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Bringhurst B, Greenwold M, Kellner K, Seal JN. Symbiosis, dysbiosis and the impact of horizontal exchange on bacterial microbiomes in higher fungus-gardening ants. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3231. [PMID: 38332146 PMCID: PMC10853281 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53218-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in our understanding of symbiotic stability have demonstrated that microorganisms are key to understanding the homeostasis of obligate symbioses. Fungus-gardening ants are excellent model systems for exploring how microorganisms may be involved in symbiotic homeostasis as the host and symbionts are macroscopic and can be easily experimentally manipulated. Their coevolutionary history has been well-studied; examinations of which have depicted broad clade-to-clade specificity between the ants and fungus. Few studies hitherto have addressed the roles of microbiomes in stabilizing these associations. Here, we quantified changes in microbiome structure as a result of experimentally induced horizontal exchange of symbionts. This was done by performing cross-fostering experiments forcing ants to grow novel fungi and comparing known temporally unstable (undergoing dysbiosis) and stable combinations. We found that fungus-gardening ants alter their unstable, novel garden microbiomes into configurations like those found in native gardens. Patterns of dysbiosis/symbiosis appear to be predictable in that two related species with similar specificity patterns also show similar patterns of microbial change, whereas a species with more relaxed specificity does not show such microbiome change or restructuring when growing different fungi. It appears that clade-to-clade specificity patterns are the outcomes of community-level interactions that promote stability or cause symbiotic collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake Bringhurst
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 757998, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH, 43212, USA
| | - Matthew Greenwold
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 757998, USA
| | - Katrin Kellner
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 757998, USA
| | - Jon N Seal
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 757998, USA.
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Bringhurst B, Allert M, Greenwold M, Kellner K, Seal JN. Environments and Hosts Structure the Bacterial Microbiomes of Fungus-Gardening Ants and their Symbiotic Fungus Gardens. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02138-x. [PMID: 36344828 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02138-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The fungus gardening-ant system is considered a complex, multi-tiered symbiosis, as it is composed of ants, their fungus, and microorganisms associated with either ants or fungus. We examine the bacterial microbiome of Trachymyrmex septentrionalis and Mycetomoellerius turrifex ants and their symbiotic fungus gardens, using 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing, over a region spanning approximately 350 km (east and central Texas). Typically, microorganisms can be acquired from a parent colony (vertical transmission) or from the environment (horizontal transmission). Because the symbiosis is characterized by co-dispersal of the ants and fungus, elements of both ant and fungus garden microbiome could be characterized by vertical transmission. The goals of this study were to explore how both the ant and fungus garden bacterial microbiome are acquired. The main findings were that different mechanisms appear to explain the structure the microbiomes of ants and their symbiotic fungus gardens. Ant associated microbiomes had a strong host ant signature, which could be indicative of vertical inheritance of the ant associated bacterial microbiome or an unknown mechanism of active uptake or screening. On the other hand, the bacterial microbiome of the fungus garden was more complex in that some bacterial taxa appear to be structured by the ant host species, whereas others by fungal lineage or the environment (geographic region). Thus bacteria in fungus gardens appear to be acquired both horizontally and vertically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake Bringhurst
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 75799, USA
| | - Mattea Allert
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 75799, USA
| | - Matthew Greenwold
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 75799, USA
| | - Katrin Kellner
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 75799, USA
| | - Jon N Seal
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 75799, USA.
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3
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Abstract
Within social insect colonies, microbiomes often differ between castes due to their different functional roles and between colony locations. Trachymyrmex septentrionalis fungus-growing ants form colonies throughout the eastern United States and northern Mexico that include workers, female and male alates (unmated reproductive castes), larvae, and pupae. How T. septentrionalis microbiomes vary across this geographic range and between castes is unknown. Our sampling of individual ants from colonies across the eastern United States revealed a conserved T. septentrionalis worker ant microbiome and revealed that worker ant microbiomes are more conserved within colonies than between them. A deeper sampling of individual ants from two colonies that included all available castes (pupae, larvae, workers, and female and male alates), from both before and after adaptation to controlled laboratory conditions, revealed that ant microbiomes from each colony, caste, and rearing condition were typically conserved within but not between each sampling category. Tenericute bacterial symbionts were especially abundant in these ant microbiomes and varied widely in abundance between sampling categories. This study demonstrates how individual insect colonies primarily drive the composition of their microbiomes and shows that these microbiomes are further modified by developmental differences between insect castes and the different environmental conditions experienced by each colony. IMPORTANCE This study investigates microbiome assembly in the fungus-growing ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, showing how colony, caste, and lab adaptation influence the microbiome and revealing unique patterns of mollicute symbiont abundance. We find that ant microbiomes differ strongly between colonies but less so within colonies. Microbiomes of different castes and following lab adaptation also differ in a colony-specific manner. This study advances our understanding of the nature of individuality in social insect microbiomes and cautions against the common practice of only sampling a limited number of populations to understand microbiome diversity and function.
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Senula SF, Scavetta JT, Mueller UG, Seal JN, Kellner K. Cold adaptations along a range limit in an obligate symbiosis. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. F. Senula
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler 3900 University Blvd. Tyler Texas
| | - J. T. Scavetta
- Department of Computer Science Rowan University Glassboro NJ USA
| | - U. G. Mueller
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
| | - J. N. Seal
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler 3900 University Blvd. Tyler Texas
| | - K. Kellner
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler 3900 University Blvd. Tyler Texas
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5
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Phylogeography of the Rough Greensnake, Opheodrys aestivus (Squamata: Colubridae), Using Multilocus Sanger Sequence and Genomic ddRADseq Data. J HERPETOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1670/20-040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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6
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Pliocene origins, Pleistocene refugia, and postglacial range expansions in southern devil scorpions (Vaejovidae: Vaejovis carolinianus). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-021-00505-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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7
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Beigel K, Matthews AE, Kellner K, Pawlik CV, Greenwold M, Seal JN. Cophylogenetic analyses of Trachymyrmex ant-fungal specificity: "One to one with some exceptions". Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5605-5620. [PMID: 34424571 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, large-scale phylogenetic analyses of fungus-gardening ants and their symbiotic fungi have depicted strong concordance among major clades of ants and their symbiotic fungi, yet within clades, fungus sharing is widespread among unrelated ant lineages. Sharing has been explained using a diffuse coevolution model within major clades. Understanding horizontal exchange within clades has been limited by conventional genetic markers that lack both interspecific and geographic variation. To examine whether reports of horizontal exchange were indeed due to symbiont sharing or the result of employing relatively uninformative molecular markers, samples of Trachymyrmex arizonensis and Trachymyrmex pomonae and their fungi were collected from native populations in Arizona and genotyped using conventional marker genes and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Conventional markers of the fungal symbionts generally exhibited cophylogenetic patterns that were consistent with some symbiont sharing, but most fungal clades had low support. SNP analysis, in contrast, indicated that each ant species exhibited fidelity to its own fungal subclade with only one instance of a colony growing a fungus that was otherwise associated with a different ant species. This evidence supports a pattern of codivergence between Trachymyrmex species and their fungi, and thus a diffuse coevolutionary model may not accurately predict symbiont exchange. These results suggest that fungal sharing across host species in these symbioses may be less extensive than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Beigel
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
| | - Alix E Matthews
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA.,College of Sciences and Mathematics and Molecular Biosciences Program, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA
| | - Katrin Kellner
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
| | - Christine V Pawlik
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew Greenwold
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
| | - Jon N Seal
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
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Palacio-Mejía JD, Grabowski PP, Ortiz EM, Silva-Arias GA, Haque T, Des Marais DL, Bonnette J, Lowry DB, Juenger TE. Geographic patterns of genomic diversity and structure in the C 4 grass Panicum hallii across its natural distribution. AOB PLANTS 2021; 13:plab002. [PMID: 33708370 PMCID: PMC7937184 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Geographic patterns of within-species genomic diversity are shaped by evolutionary processes, life history and historical and contemporary factors. New genomic approaches can be used to infer the influence of such factors on the current distribution of infraspecific lineages. In this study, we evaluated the genomic and morphological diversity as well as the genetic structure of the C4 grass Panicum hallii across its complex natural distribution in North America. We sampled extensively across the natural range of P. hallii in Mexico and the USA to generate double-digestion restriction-associated DNA (ddRAD) sequence data for 423 individuals from 118 localities. We used these individuals to study the divergence between the two varieties of P. hallii, P. hallii var. filipes and P. hallii var. hallii as well as the genetic diversity and structure within these groups. We also examined the possibility of admixture in the geographically sympatric zone shared by both varieties, and assessed distribution shifts related with past climatic fluctuations. There is strong genetic and morphological divergence between the varieties and consistent genetic structure defining seven genetic clusters that follow major ecoregions across the range. South Texas constitutes a hotspot of genetic diversity with the co-occurrence of all genetic clusters and admixture between the two varieties. It is likely a recolonization and convergence point of populations that previously diverged in isolation during fragmentation events following glaciation periods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul P Grabowski
- Genome Sequencing Center, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - Edgardo M Ortiz
- Ecology & Ecosystem Management, Plant Biodiversity Research, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Gustavo Adolfo Silva-Arias
- Professorship for Population Genetics, Department of Life Science Systems, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Taslima Haque
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - David L Des Marais
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jason Bonnette
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - David B Lowry
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Thomas E Juenger
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Matthews AE, Kellner K, Seal JN. Male-biased dispersal in a fungus-gardening ant symbiosis. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2307-2320. [PMID: 33717457 PMCID: PMC7920773 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
For nearly all organisms, dispersal is a fundamental life-history trait that can shape their ecology and evolution. Variation in dispersal capabilities within a species exists and can influence population genetic structure and ecological interactions. In fungus-gardening (attine) ants, co-dispersal of ants and mutualistic fungi is crucial to the success of this obligate symbiosis. Female-biased dispersal (and gene flow) may be favored in attines because virgin queens carry the responsibility of dispersing the fungi, but a paucity of research has made this conclusion difficult. Here, we investigate dispersal of the fungus-gardening ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis using a combination of maternally (mitochondrial DNA) and biparentally inherited (microsatellites) markers. We found three distinct, spatially isolated mitochondrial DNA haplotypes; two were found in the Florida panhandle and the other in the Florida peninsula. In contrast, biparental markers illustrated significant gene flow across this region and minimal spatial structure. The differential patterns uncovered from mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers suggest that most long-distance ant dispersal is male-biased and that females (and concomitantly the fungus) have more limited dispersal capabilities. Consequently, the limited female dispersal is likely an important bottleneck for the fungal symbiont. This bottleneck could slow fungal genetic diversification, which has significant implications for both ant hosts and fungal symbionts regarding population genetics, species distributions, adaptive responses to environmental change, and coevolutionary patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alix E. Matthews
- Department of BiologyThe University of Texas at TylerTylerTXUSA
- Present address:
College of Sciences and Mathematics and Molecular Biosciences ProgramArkansas State UniversityJonesboroARUSA
| | - Katrin Kellner
- Department of BiologyThe University of Texas at TylerTylerTXUSA
| | - Jon N. Seal
- Department of BiologyThe University of Texas at TylerTylerTXUSA
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High diversity and multiple invasions to North America by fungi grown by the northern-most Trachymyrmex and Mycetomoellerius ant species. FUNGAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2019.100878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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11
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Matthews AE, Rowan C, Stone C, Kellner K, Seal JN. Development, characterization, and cross-amplification of polymorphic microsatellite markers for North American Trachymyrmex and Mycetomoellerius ants. BMC Res Notes 2020; 13:173. [PMID: 32204727 PMCID: PMC7092486 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-05015-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The objective of this study is to develop and identify polymorphic microsatellite markers for fungus-gardening (attine) ants in the genus Trachymyrmex sensu lato. These ants are important ecosystem engineers and have been a model group for understanding complex symbiotic systems, but very little is understood about the intraspecific genetic patterns across most North American attine species. These microsatellite markers will help to better study intraspecific population genetic structure, gene flow, mating habits, and phylogeographic patterns in these species and potentially other congeners. Results Using next-generation sequencing techniques, we identified 17 and 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers from T. septentrionalis and Mycetomoellerius (formerly Trachymyrmex) turrifex, respectively, and assessed the genetic diversity of each marker. We also analyzed the cross-amplification success of the T. septentrionalis markers in two other closely related Trachymyrmex species, and identified 10 and 12 polymorphic markers for T. arizonensis and T. pomonae, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alix E Matthews
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Chase Rowan
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Colby Stone
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Katrin Kellner
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Jon N Seal
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
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12
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Micolino R, Cristiano MP, Cardoso DC. Karyotype and putative chromosomal inversion suggested by integration of cytogenetic and molecular data of the fungus-farming ant Mycetomoellerius iheringi Emery, 1888. COMPARATIVE CYTOGENETICS 2020; 14:197-210. [PMID: 32431788 PMCID: PMC7225177 DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.v14i2.49846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Comparative cytogenetic analyses are being increasingly used to collect information on species evolution, for example, diversification of closely related lineages and identification of morphologically indistinguishable species or lineages. Here, we have described the karyotype of the fungus-farming ant Mycetomoellerius iheringi Emery, 1888 and investigated its evolutionary relationships on the basis of molecular and cytogenetic data. The M. iheringi karyotype consists of 2n = 20 chromosomes (2K = 18M + 2SM). We also demonstrated that this species has the classical insect TTAGG telomere organization. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that M. iheringi is phylogenetically closer to M. cirratus Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão, 2005 and M. kempfi Fowler, 1982. We compared M. iheringi with other congeneric species such as M. holmgreni Wheeler, 1925 and inferred that M. iheringi probably underwent a major pericentric inversion in one of its largest chromosomes, making it submetacentric. We discussed our results in the light of the phylogenetic relationships and chromosomal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Micolino
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Centro Politécnico, Jardim das Américas, 81531-990,Curitiba, PR, BrazilUniversidade Federal do ParanáCuritibaBrazil
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Ouro PretoOuro PretoBrazil
| | - Maykon Passos Cristiano
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Ouro PretoOuro PretoBrazil
| | - Danon Clemes Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Centro Politécnico, Jardim das Américas, 81531-990,Curitiba, PR, BrazilUniversidade Federal do ParanáCuritibaBrazil
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Ouro PretoOuro PretoBrazil
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Senula SF, Scavetta JT, Banta JA, Mueller UG, Seal JN, Kellner K. Potential Distribution of Six North American Higher-Attine Fungus-Farming Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Species. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2019; 19:5681299. [PMID: 31854452 PMCID: PMC6921375 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ants are among the most successful insects in Earth's evolutionary history. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding range-limiting factors that may influence their distribution. The goal of this study was to describe the environmental factors (climate and soil types) that likely impact the ranges of five out of the eight most abundant Trachymyrmex species and the most abundant Mycetomoellerius species in the United States. Important environmental factors may allow us to better understand each species' evolutionary history. We generated habitat suitability maps using MaxEnt for each species and identified associated most important environmental variables. We quantified niche overlap between species and evaluated possible congruence in species distribution. In all but one model, climate variables were more important than soil variables. The distribution of M. turrifex (Wheeler, W.M., 1903) was predicted by temperature, specifically annual mean temperature (BIO1), T. arizonensis (Wheeler, W.M., 1907), T. carinatus, and T. smithi Buren, 1944 were predicted by precipitation seasonality (BIO15), T. septentrionalis (McCook, 1881) were predicted by precipitation of coldest quarter (BIO19), and T. desertorum (Wheeler, W.M., 1911) was predicted by annual flood frequency. Out of 15 possible pair-wise comparisons between each species' distributions, only one was statistically indistinguishable (T. desertorum vs T. septentrionalis). All other species distribution comparisons show significant differences between species. These models support the hypothesis that climate is a limiting factor in each species distribution and that these species have adapted to temperatures and water availability differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah F Senula
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Joseph T Scavetta
- Department of Computer Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Joshua A Banta
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Ulrich G Mueller
- Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jon N Seal
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Katrin Kellner
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
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14
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Ströher PR, Meyer ALS, Zarza E, Tsai WLE, McCormack JE, Pie MR. Phylogeography of ants from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-019-00409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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15
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Sánchez-Peña SR, Chacón-Cardosa MC, Canales-del-Castillo R, Ward L, Resendez-Pérez D. A new species of Trachymyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) fungus-growing ant from the Sierra Madre Oriental of northeastern Mexico. Zookeys 2017; 706:73-94. [PMID: 29118621 PMCID: PMC5674085 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.706.12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we describe a new species of Trachymyrmex, T. pakawasp. n., from the Gran Sierra Plegada range of the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, northeastern Mexico. Trachymyrmex pakawa is a large-sized species compared to other North American Trachymyrmex. Its geographic distribution includes the piedmont of the Gran Sierra Plegada at La Estanzuela, Monterrey, as well as peripheral mountains segregated from the Sierra Madre Oriental (Cerro de las Mitras, Sierra de Zapalinamé, Cañon de San Lorenzo, Cerro de las Letras). The preferred habitats of T. pakawa include oak-pine forest at La Estanzuela, xeric oak forest at Zapalinamé and mesic Chihuahuan desert scrub with sotol (Dasylirion) at other sites. All localities are on slopes, on very rocky, shallow lithosols overlaying large boulders. This species nests under and between large boulders and rocks. It has not been observed on alluvial or better developed, deeper soils, and it is absent from sites with human activity (urban, disturbed, and landscaped areas). It is closely related to and morphologically similar to Trachymyrmex smithi. The known distribution ranges of T. pakawa and T. smithi almost overlap in Saltillo, Coahuila state. The main character that distinguishes the new species from T. smithi is longer antennal scapes in T. pakawa; also, different nesting habits (rocky slopes vs. alluvial sites or deep sand in T. smithi), and geographic distribution. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the first intron of the F1 copy of the nuclear protein-coding gene Elongation Factor 1- α (EF1-α-F1) confirm a sister-species relationship between T. pakawa and T. smithi. Bayesian coalescent analyses indicate a divergence time of about 8.00 million years before present (95% confidence interval: 4.8-11.5 mya) between T. pakawa and T. smithi. The divergence of the lineages of T. pakawa and T. smithi could have been driven by the Pliocene-Holocene desertification of southwestern North America. This process resulted in isolated mesic refugia and forests in the Madrean ranges and piedmonts of northeastern Mexico (the current habitat of T. pakawa) while T. smithi adapted to the deeper, often sandy soils on the drier desert plains of Coahuila and Chihuahua states in Mexico, and New Mexico and Texas in the USA. Within the Nearctic species of the Trachymyrmex septentrionalis species group, T. pakawa is the species that is closest (by geographical distribution) to Neotropical species of Trachymyrmex like T. saussurei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio R. Sánchez-Peña
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Saltillo, Coahuila, México C.P. 25315
| | - Manuela Citlali Chacón-Cardosa
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León 66455
| | - Ricardo Canales-del-Castillo
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León 66455
| | - Lauren Ward
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, TAMU 2475 College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Diana Resendez-Pérez
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León 66455
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Bioturbation by the Fungus-Gardening Ant, Trachymyrmex septentrionalis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158920. [PMID: 27391485 PMCID: PMC4938500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil invertebrates such as ants are thought to be important manipulators of soils in temperate and tropical ecosystems. The fungus gardening ant, Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, is an important agent of biomantling, that is, of depositing soil excavated from below onto the surface, and has been suggested as an agent of bioturbation (moving soil below ground) as well. The amount of bioturbation by this ant was quantified by planting queenright colonies in sand columns consisting of 5 layers of different colored sand. The amount of each color of sand deposited on the surface was determined from April to November 2015. In November, colonies were excavated and the color and amount of sand deposited below ground (mostly as backfill in chambers) was determined. Extrapolated to one ha, T. septentrionalis deposited 800 kg of sand per annum on the surface, and an additional 200 kg (17% of the total excavated) below ground. On average, this mixes 1.3% of the sand from other layers within the top meter of soil per millennium, but this mixing is unlikely to be homogeneous, and probably occurs as "hotspots" in both horizontal and vertical space. Such mixing is discussed as a challenge to sediment dating by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL).
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