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Teixeira GA, Jacintho GDF, de Aguiar HJAC, Lopes DM, Barros LAC. Cytogenetic Analysis of the Fungus-Farming Ant Cyphomyrmex rimosus (Spinola, 1851) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini) Highlights Karyotypic Variation. Cytogenet Genome Res 2023; 162:579-586. [PMID: 36848876 DOI: 10.1159/000529607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungus-farming ant genus Cyphomyrmex (subtribe Attina, clade Neoattina) comprises 23 described species that are widely distributed throughout the Neotropics. Species within Cyphomyrmex have taxonomic issues such as Cyphomyrmex rimosus (Spinola, 1851) which is likely a species complex. Cytogenetics is a useful tool for evolutionary studies and understanding species with dubious taxonomy. In this study, we characterized the karyotype of C. rimosus from Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil using classical and molecular cytogenetic techniques to enrich the chromosomal information about Cyphomyrmex. The karyotype of C. rimosus from the rainforest of southeastern Brazil (2n = 22, 18m + 4sm) notably contrasts with that previously described for this species in Panama (2n = 32). This intraspecific chromosomal variation suggests the existence of a species complex within this taxon according to the previous hypothesis derived from morphological analysis. We detected GC-rich heterochromatic regions in C. rimosus and, using repetitive DNA probes, showed that this heterochromatin shares repetitive sequences with other Neoattina species already studied, enhancing the importance of this specific genome region in the understanding of Attina evolution. Mapping of microsatellite (GA)15 on C. rimosus was restricted to the euchromatic regions of all chromosomes. The single intrachromosomal rDNA sites observed in C. rimosus follow the general genomic organization trend of ribosomal genes in Formicidae. Our study extends the data of chromosome mapping on Cyphomyrmex and reinforces the importance of cytogenetic studies in different localities to better understand taxonomic issues in widely distributed taxa such as C. rimosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele Amaro Teixeira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Estrutural, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
- Laboratório de Citogenética de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Gabriela de Figueiredo Jacintho
- Laboratório de Citogenética de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Hilton Jeferson Alves Cardoso de Aguiar
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Campus Binacional - Oiapoque, Bairro Universidade, Oiapoque, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, Brazil
| | - Denilce Meneses Lopes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Estrutural, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
- Laboratório de Citogenética de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
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Micolino R, Cristiano MP, Travenzoli NM, Lopes DM, Cardoso DC. Chromosomal dynamics in space and time: evolutionary history of Mycetophylax ants across past climatic changes in the Brazilian Atlantic coast. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18800. [PMID: 31827151 PMCID: PMC6906305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55135-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungus-farming ants of the genus Mycetophylax exhibit intra and interspecific chromosome variability, which makes them suitable for testing hypotheses about possible chromosomal rearrangements that endure lineage diversification. We combined cytogenetic and molecular data from Mycetophylax populations from coastal environments to trace the evolutionary history of the clade in light of chromosomal changes under a historical and geographic context. Our cytogenetic analyses revealed chromosomal differences within and among species. M. morschi exhibited three distinct karyotypes and considerable variability in the localization of 45S rDNA clusters. The molecular phylogeny was congruent with our cytogenetic findings. Biogeographical and divergence time dating analyses estimated that the most recent common ancestor of Mycetophylax would have originated at about 30 Ma in an area including the Amazon and Southern Grasslands, and several dispersion and vicariance events may have occurred before the colonization of the Brazilian Atlantic coast. Diversification of the psammophilous Mycetophylax first took place in the Middle Miocene (ca. 18-10 Ma) in the South Atlantic coast, while "M. morschi" lineages diversified during the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition (ca. 3-2 Ma) through founder-event dispersal for the Northern coastal regions. Psammophilous Mycetophylax diversification fits into the major global climatic events that have had a direct impact on the changes in sea level as well as deep ecological impact throughout South America. We assume therefore that putative chromosomal rearrangements correlated with increased ecological stress during the past climatic transitions could have intensified and/or accompanied the divergence of the psammophilous Mycetophylax. We further reiterate that "M. morschi" comprises a complex of at least three well-defined lineages, and we emphasize the role of this integrative approach for the identification and delimitation of evolutionary lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Micolino
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Maykon Passos Cristiano
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Denilce Meneses Lopes
- Departamento de Biologial Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Danon Clemes Cardoso
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
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Barros LAC, de Aguiar HJAC, Mariano CDSF, Andrade-Souza V, Costa MA, Delabie JHC, Pompolo SDG. Cytogenetic data on six leafcutter ants of the genus Acromyrmex Mayr, 1865 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae): insights into chromosome evolution and taxonomic implications. COMPARATIVE CYTOGENETICS 2016; 10:229-43. [PMID: 27551345 PMCID: PMC4977799 DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.v10i2.7612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cytogenetic data for the genus Acromyrmex Mayr, 1865 are available, to date, for a few species from Brazil and Uruguay, which have uniform chromosome numbers (2n = 38). The recent cytogenetic data of Acromyrmex striatus (Roger, 1863), including its banding patterns, showed a distinct karyotype (2n = 22), similar to earlier studied Atta Fabricius, 1804 species. Karyological data are still scarce for the leafcutter ants and many gaps are still present for a proper understanding of this group. Therefore, this study aimed at increasing cytogenetic knowledge of the genus through the characterization of other six species: Acromyrmex balzani (Emery, 1890), Acromyrmex coronatus Fabricius, 1804, Acromyrmex disciger (Mayr, 1887), Acromyrmex echinatior (Forel, 1899), Acromyrmex niger (Smith, 1858) and Acromyrmex rugosus (Smith, 1858), all of which were collected in Minas Gerais - Brazil, except for Acromyrmex echinatior which was collected in Barro Colorado - Panama. The number and morphology of the chromosomes were studied and the following banding techniques were applied: C-banding, fluorochromes CMA3 and DAPI, as well as the detection of 45S rDNA using FISH technique. All the six species had the same chromosome number observed for already studied species, i.e. 2n = 38. Acromyrmex balzani had a different karyotype compared with other species mainly due to the first metacentric pair. The heterochromatin distribution also showed interspecific variation. Nevertheless, all the studied species had a pair of bands in the short arm of the first subtelocentric pair. The fluorochrome CMA3 visualized bands in the short arm of the first subtelocentric pair for all the six species, while Acromyrmex rugosus and Acromyrmex niger also demonstrated in the other chromosomes. The AT-rich regions with differential staining using DAPI were not observed. 45S ribosomal genes were identified by FISH in the short arm of the first subtelocentric pair in Acromyrmex coronatus, Acromyrmex disciger and Acromyrmex niger. The uniform chromosome number in the genus Acromyrmex (2n = 38) suggests that Acromyrmex striatus (2n = 22) should be transferred to a new genus. Other aspects of the chromosome evolution in ants are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Antônia Campos Barros
- Laboratório de Citogenética de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa; Viçosa - MG, 36570-000, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Amapá; Campus Binacional, Oiapoque - AP, 68980-000, Brazil
| | - Hilton Jeferson Alves Cardoso de Aguiar
- Laboratório de Citogenética de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa; Viçosa - MG, 36570-000, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Amapá; Campus Binacional, Oiapoque - AP, 68980-000, Brazil
| | - Cléa dos Santos Ferreira Mariano
- Laboratório de Mirmecologia, CEPEC/CEPLAC; Itabuna - BA, CP 7, 45600-000, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Ilhéus - BA, 45650-000, Brazil
| | | | - Marco Antonio Costa
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Ilhéus - BA, 45650-000, Brazil
| | - Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie
- Laboratório de Mirmecologia, CEPEC/CEPLAC; Itabuna - BA, CP 7, 45600-000, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Ilhéus - BA, 45650-000, Brazil
| | - Silvia das Graças Pompolo
- Laboratório de Citogenética de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa; Viçosa - MG, 36570-000, Brazil
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