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Pailler L, Matte A, Groseiller A, Eyer PA, Ruhland F, Lucas C. High Exploration Behavior of Termite Propagules Can Enhance Invasiveness. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.840105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social life is usually associated with enhanced propagule pressure, which increases the chance of introducing several individuals during a single introduction event. Social insects are therefore among the most successful invasive species, benefiting from rapid establishment and increased foundation success in new habitats. In termites, propagule pressure may also be increased by the development of reproductive individuals from a small group of foraging workers. This suggests that enhanced exploration activity may increase propagule pressure through an elevated chance of transporting isolated groups of foragers. Here, we analyzed the exploration behavior of three termite species of the Reticulitermes genus, comparing the invasive species Reticulitermes flavipes (testing both native and introduced populations) to the native species Reticulitermes grassei and Reticulitermes lucifugus. Different features representative of the exploration capacity were measured during 48 h, including: the number of tunnels, the length of tunnels, the number of foragers, and the interindividual distance of foragers in a straight line or through tunnels. Our results show that compared to the native Reticulitermes species, R. flavipes foragers from both populations dug more tunnels with a longer total length, and individuals were more spatially dispersed and covered a larger exploration zone. These findings suggest that the enhanced exploration ability of R. flavipes may have played a role in its invasion success, by increasing its propagule pressure through a higher chance of human-mediated transport. In addition, the absence of differences between the native and introduced populations of R. flavipes suggests that the exploration behaviors facilitating the worldwide invasion of this species originated in its native range.
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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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3
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Kjeldgaard MK, Eyer PA, McMichael CC, Bockoven AA, King JT, Hyodo A, Boutton TW, Vargo EL, Eubanks MD. Distinct colony boundaries and larval discrimination in polygyne red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Mol Ecol 2021; 31:1007-1020. [PMID: 34747530 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating the factors that promote invasive ant abundance is critical to assess their ecological impact and inform their management. Many invasive ant species show reduced nestmate recognition and an absence of boundaries between unrelated nests, which allow populations to achieve greater densities due to reduced intraspecific competition. We examined nestmate discrimination and colony boundaries in introduced populations of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta; hereafter, fire ant). Fire ants occur in two social forms: monogyne (colonies with a single egg-laying queen) and polygyne (colonies with multiple egg-laying queens). In contrast with monogyne nests, polygyne nests are thought to be interconnected due to the reduced antagonism between non-nestmate polygyne workers, perhaps because polygyne workers habituate the colony to an odour unique to Gp-9b -carrying adults. However, colony boundaries and nestmate discrimination are poorly documented, particularly for worker-brood interactions. To delimit boundaries between field colonies, we correlated the exchange of a 15 N-glycine tracer dissolved in a sucrose solution with social form. We also evaluated nestmate discrimination between polygyne workers and larvae in the laboratory. Counter to our expectations, polygyne colonies behaved identically to monogyne colonies, suggesting both social forms maintain strict colony boundaries. Polygyne workers also preferentially fed larval nestmates and may have selectively cannibalized non-nestmates. The levels of relatedness among workers in polygyne colonies was higher than those previously reported in North America (mean ± standard error: 0.269 ± 0.037). Our study highlights the importance of combining genetic analyses with direct quantification of resource exchange to better understand the factors influencing ant invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pierre-André Eyer
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Collin C McMichael
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Alison A Bockoven
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Joanie T King
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Ayumi Hyodo
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Thomas W Boutton
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Micky D Eubanks
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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4
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Eyer PA, Vargo EL. Breeding structure and invasiveness in social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:24-30. [PMID: 33549724 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plasticity in life history traits is commonly used to explain the invasion success of social insects. While intraspecific plasticity is often recognized, interspecific variability is easily overlooked, whereby different species exhibit different strategies. The presence of many queens per colony and the collapse of colony boundaries have favored invasiveness for many ant species. However, these strategies are absent from other successful social invaders. Here, we report that various life-history traits may differentially enhance the invasion success in social insects. We suggest that other aspects of their breeding system, like asexual reproduction, intranidal mating and pre-adaptation to inbreeding may enhance their invasion success. Thorough comparative studies between native and introduced populations or studies of closely related species will help identify additional traits favoring the invasion success of social insects, and ultimately provide a more comprehensive picture of the evolutionary factors enhancing invasiveness across this phylogenetically and ecologically diverse group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-André Eyer
- 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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5
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Eyer PA, Blumenfeld AJ, Johnson LNL, Perdereau E, Shults P, Wang S, Dedeine F, Dupont S, Bagnères AG, Vargo EL. Extensive human-mediated jump dispersal within and across the native and introduced ranges of the invasive termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3948-3964. [PMID: 34142394 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
As native ranges are often geographically structured, invasive species originating from a single source population only carry a fraction of the genetic diversity present in their native range. The invasion process is thus often associated with a drastic loss of genetic diversity resulting from a founder event. However, the fraction of diversity brought to the invasive range may vary under different invasion histories, increasing with the size of the propagule, the number of reintroduction events, and/or the total genetic diversity represented by the various source populations in a multiple-introduction scenario. In this study, we generated a SNP data set for the invasive termite Reticulitermes flavipes from 23 native populations in the eastern United States and six introduced populations throughout the world. Using population genetic analyses and approximate Bayesian computation random forest, we investigated its worldwide invasion history. We found a complex invasion pathway with multiple events out of the native range and bridgehead introductions from the introduced population in France. Our data suggest that extensive long-distance jump dispersal appears common in both the native and introduced ranges of this species, probably through human transportation. Overall, our results show that similar to multiple introduction events into the invasive range, admixture in the native range prior to invasion can potentially favour invasion success by increasing the genetic diversity that is later transferred to the introduced range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-André Eyer
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Laura N L Johnson
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | | | - Phillip Shults
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Shichen Wang
- Texas A&M Agrilife Genomics and Bioinformatics Service, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Simon Dupont
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Anne-Geneviève Bagnères
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours, Tours, France.,CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Shults P, Richardson S, Eyer PA, Chura M, Barreda H, Davis RW, Vargo EL. Area-Wide Elimination of Subterranean Termite Colonies Using a Novaluron Bait. INSECTS 2021; 12:192. [PMID: 33668368 PMCID: PMC7996135 DOI: 10.3390/insects12030192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the use of termite baiting, a proven system of targeted colony elimination, in an overall area-wide control strategy against subterranean termites. At two field sites, we used microsatellite markers to estimate the total number of Reticulitermes colonies, their spatial partitioning, and breeding structure. Termite pressure was recorded for two years before and after the introduction of Trelona® (active ingredient novaluron) to a large area of one of the sites. Roughly 70% of the colonies in the treatment site that were present at the time of baiting were not found in the site within two months after the introduction of novaluron. Feeding activity of the remaining colonies subsequently ceased over time and new invading colonies were unable to establish within this site. Our study provides novel field data on the efficacy of novaluron in colony elimination of Reticulitermes flavipes, as well as evidence that an area-wide baiting program is feasible to maintain a termite-free area within its native range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Shults
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.R.); (P.-A.E.); (M.C.); (H.B.); (E.L.V.)
| | - Steven Richardson
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.R.); (P.-A.E.); (M.C.); (H.B.); (E.L.V.)
| | - Pierre-Andre Eyer
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.R.); (P.-A.E.); (M.C.); (H.B.); (E.L.V.)
| | - Madeleine Chura
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.R.); (P.-A.E.); (M.C.); (H.B.); (E.L.V.)
| | - Heather Barreda
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.R.); (P.-A.E.); (M.C.); (H.B.); (E.L.V.)
| | - Robert W. Davis
- BASF Professional & Specialty Solutions, 26 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Edward L. Vargo
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (S.R.); (P.-A.E.); (M.C.); (H.B.); (E.L.V.)
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7
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Bridgehead effect and multiple introductions shape the global invasion history of a termite. Commun Biol 2021; 4:196. [PMID: 33580197 PMCID: PMC7881189 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01725-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Native to eastern Asia, the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) is recognized as one of the 100 worst invasive pests in the world, with established populations in Japan, Hawaii and the southeastern United States. Despite its importance, the native source(s) of C. formosanus introductions and their invasive pathway out of Asia remain elusive. Using ~22,000 SNPs, we retraced the invasion history of this species through approximate Bayesian computation and assessed the consequences of the invasion on its genetic patterns and demography. We show a complex invasion history, where an initial introduction to Hawaii resulted from two distinct introduction events from eastern Asia and the Hong Kong region. The admixed Hawaiian population subsequently served as the source, through a bridgehead, for one introduction to the southeastern US. A separate introduction event from southcentral China subsequently occurred in Florida showing admixture with the first introduction. Overall, these findings further reinforce the pivotal role of bridgeheads in shaping species distributions in the Anthropocene and illustrate that the global distribution of C. formosanus has been shaped by multiple introductions out of China, which may have prevented and possibly reversed the loss of genetic diversity within its invasive range.
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Michaud C, Hervé V, Dupont S, Dubreuil G, Bézier AM, Meunier J, Brune A, Dedeine F. Efficient but occasionally imperfect vertical transmission of gut mutualistic protists in a wood‐feeding termite. Mol Ecol 2019; 29:308-324. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Michaud
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS – Université de Tours Tours France
| | - Vincent Hervé
- Research Group Insect Gut Microbiology and Symbiosis Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology Marburg Germany
| | - Simon Dupont
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS – Université de Tours Tours France
| | - Géraldine Dubreuil
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS – Université de Tours Tours France
| | - Annie M. Bézier
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS – Université de Tours Tours France
| | - Joël Meunier
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS – Université de Tours Tours France
| | - Andreas Brune
- Research Group Insect Gut Microbiology and Symbiosis Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology Marburg Germany
| | - Franck Dedeine
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte UMR 7261 CNRS – Université de Tours Tours France
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9
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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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10
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Eyer PA, Matsuura K, Vargo EL, Kobayashi K, Yashiro T, Suehiro W, Himuro C, Yokoi T, Guénard B, Dunn RR, Tsuji K. Inbreeding tolerance as a pre-adapted trait for invasion success in the invasive ant Brachyponera chinensis. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:4711-4724. [PMID: 30368959 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Identifying traits that facilitate species introductions and successful invasions of ecosystems represents a key issue in ecology. Following their establishment into new environments, many non-native species exhibit phenotypic plasticity with post-introduction changes in behaviour, morphology or life history traits that allow them to overcome the presumed loss of genetic diversity resulting in inbreeding and reduced adaptive potential. Here, we present a unique strategy in the invasive ant Brachyponera chinensis (Emery), in which inbreeding tolerance is a pre-adapted trait for invasion success, allowing this ant to cope with genetic depletion following a genetic bottleneck. We report for the first time that inbreeding is not a consequence of the founder effect following introduction, but it is due to mating between sister queens and their brothers that pre-exists in native populations which may have helped it circumvent the cost of invasion. We show that a genetic bottleneck does not affect the genetic diversity or the level of heterozygosity within colonies and suggest that generations of sib-mating in native populations may have reduced inbreeding depression through purifying selection of deleterious alleles. This work highlights how a unique life history may pre-adapt some species for biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-André Eyer
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Kazuya Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshihisa Yashiro
- Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics (MEEP) laboratory School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wataru Suehiro
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Chihiro Himuro
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yokoi
- Laboratory of Conservation Ecology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Benoit Guénard
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
| | - Robert R Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany.,Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kazuki Tsuji
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
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Duarte S, Nobre T, Borges PAV, Nunes L. Symbiotic flagellate protists as cryptic drivers of adaptation and invasiveness of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei Clément. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5242-5253. [PMID: 29938049 PMCID: PMC6010709 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in flagellate protist communities of subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei across different locations were evaluated following four predictions: (i) Rural endemic (Portugal mainland) termite populations will exhibit high diversity of symbionts; (ii) invasive urban populations (Horta city, Faial island, Azores), on the contrary, will exhibit lower diversity of symbionts, showing high similarity of symbiont assemblages through environmental filtering; (iii) recent historical colonization of isolated regions-as the case of islands-will imply a loss of symbiont diversity; and (iv) island isolation will trigger a change in colony breeding structure toward a less aggressive behavior. Symbiont flagellate protist communities were morphologically identified, and species richness and relative abundances, as well as biodiversity indices, were used to compare symbiotic communities in colonies from urban and rural environments and between island invasive and mainland endemic populations. To evaluate prediction on the impact of isolation (iv), aggression tests were performed among termites comprising island invasive and mainland endemic populations. A core group of flagellates and secondary facultative symbionts was identified. Termites from rural environments showed, in the majority of observed colonies, more diverse and abundant protist communities, probably confirming prediction (i). Corroborating prediction (ii), the two least diverse communities belong to termites captured inside urban areas. The Azorean invasive termite colonies had more diverse protist communities than expected and prediction (iii) which was not verified within this study. Termites from mainland populations showed a high level of aggressiveness between neighboring colonies, in contrast to the invasive colonies from Horta city, which were not aggressive to neighbors according to prediction (iv). The symbiotic flagellate community of R. grassei showed the ability to change in a way that might be consistent with adaptation to available conditions, possibly contributing to optimization of the colonization of new habitats and spreading of its distribution area, highlighting R. grassei potential as an invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Duarte
- Structures DepartmentLNECLisbonPortugal
- Faculty of Agrarian and Environmental SciencescE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity GroupUniversity of the AzoresAzoresPortugal
| | - Tânia Nobre
- Laboratory of EntomologyICAAM ‐ Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais MediterrânicasUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
| | - Paulo A. V. Borges
- Faculty of Agrarian and Environmental SciencescE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity GroupUniversity of the AzoresAzoresPortugal
| | - Lina Nunes
- Structures DepartmentLNECLisbonPortugal
- Faculty of Agrarian and Environmental SciencescE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity GroupUniversity of the AzoresAzoresPortugal
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12
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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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13
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Skulachev MV, Skulachev VP. Programmed aging of mammals: Proof of concept and prospects of biochemical approaches for anti-aging therapy. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2017; 82:1403-1422. [DOI: 10.1134/s000629791712001x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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14
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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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15
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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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16
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Scicchitano V, Dedeine F, Bagnères AG, Luchetti A, Mantovani B. Genetic diversity and invasion history of the European subterranean termite Reticulitermes urbis (Blattodea, Termitoidae, Rhinotermitidae). Biol Invasions 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1510-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Skulachev VP, Holtze S, Vyssokikh MY, Bakeeva LE, Skulachev MV, Markov AV, Hildebrandt TB, Sadovnichii VA. Neoteny, Prolongation of Youth: From Naked Mole Rats to “Naked Apes” (Humans). Physiol Rev 2017; 97:699-720. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00040.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that highly social mammals, such as naked mole rats and humans, are long-lived due to neoteny (the prolongation of youth). In both species, aging cannot operate as a mechanism facilitating natural selection because the pressure of this selection is strongly reduced due to 1) a specific social structure where only the “queen” and her “husband(s)” are involved in reproduction (naked mole rats) or 2) substituting fast technological progress for slow biological evolution (humans). Lists of numerous traits of youth that do not disappear with age in naked mole rats and humans are presented and discussed. A high resistance of naked mole rats to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and brain diseases, and many infections explains why their mortality rate is very low and almost age-independent and why their lifespan is more than 30 years, versus 3 years in mice. In young humans, curves of mortality versus age start at extremely low values. However, in the elderly, human mortality strongly increases. High mortality rates in other primates are observed at much younger ages than in humans. The inhibition of the aging process in humans by specific drugs seems to be a promising approach to prolong our healthspan. This might be a way to retard aging, which is already partially accomplished via the natural physiological phenomenon neoteny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir P. Skulachev
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail Y. Vyssokikh
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Lora E. Bakeeva
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim V. Skulachev
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander V. Markov
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Thomas B. Hildebrandt
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Viktor A. Sadovnichii
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, Moscow, Russia; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
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Dedeine F, Dupont S, Guyot S, Matsuura K, Wang C, Habibpour B, Bagnères AG, Mantovani B, Luchetti A. Historical biogeography of Reticulitermes termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) inferred from analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear loci. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2016; 94:778-790. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Rieseberg L, Geraldes A. Editorial 2016. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:433-49. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Dedeine F, Weinert LA, Bigot D, Josse T, Ballenghien M, Cahais V, Galtier N, Gayral P. Comparative Analysis of Transcriptomes from Secondary Reproductives of Three Reticulitermes Termite Species. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145596. [PMID: 26698123 PMCID: PMC4689415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Termites are eusocial insects related to cockroaches that feed on lignocellulose. These insects are key species in ecosystems since they recycle a large amount of nutrients but also are pests, exerting major economic impacts. Knowledge on the molecular pathways underlying reproduction, caste differentiation or lignocellulose digestion would largely benefit from additional transcriptomic data. This study focused on transcriptomes of secondary reproductive females (nymphoid neotenics). Thirteen transcriptomes were used: 10 of Reticulitermes flavipes and R. grassei sequenced from a previous study, and two transcriptomes of R. lucifugus sequenced for the present study. After transcriptome assembly and read mapping, we examined interspecific variations of genes expressed by termites or gut microorganisms. A total of 18,323 orthologous gene clusters were detected. Functional annotation and taxonomic assignment were performed on a total of 41,287 predicted contigs in the three termite species. Between the termite species studied, functional categories of genes were comparable. Gene ontology (GO) terms analysis allowed the discovery of 9 cellulases and a total of 79 contigs potentially involved in 11 enzymatic activities used in wood metabolism. Altogether, results of this study illustrate the strong potential for the use of comparative interspecific transcriptomes, representing a complete resource for future studies including differentially expressed genes between castes or SNP analysis for population genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Dedeine
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Lucy A. Weinert
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Diane Bigot
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Thibaut Josse
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Marion Ballenghien
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Vincent Cahais
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Galtier
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Gayral
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
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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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