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Parmentier T, Molero-Baltanás R, Valdivia C, Gaju-Ricart M, Boeckx P, Łukasik P, Wybouw N. Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology. BMC Biol 2024; 22:123. [PMID: 38807209 PMCID: PMC11134936 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01914-0] [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: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various animal taxa have specialized to living with social hosts. Depending on their level of specialization, these symbiotic animals are characterized by distinct behavioural, chemical, and morphological traits that enable close heterospecific interactions. Despite its functional importance, our understanding of the feeding ecology of animals living with social hosts remains limited. We examined how host specialization of silverfish co-habiting with ants affects several components of their feeding ecology. We combined stable isotope profiling, feeding assays, phylogenetic reconstruction, and microbial community characterization of the Neoasterolepisma silverfish genus and a wider nicoletiid and lepismatid silverfish panel where divergent myrmecophilous lifestyles are observed. RESULTS Stable isotope profiling (δ13C and δ15N) showed that the isotopic niches of granivorous Messor ants and Messor-specialized Neoasterolepisma exhibit a remarkable overlap within an ant nest. Trophic experiments and gut dissections further supported that these specialized Neoasterolepisma silverfish transitioned to a diet that includes plant seeds. In contrast, the isotopic niches of generalist Neoasterolepisma silverfish and generalist nicoletiid silverfish were clearly different from their ant hosts within the shared nest environment. The impact of the myrmecophilous lifestyle on feeding ecology was also evident in the internal silverfish microbiome. Compared to generalists, Messor-specialists exhibited a higher bacterial density and a higher proportion of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, the nest environment explained the infection profile (or the 16S rRNA genotypes) of Weissella bacteria in Messor-specialized silverfish and the ant hosts. CONCLUSIONS Together, we show that social hosts are important determinants for the feeding ecology of symbiotic animals and can induce diet convergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Parmentier
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | - Catalina Valdivia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Miquel Gaju-Ricart
- Depto. de Biología Animal (Zoología), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Pascal Boeckx
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Nicky Wybouw
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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2
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Bhattacharjee B, Chakrovorty A, Hva JI, Samadder A. A natural history note on the Pseudoneoponera ant-mimicking behaviour of Naddia sp. (Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini: Staphylinina), from Kalyani University campus, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. Zootaxa 2024; 5399:281-286. [PMID: 38221155 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5399.3.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
A unique ant-mimicking behaviour has been observed in the rove beetle genus Naddia sp. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini: Staphylinina) from the campus of the University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. The individual has been observed to undergo imperfect Batesian mimicry by mimicking ants of the genus Pseudoneoponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae: Ponerini).
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Affiliation(s)
- Banani Bhattacharjee
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; University of Kalyani; Kalyani; Nadia- 741235; India; iForNatureNature Club; Kolkata; West Bengal-700028; India.
| | - Arnob Chakrovorty
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; University of Kalyani; Kalyani; Nadia- 741235; India; iForNatureNature Club; Kolkata; West Bengal-700028; India.
| | - J I Hva
- Private Entomological Laboratory & Collection; Rznerova 37/37; ntice u Prahy; Prague-West; Czech Republic.
| | - Asmita Samadder
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory; Department of Zoology; University of Kalyani; Kalyani; Nadia- 741235; India; iForNatureNature Club; Kolkata; West Bengal-700028; India.
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3
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Valdivia C, Newton JA, von Beeren C, O'Donnell S, Kronauer DJC, Russell JA, Łukasik P. Microbial symbionts are shared between ants and their associated beetles. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3466-3483. [PMID: 37968789 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The transmission of microbial symbionts across animal species could strongly affect their biology and evolution, but our understanding of transmission patterns and dynamics is limited. Army ants (Formicidae: Dorylinae) and their hundreds of closely associated insect guest species (myrmecophiles) can provide unique insights into interspecific microbial symbiont sharing. Here, we compared the microbiota of workers and larvae of the army ant Eciton burchellii with those of 13 myrmecophile beetle species using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We found that the previously characterized specialized bacterial symbionts of army ant workers were largely absent from ant larvae and myrmecophiles, whose microbial communities were usually dominated by Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Rickettsiella and/or Weissella. Strikingly, different species of myrmecophiles and ant larvae often shared identical 16S rRNA genotypes of these common bacteria. Protein-coding gene sequences confirmed the close relationship of Weissella strains colonizing army ant larvae, some workers and several myrmecophile species. Unexpectedly, these strains were also similar to strains infecting dissimilar animals inhabiting very different habitats: trout and whales. Together, our data show that closely interacting species can share much of their microbiota, and some versatile microbial species can inhabit and possibly transmit across a diverse range of hosts and environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Valdivia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Justin A Newton
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christoph von Beeren
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sean O'Donnell
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jacob A Russell
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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4
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Kitchen SA, Naragon TH, Brückner A, Ladinsky MS, Quinodoz SA, Badroos JM, Viliunas JW, Wagner JM, Miller DR, Yousefelahiyeh M, Antoshechkin IA, Eldredge KT, Pirro S, Guttman M, Davis SR, Aardema ML, Parker J. The genomic and cellular basis of biosynthetic innovation in rove beetles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.29.542378. [PMID: 37398185 PMCID: PMC10312436 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.29.542378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
How evolution at the cellular level potentiates change at the macroevolutionary level is a major question in evolutionary biology. With >66,000 described species, rove beetles (Staphylinidae) comprise the largest metazoan family. Their exceptional radiation has been coupled to pervasive biosynthetic innovation whereby numerous lineages bear defensive glands with diverse chemistries. Here, we combine comparative genomic and single-cell transcriptomic data from across the largest rove beetle clade, Aleocharinae. We retrace the functional evolution of two novel secretory cell types that together comprise the tergal gland-a putative catalyst behind Aleocharinae's megadiversity. We identify key genomic contingencies that were critical to the assembly of each cell type and their organ-level partnership in manufacturing the beetle's defensive secretion. This process hinged on evolving a mechanism for regulated production of noxious benzoquinones that appears convergent with plant toxin release systems, and synthesis of an effective benzoquinone solvent that weaponized the total secretion. We show that this cooperative biosynthetic system arose at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and that following its establishment, both cell types underwent ∼150 million years of stasis, their chemistry and core molecular architecture maintained almost clade-wide as Aleocharinae radiated globally into tens of thousands of lineages. Despite this deep conservation, we show that the two cell types have acted as substrates for the emergence of adaptive, biochemical novelties-most dramatically in symbiotic lineages that have infiltrated social insect colonies and produce host behavior-manipulating secretions. Our findings uncover genomic and cell type evolutionary processes underlying the origin, functional conservation and evolvability of a chemical innovation in beetles.
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5
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Different faces, same attitudes: behavioral mimicry and description of a new termitophilous species of the remarkable rove beetle genus Thyreoxenus (Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Corotocini) from Brazil with notes on post-imaginal growth. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2022; 109:53. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-022-01820-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Effects of traditional grinding and superfine grinding technologies on the properties and volatile components of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae powder. Lebensm Wiss Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2022.114307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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7
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Using weapons instead of perfume: chemical association strategies of the myrmecophilous bug Scolopostethus pacificus (Rhyparochromidae). CHEMOECOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-022-00374-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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8
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Naragon TH, Wagner JM, Parker J. Parallel evolutionary paths of rove beetle myrmecophiles: replaying a deep-time tape of life. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 51:100903. [PMID: 35301166 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The rise of ants over the past ~100 million years reshaped the biosphere, presenting ecological challenges for many organisms, but also opportunities. No insect group has been so adept at exploiting niches inside ant colonies as the rove beetles (Staphylinidae) - a global clade of>64,000 predominantly free-living predators from which numerous socially parasitic 'myrmecophile' lineages have emerged. Myrmecophilous staphylinids are specialized for colony life through changes in behavior, chemistry, anatomy, and life history that are often strikingly convergent, and hence potentially adaptive for this symbiotic way of life. Here, we examine how the interplay between ecological pressures and molecular, cellular, and neurobiological mechanisms shape the evolutionary trajectories of symbiotic lineages in this ancient, convergent system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H Naragon
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, USA; Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Julian M Wagner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Joseph Parker
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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9
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Sympatric cleptobiotic stingless bees have species-specific cuticular profiles that resemble their hosts. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2621. [PMID: 35173265 PMCID: PMC8850540 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06683-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stingless bees are the largest group of eusocial pollinators with diverse natural histories, including obligate cleptobionts (genus Lestrimelitta) that completely abandoned flower visitation to rely on other stingless bees for food and nest materials. Species of Lestrimeliita are thought to specialize upon different host species, and deception through chemical similarity has been proposed as a mechanism to explain this phenomenon. In the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Scaptotrigona pectoralis is a species chemically distinct from, and not preferred as a host by, locally widespread Lestrimeliita niitkib; witnessing attacks on S. pectoralis colonies offered the opportunity to test the sensory deception hypothesis to cletoparasitism. Analysis of cuticular profiles revealed that the Lestrimelitta attacking S. pectoralis differed significantly in odour bouquet to L. niitkib and, in contrast, it resembled that of S. pectoralis. Further analyses, including morphometrics, mtDNA barcoding, and the examination of taxonomic features, confirmed the existence of two sympatric Lestrimelitta species. The results give support to the hypothesis of chemical deception as a cleptobiotic strategy in Lestrimelitta sp. This is the first evidence that sympatric cleptobionts of the same genus select hosts in accordance with species-specific cuticular profiles, with possible consequences for ecological adaptation and the evolution of these remarkable organisms and the community of stingless bee hosts.
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10
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Lorenzi MC. Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12111006. [PMID: 34821806 PMCID: PMC8624806 DOI: 10.3390/insects12111006] [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: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Social parasites use a variety of deceptive mechanisms to avoid detection by their social-insect hosts and get tolerance in their colonies. One of these mechanisms is chemical insignificance, where social parasites have reduced amounts of recognition cues—hydrocarbons—on their cuticle, thus evading host chemical detection. This exposes social parasites to dehydration stress, as cuticular hydrocarbons also limit body water loss. By analyzing behavioral data from field observations, here we show that a Polistes wasp social parasite exhibits water-saving behaviors; parasites were less active than their cohabiting host foundresses, spent more time at the nest, and rested in the shadow, contradicting the rule that dominant individuals occupy prominent positions at the nest. Abstract Social parasites have evolved adaptations to overcome host resistance as they infiltrate host colonies and establish there. Among the chemical adaptations, a few species are chemically “insignificant”; they are poor in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons) and evade host detection. As cuticular hydrocarbons also serve a waterproofing function, chemical insignificance is beneficial as it protects parasites from being detected but is potentially harmful because it exposes parasites to desiccation stress. Here I tested whether the social parasites Polistes atrimandibularis employ behavioral water-saving strategies when they live at Polistes biglumis colonies. Observations in the field showed that parasites were less active than their cohabiting host foundresses, spent more time at the nest, and rested in the shadowy, back face of the nest, rather than at the front face, which contradicted expectations for the use of space for dominant females—typically, dominants rest at the nest front-face. These data suggest that behavioral adaptations might promote resistance to desiccation stress in chemical insignificant social parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Lorenzi
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, LEEC, UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, F-93430 Villetaneuse, France
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11
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McKenzie SK, Winston ME, Grewe F, Vargas Asensio G, Rodríguez-Hernández N, Rubin BER, Murillo-Cruz C, von Beeren C, Moreau CS, Suen G, Pinto-Tomás AA, Kronauer DJC. The genomic basis of army ant chemosensory adaptations. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6627-6641. [PMID: 34582590 PMCID: PMC9292994 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of mass raiding has allowed army ants to become dominant arthropod predators in the tropics. Although a century of research has led to many discoveries about behavioural, morphological and physiological adaptations in army ants, almost nothing is known about the molecular basis of army ant biology. Here we report the genome of the iconic New World army ant Eciton burchellii, and show that it is unusually compact, with a reduced gene complement relative to other ants. In contrast to this overall reduction, a particular gene subfamily (9‐exon ORs) expressed predominantly in female antennae is expanded. This subfamily has previously been linked to the recognition of hydrocarbons, key olfactory cues used in insect communication and prey discrimination. Confocal microscopy of the brain showed a corresponding expansion in a putative hydrocarbon response centre within the antennal lobe, while scanning electron microscopy of the antenna revealed a particularly high density of hydrocarbon‐sensitive sensory hairs. E. burchellii shares these features with its predatory and more cryptic relative, the clonal raider ant. By integrating genomic, transcriptomic and anatomical analyses in a comparative context, our work thus provides evidence that army ants and their relatives possess a suite of modifications in the chemosensory system that may be involved in behavioural coordination and prey selection during social predation. It also lays the groundwork for future studies of army ant biology at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean K McKenzie
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Felix Grewe
- Grainger Bioinformatics Center, Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Gabriel Vargas Asensio
- Centro de Investigación en Biología Molecular y Celular (CIBCM), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.,Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Natalia Rodríguez-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas (CIEMIC), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Benjamin E R Rubin
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Catalina Murillo-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas (CIEMIC), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Christoph von Beeren
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.,Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Corrie S Moreau
- Departments of Entomology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Garret Suen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Adrian A Pinto-Tomás
- Centro de Investigación en Biología Molecular y Celular (CIBCM), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.,Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas (CIEMIC), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.,Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
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12
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von Beeren C, Brückner A, Hoenle PO, Ospina-Jara B, Kronauer DJC, Blüthgen N. Multiple phenotypic traits as triggers of host attacks towards ant symbionts: body size, morphological gestalt, and chemical mimicry accuracy. Front Zool 2021; 18:46. [PMID: 34538256 PMCID: PMC8451089 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00427-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ant colonies are plagued by a diversity of arthropod guests, which adopt various strategies to avoid or to withstand host attacks. Chemical mimicry of host recognition cues is, for example, a common integration strategy of ant guests. The morphological gestalt and body size of ant guests have long been argued to also affect host hostility, but quantitative studies testing these predictions are largely missing. We here evaluated three guest traits as triggers of host aggression—body size, morphological gestalt, and accuracy in chemical mimicry—in a community of six Eciton army ant species and 29 guest species. We quantified ant aggression towards 314 guests in behavioral assays and, for the same individuals, determined their body size and their accuracy in mimicking ant cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles. We classified guests into the following gestalts: protective, myrmecoid, staphylinid-like, phorid-like, and larval-shaped. We expected that (1) guests with lower CHC mimicry accuracy are more frequently attacked; (2) larger guests are more frequently attacked; (3) guests of different morphological gestalt receive differing host aggression levels. Results Army ant species had distinct CHC profiles and accuracy of mimicking these profiles was variable among guests, with many species showing high mimicry accuracy. Unexpectedly, we did not find a clear relationship between chemical host similarity and host aggression, suggesting that other symbiont traits need to be considered. We detected a relationship between the guests’ body size and the received host aggression, in that diminutive forms were rarely attacked. Our data also indicated that morphological gestalt might be a valuable predictor of host aggression. While most ant-guest encounters remained peaceful, host behavior still differed towards guests in that ant aggression was primarily directed towards those guests possessing a protective or a staphylinid-like gestalt. Conclusion We demonstrate that CHC mimicry accuracy does not necessarily predict host aggression towards ant symbionts. Exploitation mechanisms are diverse, and we conclude that, besides chemical mimicry, other factors such as the guests’ morphological gestalt and especially their body size might be important, yet underrated traits shaping the level of host hostility against social insect symbionts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12983-021-00427-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph von Beeren
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Adrian Brückner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Philipp O Hoenle
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | - Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York City, USA
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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13
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von Beeren C, Blüthgen N, Hoenle PO, Pohl S, Brückner A, Tishechkin AK, Maruyama M, Brown BV, Hash JM, Hall WE, Kronauer DJC. A remarkable legion of guests: Diversity and host specificity of army ant symbionts. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5229-5246. [PMID: 34406688 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tropical rainforests are among the most diverse biomes on Earth. While species inventories are far from complete for any tropical rainforest, even less is known about the intricate species interactions that form the basis of these ecological communities. One fascinating but poorly studied example are the symbiotic associations between army ants and their rich assemblages of parasitic arthropod guests. Hundreds of these guests, or myrmecophiles, have been taxonomically described. However, because previous work has mainly been based on haphazard collections from disjunct populations, it remains challenging to define species boundaries. We therefore know little about the species richness, abundance and host specificity of most guests in any given population, which is crucial to understand co-evolutionary and ecological dynamics. Here, we report a quantitative community survey of myrmecophiles parasitizing the six sympatric Eciton army ant species in a Costa Rican rainforest. Combining DNA barcoding with morphological identification of over 2,000 specimens, we discovered 62 species, including 49 beetles, 11 flies, one millipede and one silverfish. At least 14 of these species were new to science. Ecological network analysis revealed a clear signal of host partitioning, and each Eciton species was host to both specialists and generalists. These varying degrees in host specificities translated into a moderate level of network specificity, highlighting the system's level of biotic pluralism in terms of biodiversity and interaction diversity. By providing vouchered DNA barcodes for army ant guest species, this study provides a baseline for future work on co-evolutionary and ecological dynamics in these species-rich host-symbiont networks across the Neotropical realm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph von Beeren
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.,Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Philipp O Hoenle
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sebastian Pohl
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Adrian Brückner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Alexey K Tishechkin
- California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | | | - Brian V Brown
- Entomology Section, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John M Hash
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - W E Hall
- University of Arizona Insect Collection, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, USA
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Abstract
Identification of priority areas for conservation is crucial for the maintenance and protection of biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests where biodiversity continues to be lost at alarming rates. Surveys and research on umbrella species can provide efficient and effective approaches to identify potential areas for conservation at small geographical scales. Army ants of the genus Eciton are keystone species in neotropical forests due to their major role as top predators and due to the numerous vertebrate- and invertebrate associated species that depend upon their colonies for survival. These associates range from the iconic army ant-following birds to a wide range of arthropod groups, some of which have evolved intricate morphological, behavioural and/or chemical strategies to conceal their presence and integrate into the colony life. Furthermore, Eciton colonies require large forested areas that support a diverse leaf litter prey community and several field-based and genetic studies have demonstrated the negative consequences of forest fragmentation for the long-term maintenance of these colonies. Therefore, Eciton species will not only act as umbrella for their associates but also for many other species in neotropical forests, in particular for those that require a large extent of forest. This review summarises past and recent accounts of the main taxonomic groups found associated with Eciton colonies, as well research assessing the impact of forest fragmentation on this army ant, to encourage the adoption of Eciton army ants as umbrella species for the identification of priority areas for conservation and assessments of the effect of disturbance in neotropical forests.
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15
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Mathis KA, Bronstein JL. Our Current Understanding of Commensalism. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-011720-040844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Commensalisms, interactions between two species in which one species benefits and the other experiences no net effect, are frequently mentioned in the ecological literature but are surprisingly little studied. Here we review and synthesize our limited understanding of commensalism. We then argue that commensalism is not a single type of interaction; rather, it is a suite of phenomena associated with distinct ecological processes and evolutionary consequences. For each form of commensalism we define, we present evidence for how, where, and why it occurs, including when it is evolutionarily persistent and when it is an occasional outcome of interactions that are usually mutualistic or antagonistic. We argue that commensalism should be of great interest in the study of species interactions due to its location at the center of the continuum between positive and negative outcomes. Finally, we offer a roadmap for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn A. Mathis
- Department of Biology, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610, USA
| | - Judith L. Bronstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
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16
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Abstract
Ants exploit differences in body surface chemistry to distinguish nestmates from colony intruders. Socially parasitic ants in Madagascar have convergently evolved morphological similarities to host worker anatomy, implying that body shape may also be surveilled. Studies of tactile behaviors in ant societies are now needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Parker
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Christian Rabeling
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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17
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Fischer G, Friedman NR, Huang JP, Narula N, Knowles LL, Fisher BL, Mikheyev AS, Economo EP. Socially Parasitic Ants Evolve a Mosaic of Host-Matching and Parasitic Morphological Traits. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3639-3646.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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18
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Cheng L, Guo ZY, Qu YL. Cross-modality modulation of auditory midbrain processing of intensity information. Hear Res 2020; 395:108042. [PMID: 32810721 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In nature, animals constantly receive a multitude of sensory stimuli, such as visual, auditory, and somatosensory. The integration across sensory modalities is advantageous for the precise processing of sensory inputs which is essential for animals to survival. Although some principles of cross-modality integration have been revealed by many studies, little insight has been gained into its functional potentials. In this study, the functional influence of cross-modality modulation on auditory processing of intensity information was investigated via recording neuronal activity in the auditory midbrain (i.e., inferior colliculus, IC) under the conditions of visual, auditory, and audiovisual stimuli, respectively. Results demonstrated that combined audiovisual stimuli either enhanced or suppressed the responses of IC neurons compared to auditory stimuli alone, even though the same visual stimuli alone induced no response. Audiovisual modulation appeared to be strongest when the combined audiovisual stimuli were located at the best auditory azimuth of neurons as well as when presented with intensity at near-threshold levels. Additionally, the rate-intensity function of IC neurons to auditory stimuli was expanded or compressed by audiovisual modulation, which was highly dependent on the minimal threshold (MT) of neurons. Lowering of the MT and greater audiovisual modulation for the neuron indicated an intensity-specific enhancement of auditory intensity sensitivity by cross-modality modulation. Overall, evidence suggests a potential functional role of cross-modality modulation in IC that serves to instruct adaptive plasticity to enhance the auditory perception of intensity information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Cheng
- School of Psychology & Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsycology and Behavior (CCNU) of Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China; School of Life Sciences & Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Zhao-Yang Guo
- School of Psychology & Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsycology and Behavior (CCNU) of Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Yi-Li Qu
- School of Psychology & Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsycology and Behavior (CCNU) of Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
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19
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Adams RMM, Wells RL, Yanoviak SP, Frost CJ, Fox EGP. Interspecific Eavesdropping on Ant Chemical Communication. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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20
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Low Host Specialization in the Cuckoo Wasp, Parnopes grandior, Weakens Chemical Mimicry but Does Not Lead to Local Adaption. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11020136. [PMID: 32093328 PMCID: PMC7073532 DOI: 10.3390/insects11020136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Insect brood parasites have evolved a variety of strategies to avoid being detected by their hosts. Few previous studies on cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae), which are natural enemies of solitary wasps and bees, have shown that chemical mimicry, i.e., the biosynthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) that match the host profile, evolved in several species. However, mimicry was not detected in all investigated host-parasite pairs. The effect of host range as a second factor that may play a role in evolution of mimicry has been neglected, since all previous studies were carried out on host specialists and at nesting sites where only one host species occurred. Here we studied the cuckoo wasp Parnopes grandior, which attacks many digger wasp species of the genus Bembix (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Given its weak host specialization, P. grandior may either locally adapt by increasing mimicry precision to only one of the sympatric hosts or it may evolve chemical insignificance by reducing the CHC profile complexity and/or CHCs amounts. At a study site harbouring three host species, we found evidence for a weak but appreciable chemical deception strategy in P. grandior. Indeed, the CHC profile of P. grandior was more similar to all sympatric Bembix species than to a non-host wasp species belonging to the same tribe as Bembix. Furthermore, P. grandior CHC profile was equally distant to all the hosts’ CHC profiles, thus not pointing towards local adaptation of the CHC profile to one of the hosts’ profile. We conducted behavioural assays suggesting that such weak mimicry is sufficient to reduce host aggression, even in absence of an insignificance strategy, which was not detected. Hence, we finally concluded that host range may indeed play a role in shaping the level of chemical mimicry in cuckoo wasps.
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21
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Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba A, Zagaja M, Wagner GK, Pietrykowska-Tudruj E, Staniec B. The microbiota of the Lasius fuliginosus – Pella laticollis myrmecophilous interaction. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2020.1844322] [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] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba
- Department of Genetics and Biosystematics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - M. Zagaja
- Isobolographic Analysis Laboratory, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
| | - G. K. Wagner
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - E. Pietrykowska-Tudruj
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - B. Staniec
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
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22
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Chemical Deception and Structural Adaptation in Microdon (Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae), a Genus of Hoverflies Parasitic on Social Insects. J Chem Ecol 2019; 45:959-971. [PMID: 31792663 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-019-01121-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Various organisms, especially arthropods, are able to live as parasites in ant nests and to prey upon ant broods without eliciting any aggressive behaviour in the hosts. Understanding how these intruders are able to break the ants' communication codes in their favour represents a challenging and intriguing evolutionary question. We studied the chemical strategies of three European hoverfly species, Microdon mutabilis (parasitic on Formica cunicularia), M. analis (parasitic on Lasius emarginatus) and M. devius (parasitic on L. distinguendus). The peculiar slug-like larvae of these three species live inside ant nests feeding upon their broods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses show that: 1) these parasites mimic the host brood rather than the ant workers, although each differs distinctly in the extent of chemical mimicry; 2) isolation experiments indicate that after 14 days the responsible cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are not passively acquired but synthesized by the fly larvae. Additionally, Microdon larvae show an array of protective structural features, such as a thick and multi-layered cuticle, retractable head, dome-shaped tergum and a flat and strongly adhesive "foot" (sternum). This combination of protective chemical and structural features represents a successful key innovation by Microdon species, and one that may facilitate host switching. The results of a preliminary adoption analysis confirm that Microdon larvae of at least some species can readily be accepted by different species of ants.
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23
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Krapf P, Hochenegger N, Arthofer W, Schlick-Steiner BC, Steiner FM. Comparing ant behaviour indices for fine-scale analyses. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6856. [PMID: 31048736 PMCID: PMC6497665 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43313-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behaviour often is characterised by standardised assays. In social insects such as ants, behaviour assays are for example used to characterise aggressive and peaceful behaviour. Such assays differ in the number of individuals, the duration and place of assays, and the scoring scales. Also the behaviour indices used to summarise the results differ. Here, we compared five behaviour indices (Aggression Index, Mean Maximum Aggression Index; and the newly introduced Mean Maximum Peace Index, Mean Behaviour Index aggressive, and Mean Behaviour Index peaceful) using a scoring scale that comprises peaceful and aggressive behaviour. The indices were applied on eight simulations and three observed data sets. The five indices were correlated but frequently differed in their means. Multiple indices were needed to capture the complete behaviour range. Furthermore, subtle differences in workers' behaviour, that is, differences that go beyond the presence/absence of aggression, were only identified when considering multiple indices. We infer that the indices applied are differently suited for different analyses. Fine-scale analyses of behavioural variation profit from using more than one index. The particular choice of index or indices likely influences the interpretation of behaviour and should be carefully done in the light of study species and research question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Krapf
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
| | - Nadine Hochenegger
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Arthofer
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Birgit C Schlick-Steiner
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Florian M Steiner
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
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24
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Pérez-Lachaud G, Rocha FH, Valle-Mora J, Hénaut Y, Lachaud JP. Fine-tuned intruder discrimination favors ant parasitoidism. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210739. [PMID: 30653595 PMCID: PMC6336292 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A diversity of arthropods (myrmecophiles) thrives within ant nests, many of them unmolested though some, such as the specialized Eucharitidae parasitoids, may cause direct damage to their hosts. Ants are known to discriminate between nestmates and non-nestmates, but whether they recognize the strength of a threat and their capacity to adjust their behavior accordingly have not been fully explored. We aimed to determine whether Ectatomma tuberculatum ants exhibited specific behavioral responses to potential or actual intruders posing different threats to the host colony and to contribute to an understanding of complex ant-eucharitid interactions. Behavioral responses differed significantly according to intruder type. Ants evicted intruders that represented a threat to the colony's health (dead ants) or were not suitable as prey items (filter paper, eucharitid parasitoid wasps, non myrmecophilous adult weevils), but killed potential prey (weevil larvae, termites). The timing of detection was in accordance with the nature and size of the intruder: corpses (a potential source of contamination) were detected faster than any other intruder and transported to the refuse piles within 15 min. The structure and complexity of behavioral sequences differed among those intruders that were discarded. Workers not only recognized and discriminated between several distinct intruders but also adjusted their behavior to the type of intruder encountered. Our results confirm the previously documented recognition capabilities of E. tuberculatum workers and reveal a very fine-tuned intruder discrimination response. Colony-level prophylactic and hygienic behavioral responses through effective removal of inedible intruders appears to be the most general and flexible form of defense in ants against a diverse array of intruders. However, this generalized response to both potentially lethal and harmless intruders might have driven the evolution of ant-eucharitid interactions, opening a window for parasitoid attack and allowing adult parasitoid wasps to quickly leave the natal nest unharmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Pérez-Lachaud
- Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Franklin H. Rocha
- Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | | | - Yann Hénaut
- Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Jean-Paul Lachaud
- Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse; CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
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25
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Parmentier T, De Laender F, Wenseleers T, Bonte D. Prudent behavior rather than chemical deception enables a parasite to exploit its ant host. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Parmentier
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat, Gent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Socioevolution, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Namur Institute of Complex Systems, and Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, Namur, Belgium
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Namur Institute of Complex Systems, and Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, Namur, Belgium
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Socioevolution, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Bonte
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat, Gent, Belgium
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