trees. Survival depended directly on ant association (> 94% of trees died when ants were absent). This study extends our understanding of the long-term effects of strict ant-plant mutualism on host plant traits in the field and reinforces the use of D. hirsuta-M. schumanni as a model system suitable for eco-co-evolutionary research on plant-animal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael E Cárdenas
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología y Herbario QCA, Laboratorio de Ecología de Plantas, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apdo. 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador.
| | - Camila Rodríguez-Ortega
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología y Herbario QCA, Laboratorio de Ecología de Plantas, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apdo. 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Daniel Utreras
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología y Herbario QCA, Laboratorio de Ecología de Plantas, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apdo. 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Dale L Forrister
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apdo. 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - María-José Endara
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Evolutiva en los Trópicos-EETROP, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Simon A Queenborough
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología y Herbario QCA, Laboratorio de Ecología de Plantas, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apdo. 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pablo Alvia
- Estación Científica Yasuní, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Parque Nacional Yasuní, Orellana, Ecuador
| | - Pablo A Menéndez-Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Macroecología y Cambio Global, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apdo. 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Selene Báez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador
| | - David A Donoso
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Evolutiva en los Trópicos-EETROP, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador
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Tao L, Tao K, Li Q, Zhang Y, Hu X, Luo Y, Li L. Pollination Syndrome, Florivory, and Breeding System of Satyrium nepalense var. ciliatum (Orchidaceae) in Central Yunnan, China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1228. [PMID: 38732443 PMCID: PMC11085663 DOI: 10.3390/plants13091228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Research on Satyrium nepalense var. ciliatum (Lindl.) Hook. f. has primarily focused on populations in Northwestern Yunnan, with limited studies on pollination syndromes and insect behavior. In addition, it is geographically limited in its breeding system studies. Here, pollination syndromes, florivory, and breeding systems of S. nepalense var. ciliatum from Liangwang Mountain (Central Yunnan, China) were investigated through field work, microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and parafin section. It was revealed that the pollination syndrome was possessing out-crossing, such as bright color, a developed rostellum, nectar glands in the spur, and food hairs at the lip base. The color and nectar attracted flower visitors, and florivory was observed. Some flower visitors pollinated their companion species. Ants were identified as floral visitors for the first time in Satyrium, although substantial pollination was not observed. Ants might be potential pollinators. S. nepalense var. ciliatum possessed a mixed breeding system, including selfing, out-crossing, and apomixis, with apomixis being predominant in nature. It is suggested that the pollination syndrome, florivory, and pollination competition would contribute to its mixed breeding systems, particularly leading to the occurrence of apomixis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tao
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (L.T.); (K.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.H.)
- College of Biological Science and Food Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China;
| | - Kaifeng Tao
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (L.T.); (K.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.H.)
| | - Qingqing Li
- College of Biological Science and Food Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China;
- Kunming Xianghao Technology Co., Ltd., Kunming 650204, China
| | - Yingduo Zhang
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (L.T.); (K.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.H.)
- College of Biological Science and Food Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China;
| | - Xiangke Hu
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (L.T.); (K.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.H.)
| | - Yan Luo
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Lu Li
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (L.T.); (K.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.H.)
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Nepel M, Mayer VE, Barrajon-Santos V, Woebken D. Bacterial diversity in arboreal ant nesting spaces is linked to colony developmental stage. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1217. [PMID: 38036598 PMCID: PMC10689775 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05577-5] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The omnipresence of ants is commonly attributed to their eusocial organization and division of labor, however, bacteria in their nests may facilitate their success. Like many other arboreal ants living in plant-provided cavities, Azteca ants form dark-colored "patches" in their nesting space inside Cecropia host plants. These patches are inhabited by bacteria, fungi and nematodes and appear to be essential for ant colony development. Yet, detailed knowledge of the microbial community composition and its consistency throughout the life cycle of ant colonies was lacking. Amplicon sequencing of the microbial 16S rRNA genes in patches from established ant colonies reveals a highly diverse, ant species-specific bacterial community and little variation within an individual ant colony, with Burkholderiales, Rhizobiales and Chitinophagales being most abundant. In contrast, bacterial communities of early ant colony stages show low alpha diversity and no ant species-specific community composition. We suggest a substrate-caused bottleneck after vertical transmission of the bacterial patch community from mother to daughter colonies. The subsequent ecological succession is driven by environmental parameters and influenced by ant behavior. Our study provides key information for future investigations determining the functions of these bacteria, which is essential to understand the ubiquity of such patches among arboreal ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Nepel
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Veronika E Mayer
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Veronica Barrajon-Santos
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Woebken
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Mayer VE, Voglmayr H, Blatrix R, Orivel J, Leroy C. Fungi as mutualistic partners in ant-plant interactions. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1213997. [PMID: 37850069 PMCID: PMC10577302 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1213997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Associations between fungi and ants living in mutualistic relationship with plants ("plant-ants") have been known for a long time. However, only in recent years has the mutualistic nature, frequency, and geographical extent of associations between tropical arboreal ants with fungi of the ascomycete order Chaetothyriales and Capnodiales (belonging to the so-called "Black Fungi") become clear. Two groups of arboreal ants displaying different nesting strategies are associated with ascomycete fungi: carton-building ants that construct nest walls and galleries on stems, branches or below leaves which are overgrown by fungal hyphae, and plant-ants that make their nests inside living plants (myrmecophytes) in plant provided cavities (domatia) where ants cultivate fungi in small delimited "patches". In this review we summarize the current knowledge about these unsuspected plant-ant-fungus interactions. The data suggest, that at least some of these ant-associated fungi seem to have coevolved with ants over a long period of time and have developed specific adaptations to this lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika E. Mayer
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research – Division of Structural and Functional Botany, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Hermann Voglmayr
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research – Mycology Research Group, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Rumsais Blatrix
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Orivel
- EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Kourou, France
| | - Céline Leroy
- EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Kourou, France
- AMAP, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier, France
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5
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Leroy C. Fungi in ant-plant interactions: a key to enhancing plant nutrient-acquisition strategies. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:1752-1754. [PMID: 36939144 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Céline Leroy
- AMAP, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier, 34000, France
- EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, Campus Agronomique, Kourou, 97310, France
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Gegenbauer C, Bellaire A, Schintlmeister A, Schmid MC, Kubicek M, Voglmayr H, Zotz G, Richter A, Mayer VE. Exo- and endophytic fungi enable rapid transfer of nutrients from ant waste to orchid tissue. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:2210-2223. [PMID: 36683444 PMCID: PMC10962571 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The epiphytic orchid Caularthron bilamellatum sacrifices its water storage tissue for nutrients from the waste of ants lodging inside its hollow pseudobulb. Here, we investigate whether fungi are involved in the rapid translocation of nutrients. Uptake was analysed with a 15 N labelling experiment, subsequent isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS and NanoSIMS). We encountered two hyphae types: a thick melanized type assigned to 'black fungi' (Chaetothyriales, Cladosporiales, and Mycosphaerellales) in ant waste, and a thin endophytic type belonging to Hypocreales. In few cell layers, both hyphae types co-occurred. 15 N accumulation in both hyphae types was conspicuous, while for translocation to the vessels only Hypocreales were involved. There is evidence that the occurrence of the two hyphae types results in a synergism in terms of nutrient uptake. Our study provides the first evidence that a pseudobulb (=stem)-born endophytic network of Hypocreales is involved in the rapid translocation of nitrogen from insect-derived waste to the vegetative and reproductive tissue of the host orchid. For C. bilamellatum that has no contact with the soil, ant waste in the hollow pseudobulbs serves as equivalent to soil in terms of nutrient sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Gegenbauer
- Division of Structural and Functional Botany, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaRennweg 141030WienAustria
- Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, Centre for Microbiology and Ecosystem ScienceUniversity of ViennaDjerassiplatz 11030WienAustria
| | - Anke Bellaire
- Division of Structural and Functional Botany, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaRennweg 141030WienAustria
| | - Arno Schintlmeister
- Division of Microbial Ecology and Large‐Instrument Facility of Environmental and Isotope Mass Spectrometry, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems ScienceUniversity of ViennaDjerassiplatz 11030ViennaAustria
| | - Markus C. Schmid
- Division of Microbial Ecology and Large‐Instrument Facility of Environmental and Isotope Mass Spectrometry, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems ScienceUniversity of ViennaDjerassiplatz 11030ViennaAustria
| | - Markus Kubicek
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU WienGetreidemarkt 9/1641060ViennaAustria
| | - Hermann Voglmayr
- Mycology Research Group, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaRennweg 141030WienAustria
- Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest ProtectionUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)Peter‐Jordan‐Strasse 821190WienAustria
| | - Gerhard Zotz
- Institute for Biology and Environmental SciencesCarl von Ossietzky University OldenburgOldenburgGermany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteApdo 2072BalboaPanama
| | - Andreas Richter
- Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, Centre for Microbiology and Ecosystem ScienceUniversity of ViennaDjerassiplatz 11030WienAustria
| | - Veronika E. Mayer
- Division of Structural and Functional Botany, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaRennweg 141030WienAustria
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Nepel M, Pfeifer J, Oberhauser FB, Richter A, Woebken D, Mayer VE. Nitrogen fixation by diverse diazotrophic communities can support population growth of arboreal ants. BMC Biol 2022; 20:135. [PMID: 35681192 PMCID: PMC9185989 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01289-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Symbiotic ant-plant associations, in which ants live on plants, feed on plant-provided food, and protect host trees against threats, are ubiquitous across the tropics, with the Azteca-Cecropia associations being amongst the most widespread interactions in the Neotropics. Upon colonization of Cecropia’s hollow internodes, Azteca queens form small patches with plant parenchyma, which are then used as waste piles when the colony grows. Patches—found in many ant-plant mutualisms—are present throughout the colony life cycle and may supplement larval food. Despite their initial nitrogen (N)-poor substrate, patches in Cecropia accommodate fungi, nematodes, and bacteria. In this study, we investigated the atmospheric N2 fixation as an N source in patches of early and established ant colonies. Results Via 15N2 tracer assays, N2 fixation was frequently detected in all investigated patch types formed by three Azteca ant species. Quantified fixation rates were similar in early and established ant colonies and higher than in various tropical habitats. Based on amplicon sequencing, the identified microbial functional guild—the diazotrophs—harboring and transcribing the dinitrogenase reductase (nifH) gene was highly diverse and heterogeneous across Azteca colonies. The community composition differed between early and established ant colonies and partly between the ant species. Conclusions Our data show that N2 fixation can result in reasonable amounts of N in ant colonies, which might not only enable bacterial, fungal, and nematode growth in the patch ecosystems but according to our calculations can even support the growth of ant populations. The diverse and heterogeneous diazotrophic community implies a functional redundancy, which could provide the ant-plant-patch system with a higher resilience towards changing environmental conditions. Hence, we propose that N2 fixation represents a previously unknown potential to overcome N limitations in arboreal ant colonies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01289-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Nepel
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Josephine Pfeifer
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix B Oberhauser
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Andreas Richter
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Woebken
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Veronika E Mayer
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Vergara-Torres CA, Díaz-Castelazo C, Toledo-Hernández VH, Flores-Palacios A. Lowering the density: ants associated with the myrmecophyte Tillandsia caput-medusae diminish the establishment of epiphytes. AOB PLANTS 2021; 13:plab024. [PMID: 34249306 PMCID: PMC8266655 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ants benefit myrmecophytic plants by two main activities defending them from herbivores and offering nutrients. Ants' territorial defence behaviour also benefits their myrmecophytic plants; in the case of trees, this behaviour includes eliminating structural parasites (epiphytes and lianas). These benefits could also occur with myrmecophytic epiphytes by decreasing the abundance of competing epiphytes. In two subunits of a tropical dry forest in the centre of Mexico, we (i) recorded the diversity of ants associated with the myrmecophyte Tillandsia caput-medusae, and experimentally tested: (ii) the effect of the ants associated with the myrmecophyte in the removal of its seeds and the seeds of other sympatric non-myrmecophyte species of Tillandsia; and (iii) if seed remotion by ants corresponds with epiphyte load in the preferred (Bursera copallifera) and limiting phorophyte species (B. fagaroides, Ipomoea pauciflora and Sapium macrocarpum). In five trees per species, we tied seed batches of T. caput-medusae, T. hubertiana, T. schiedeana and T. recurvata. One seed batch was close, and the other far away from a T. caput-medusae with active ants. Between forest subunits, ant richness was similar, but diversity and evenness differed. Ants diminish seed establishment of all the Tillandsia species; this effect is stronger in the forest subunit with a large ant diversity, maybe because of ant competition. Seed remotion by ants is independent of phorophyte species identity. Although ants can provide benefits to T. caput-medusae, they also could be lowering their abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Agglael Vergara-Torres
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, México
| | - Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo
- Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera antigua a Coatepec No. 351, El Haya, Xalapa, 91073, Veracruz, México
| | - Víctor Hugo Toledo-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación (CIByC), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62209, México
| | - Alejandro Flores-Palacios
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación (CIByC), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62209, México
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The symbiosis between Philidris ants and the ant-plant Dischidia major includes fungal and algal associates. Symbiosis 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-021-00751-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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10
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Volp TM, Lach L. An Epiphytic Ant-Plant Mutualism Structures Arboreal Ant Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 48:1056-1062. [PMID: 31305895 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvz083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Arboreal ant communities are primarily structured by interactions among ant species, food availability, and physical structures within the environment. Epiphytes are a common feature of tropical forests that can provide ants with both food and nesting space. To date, little work has examined what role epiphytic ant-plants play in structuring arboreal ant communities. We surveyed ant species inhabiting the Australian epiphytic ant-plant Myrmecodia beccarii Hook.f. (Gentianales: Rubiaceae) and how arboreal ant communities are structured in relation to M. beccarii presence on trees. Myrmecodia beccarii was inhabited by the ant Philidris cordata Smith, F. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the majority of Melaleuca viridiflora Sol. Ex Gaertn. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) trees with ant-occupied ant-plants at our two sites. Dominant arboreal ant species at both study sites exhibited discrete, nonoverlapping distributions, and C-score analysis detected an ant mosaic at one site. The distribution of P. cordata was limited by the distribution of ant-plants for both sites. Philidris cordata dominance on trees was also determined by the presence of M. beccarii occupied by P. cordata at both sites. We suggest that by providing P. cordata with nesting space M. beccarii plays a role in structuring these arboreal ant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor M Volp
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Agri-Science Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lori Lach
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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Chomicki G, Renner SS. Farming by ants remodels nutrient uptake in epiphytes. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:2011-2023. [PMID: 31236967 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
True agriculture - defined by habitual planting, cultivation, harvesting and dependence of a farmer on a crop - is known from fungi farmed by ants, termites or beetles, and plants farmed by humans or ants. Because farmers supply their crops with nutrients, they have the potential to modify crop nutrition over evolutionary time. Here we test this hypothesis in ant/plant farming symbioses. We used field experiments, phylogenetic-comparative analyses and computed-tomography scanning to investigate how the evolution of farming by ants has impacted the nutrition of locally coexisting species in the epiphytic genus Squamellaria (Rubiaceae). Using isotope-labelled mineral and organic nitrogen, we show that specialised ants actively and exclusively fertilise hyperabsorptive warts on the inner walls of plant-formed structures (domatia) where they nest, sharply contrasting with nitrogen provisioning by ants in nonfarming generalist symbioses. Similar hyperabsorptive warts have evolved repeatedly in lineages colonised by farming ants. Our study supports the idea that millions of years of ant agriculture have remodelled plant physiology, shifting from ant-derived nutrients as by-products to active and targeted fertilisation on hyperabsorptive sites. The increased efficiency of ant-derived nutrient provisioning appears to stem from a combination of farming ant behaviour and plant 'crop' traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Chomicki
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
- The Queen's College, High St., Oxford, OX1 4AW, UK
| | - Susanne S Renner
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Department of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Menzinger Str. 67, Munich, 80638, Germany
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Transmission of fungal partners to incipient Cecropia-tree ant colonies. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192207. [PMID: 29466381 PMCID: PMC5821464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascomycete fungi in the nests of ants inhabiting plants (= myrmecophytes) are very often cultivated by the ants in small patches and used as food source. Where these fungi come from is not known yet. Two scenarios of fungus recruitment are possible: (1) random infection through spores or hyphal fragments from the environment, or (2) transmission from mother to daughter colonies by the foundress queen. It is also not known at which stage of the colony life cycle fungiculture is initiated, and whether the- symbiont fungi serve as food for the ant queen. To clarify these questions, we investigated four Azteca ant species inhabiting three different Cecropia species (C. insignis, C. obtusifolia, and C. peltata). We analysed an rRNA gene fragment from 52 fungal patches produced by founding queens and compared them with those from established Azteca colonies (n = 54). The infrabuccal pockets of winged queens were dissected to investigate whether young queens carry fungi from their mother colony. Additionally, 15N labelling experiments were done to verify whether the queen feeds on the patches until she is nourished by her first worker offspring. We infer from the results that the fungi cultivated in hollow plant structures are transferred from the parental colony of the young queen. First, fungal genotypes/OTU diversity was not significantly different between foundress queen patches and established colonies, and second, hyphal parts were discovered in the infrabuccal pockets of female alates. We could show that fungiculture already starts before queens lay their eggs, and that the queens do not feed on fungal patch material but feed it to the larvae. Our findings suggest that fungiculture may be crucial for successful colony founding of arboreal ants in the tropics.
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Leroy C, Jauneau A, Martinez Y, Cabin-Flaman A, Gibouin D, Orivel J, Séjalon-Delmas N. Exploring fungus-plant N transfer in a tripartite ant-plant-fungus mutualism. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2017; 120:417-426. [PMID: 28633407 PMCID: PMC5591417 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcx064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The plant Hirtella physophora, the ant Allomerus decemarticulatus and a fungus, Trimmatostroma sp., form a tripartite association. The ants manipulate both the plant trichomes and the fungus to build galleries under the stems of their host plant used to capture prey. In addition to its structural role, the fungus also improves nutrient uptake by the host plant. But it still remains unclear whether the fungus plays an indirect or a direct role in transferring nutrients to the plant. This study aimed to trace the transfer of N from the fungus to the plant's stem tissue. METHODS Optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the presence of fungal hyphae in the stem tissues. Then, a 15N-labelling experiment was combined with a nanoscale secondary-ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS 50) isotopic imaging approach to trace the movement of added 15N from the fungus to plant tissues. KEY RESULTS The TEM images clearly showed hyphae inside the stem tissue in the cellular compartment. Also, fungal hyphae were seen perforating the wall of the parenchyma cell. The 15N provisioning of the fungus in the galleries resulted in significant enrichment of the 15N signature of the plant's leaves 1 d after the 15N-labelling solution was deposited on the fungus-bearing trap. Finally, NanoSIMS imaging proved that nitrogen was transferred biotrophically from the fungus to the stem tissue. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that the fungi are connected endophytically to an ant-plant system and actively transfer nitrogen from 15N-labelling solution to the plant's stem tissues. Overall, this study underlines how complex the trophic structure of ant-plant interactions is due to the presence of the fungus and provides insight into the possibly important nutritional aspects and tradeoffs involved in myrmecophyte-ant mutualisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Leroy
- AMAP, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- For correspondence. E-mail
| | - Alain Jauneau
- CNRS, FR3450 Fédération de Recherches Agrobiosciences Interactions et Biodiversité, Plateforme TRI d’imagerie cellulaire de Toulouse, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge, B.p. 42 617 Auzeville, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Yves Martinez
- CNRS, FR3450 Fédération de Recherches Agrobiosciences Interactions et Biodiversité, Plateforme TRI d’imagerie cellulaire de Toulouse, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge, B.p. 42 617 Auzeville, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Armelle Cabin-Flaman
- Equipe AMMIS, laboratoire MERCI EA 3829, UFR Science et Techniques, place Emile Blondel, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan cedex, France
| | - David Gibouin
- Equipe AMMIS, laboratoire MERCI EA 3829, UFR Science et Techniques, place Emile Blondel, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan cedex, France
| | - Jérôme Orivel
- CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, AgroParisTech, CIRAD, INRA, Université de Guyane, Université des Antilles, Campus agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France and
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Partner abundance controls mutualism stability and the pace of morphological change over geologic time. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:3951-3956. [PMID: 28341706 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1616837114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutualisms that involve symbioses among specialized partners may be more stable than mutualisms among generalists, and theoretical models predict that in many mutualisms, partners exert reciprocal stabilizing selection on traits directly involved in the interaction. A corollary is that mutualism breakdown should increase morphological rates of evolution. We here use the largest ant-plant clade (Hydnophytinae), with different levels of specialization for mutualistic ant symbionts, to study the ecological context of mutualism breakdown and the response of a key symbiosis-related trait, domatium entrance hole size, which filters symbionts by size. Our analyses support three predictions from mutualism theory. First, all 12 losses apparently only occur from a generalist symbiotic state. Second, mutualism losses occurred where symbionts are scarce, in our system at high altitudes. Third, domatium entrance hole size barely changes in specialized symbiotic species, but evolves rapidly once symbiosis with ants has broken down, with a "morphorate map" revealing that hotspots of entrance hole evolution are clustered in high-altitude areas. Our study reveals that mutualistic strategy profoundly affects the pace of morphological change in traits involved in the interaction and suggests that shifts in partners' relative abundances may frequently drive reversions of generalist mutualisms to autonomy.
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Macronutrient Exchange Between the Asian Weaver Ant Oecophylla smaragdina and Their Host Plant. Ecosystems 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-016-0013-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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Quantification of Ant Manure Deposition in a Tropical Agroecosystem: Implications for Host Plant Nitrogen Acquisition. Ecosystems 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-015-9906-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Chomicki G, Renner SS. Phylogenetics and molecular clocks reveal the repeated evolution of ant-plants after the late Miocene in Africa and the early Miocene in Australasia and the Neotropics. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 207:411-424. [PMID: 25616013 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ant-plant symbioses involve over 110 ant species in five subfamilies that are facultative or obligate occupants of stem, leaf or root domatia formed by hundreds of ant-plant species. The phylogenetic distribution and geological ages of these associations, and the frequency of gains or losses of domatium, are largely unknown. We compiled an up-to-date list of ant domatium-bearing plants, estimated their probable true number from model-based statistical inference, generated dated phylogenies that include c. 50% of ant-plant lineages, and traced the occurrence of domatia and extrafloral nectaries on a 1181-species tree, using likelihood and Bayesian methods. We found 681 vascular plants with domatia (159 genera in 50 families) resulting from minimally 158 inferred domatium origins and 43 secondary losses over the last 19 Myr. The oldest African ant-plant symbioses are younger than those in Australasia and the Neotropics. The best statistical model suggests that the true number of myrmecophytes may approach 1140 species. The phylogenetic distribution of ant-plants shows that domatia evolved from a range of pre-adapted morphological structures and have been lost frequently, suggesting that domatia have no generalizable effect on diversification. The Miocene origin of ant-plant symbioses is consistent with inferred changes in diet and behaviour during ant evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Chomicki
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Department of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, 80638, Germany
| | - Susanne S Renner
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Department of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, 80638, Germany
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Chomicki G, Bidel LPR, Ming F, Coiro M, Zhang X, Wang Y, Baissac Y, Jay-Allemand C, Renner SS. The velamen protects photosynthetic orchid roots against UV-B damage, and a large dated phylogeny implies multiple gains and losses of this function during the Cenozoic. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 205:1330-1341. [PMID: 25345817 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
UV-B radiation damage in leaves is prevented by epidermal UV-screening compounds that can be modulated throughout ontogeny. In epiphytic orchids, roots need to be protected against UV-B because they photosynthesize, sometimes even replacing the leaves. How orchid roots, which are covered by a dead tissue called velamen, avoid UV-B radiation is currently unknown. We tested for a UV-B protective function of the velamen using gene expression analyses, mass spectrometry, histochemistry, and chlorophyll fluorescence in Phalaenopsis × hybrida roots. We also investigated its evolution using comparative phylogenetic methods. Our data show that two paralogues of the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene family are UV-B-induced in orchid root tips, triggering the accumulation of two UV-B-absorbing flavonoids and resulting in effective protection of the photosynthetic root cortex. Phylogenetic and dating analyses imply that the two CHS lineages duplicated c. 100 million yr before the rise of epiphytic orchids. These findings indicate an additional role for the epiphytic orchid velamen previously thought to function solely in absorbing water and nutrients. This new function, which fundamentally differs from the mechanism of UV-B avoidance in leaves, arose following an ancient duplication of CHS, and has probably contributed to the family's expansion into the canopy during the Cenozoic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Chomicki
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Department of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, 80638, Germany
| | | | - Feng Ming
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Mario Coiro
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Plant Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yaofeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yves Baissac
- UMR DIADE (UM2/IRD), SMART Team, University of Montpellier 2, Place Eugene Bataillon, Montpellier, F-34 095, France
| | - Christian Jay-Allemand
- UMR DIADE (UM2/IRD), SMART Team, University of Montpellier 2, Place Eugene Bataillon, Montpellier, F-34 095, France
| | - Susanne S Renner
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Department of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, 80638, Germany
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Mayer VE, Frederickson ME, McKey D, Blatrix R. Current issues in the evolutionary ecology of ant-plant symbioses. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2014; 202:749-764. [PMID: 24444030 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Ant-plant symbioses involve plants that provide hollow structures specialized for housing ants and often food to ants. In return, the inhabiting ants protect plants against herbivores and sometimes provide them with nutrients. Here, we review recent advances in ant-plant symbioses, focusing on three areas. First, the nutritional ecology of plant-ants, which is based not only on plant-derived food rewards, but also on inputs from other symbiotic partners, in particular fungi and possibly bacteria. Food and protection are the most important 'currencies' exchanged between partners and they drive the nature and evolution of the relationships. Secondly, studies of conflict and cooperation in ant-plant symbioses have contributed key insights into the evolution and maintenance of mutualism, particularly how partner-mediated feedbacks affect the specificity and stability of mutualisms. There is little evidence that mutualistic ants or plants are under selection to cheat, but the costs and benefits of ant-plant interactions do vary with environmental factors, making them vulnerable to natural or anthropogenic environmental change. Thus, thirdly, ant-plant symbioses should be considered good models for investigating the effects of global change on the outcome of mutualistic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika E Mayer
- Department of Structural and Functional Botany, Faculty Centre of Biodiversity, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030, Wien, Austria
| | - Megan E Frederickson
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Doyle McKey
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175 CEFE, Université Montpellier 2, 1919 route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Rumsaïs Blatrix
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175 CEFE, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Chanam J, Sheshshayee MS, Kasinathan S, Jagdeesh A, Joshi KA, Borges RM. Nutritional benefits from domatia inhabitants in an ant-plant interaction: interlopers do pay the rent. Funct Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joyshree Chanam
- Centre for Ecological Sciences; Indian Institute of Science; Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Madavalam Sreeman Sheshshayee
- Department of Crop Physiology; University of Agricultural Sciences; Gandhi Krishi Vignyan Kendra; Bangalore 560054, India
| | - Srinivasan Kasinathan
- Centre for Ecological Sciences; Indian Institute of Science; Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Amaraja Jagdeesh
- Centre for Ecological Sciences; Indian Institute of Science; Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Kanchan A. Joshi
- Centre for Ecological Sciences; Indian Institute of Science; Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Renee M. Borges
- Centre for Ecological Sciences; Indian Institute of Science; Bangalore 560012, India
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