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Azevedo-Silva M, Lemos ASM, Gonçalves-Neto S, Salles LFP, Pereyra M, Christianini AV, Souza AP, Oliveira PS. Are There Edge Effects on the Genetic Diversity of the Trap-Jaw Ant Odontomachus chelifer (Formicidae: Ponerinae) in a Neotropical Savanna Fragment? A First Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 52:279-285. [PMID: 36745143 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvad008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation is considered an important threat to biodiversity, increasing species exposure to edge effects. The Brazilian Cerrado savanna is considered a biodiversity hotspot and has been converted to small, isolated fragments due to human activities. Ant communities and colony survivorship are known to be affected by edge effects in Cerrado, but to date there is no information on the genetic diversity of ant colonies at the edge of fragmented areas. Here, we investigate if colony genetic diversity and structure of Odontomachus chelifer (Latreille) ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are subject to edge effects in a Cerrado reserve in southeast Brazil. Using microsatellites, we evaluated the number of breeders (queens and males) and the genetic diversity in O. chelifer colonies located in the interior versus edge of a Cerrado fragment. All O. chelifer nests had multiple queens, which presented a low mating frequency. The number of breeders and most estimates of genetic diversity did not differ between colonies at the edge versus interior of the fragment. Genetic structure was not influenced by nest location as well. However, we detected a small and positive increase in the observed heterozygosity in colonies located at fragment edges. High heterozygosity is thought to be particularly important in fast-changing environments, such as edges, providing an advantage for genetic diversity. Further investigation is needed to assess in greater detail how habitat loss affects O. chelifer biology. Our study is a first step toward elucidating edge effects on genetic diversity of ant colonies, a topic still poorly explored in tropical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Azevedo-Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra S M Lemos
- Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Salatiel Gonçalves-Neto
- Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Luís F P Salles
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana Pereyra
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, UNC-CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Anete P Souza
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo S Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Frizzi F, Buonafede L, Masoni A, Balzani P, Santini G. Comparative Analysis of Facial Coloration between Introduced and Source Populations of the Red Wood Ant Formica paralugubris. INSECTS 2022; 13:1137. [PMID: 36555047 PMCID: PMC9787359 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The variation in the typical black-reddish color of red wood ants (Formica rufa group) has been recently suggested as a good indicator of habitat quality, being dependent on environmental conditions. However, the relative contribution of external factors and heritability in shaping this trait is poorly investigated. In this study, we compared the facial coloration of workers from four introduced populations of Formica paralugubris with those of the two Alpine populations from which they had been taken. We used a Relative Warp Analysis to describe the variations in the shape of this trait. We expected each introduced population to be more similar to its population of origin if the color pattern was predominantly genetically determined. On the contrary, due to the considerable differences in habitat type and climate between the Alps and the Apennines, we expected to observe differences between the introduced population and their origin population if the coloration was mostly environmentally determined. With one exception that we discuss, the results showed that ants from the two source populations had different phenotypes, and that the introduced populations had a shape similar to the population of origin, suggesting a stable genetic background. Surprisingly, the habitat type seems to have a less clear effect, even if within-population differences suggest the influence of very localized environmental factors. Finally, we found that the facial coloration shape is affected by the ant’s size, a result in line with previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Frizzi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto F.No., 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Buonafede
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto F.No., 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Masoni
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto F.No., 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Paride Balzani
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto F.No., 50019 Florence, Italy
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 38925 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Giacomo Santini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto F.No., 50019 Florence, Italy
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Plenderleith FA, Palmer SC, Travis JM, Lancaster LT, Stockan JA, Mitchell RJ. The consequences of tree disease and pre-emptive felling on functional and genetic connectivity for woodland invertebrates. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Ellis S, Procter DS, Buckham-Bonnett P, Robinson EJH. Inferring polydomy: a review of functional, spatial and genetic methods for identifying colony boundaries. INSECTES SOCIAUX 2016; 64:19-37. [PMID: 28255180 PMCID: PMC5310590 DOI: 10.1007/s00040-016-0534-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the boundaries of a social insect colony is vital for properly understanding its ecological function and evolution. Many species of ants are polydomous: colonies inhabit multiple, spatially separated, nests. Ascertaining which nests are parts of the same colony is an important consideration when studying polydomous populations. In this paper, we review the methods that are used to identify which nests are parts of the same polydomous colony and to determine the boundaries of colonies. Specifically, we define and discuss three broad categories of approach: identifying nests sharing resources, identifying nests sharing space, and identifying nests sharing genes. For each of these approaches, we review the theoretical basis, the limitations of the approach and the methods that can be used to implement it. We argue that all three broad approaches have merits and weaknesses, and provide a methodological comparison to help researchers select the tool appropriate for the biological question they are investigating.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Ellis
- Department of Biology and York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis, University of York, York, UK
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - D. S. Procter
- Department of Biology and York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis, University of York, York, UK
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School of Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - P. Buckham-Bonnett
- Department of Biology and York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis, University of York, York, UK
| | - E. J. H. Robinson
- Department of Biology and York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis, University of York, York, UK
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Schultner E, Saramäki J, Helanterä H. Genetic structure of native ant supercolonies varies in space and time. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:6196-6213. [PMID: 27859791 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ant supercolonies are the largest cooperative units known in nature. They consist of networks of interconnected nests with hundreds of reproductive queens, where individuals move freely between nests, cooperate across nest boundaries and show little aggression towards non-nestmates. The combination of high queen numbers and free mixing of workers, queens and brood between nests results in extremely low nestmate relatedness. In such low-relatedness societies, cooperative worker behaviour appears maladaptive because it may aid random individuals instead of relatives. Here, we provide a comprehensive picture of genetic substructure in supercolonies of the native wood ant Formica aquilonia using traditional population genetic as well as network analysis methods. Specifically, we test for spatial and temporal variation in genetic structure of different classes of individuals within supercolonies and analyse the role of worker movement in determining supercolony genetic networks. We find that relatedness within supercolonies is low but positive when viewed on a population level, which may be due to limited dispersal of individuals and/or ecological factors such as nest site limitation and competition against conspecifics. Genetic structure of supercolonies varied with both sample class and sampling time point, which indicates that mobility of individuals varies according to both caste and season and suggests that generalizing has to be carried out with caution in studies of supercolonial species. Overall, our analysis provides novel evidence that native wood ant supercolonies exhibit fine-scale genetic substructure, which may explain the maintenance of cooperation in these low-relatedness societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Schultner
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, J.A. Palménin tie 260, Hanko, 10900, Finland
| | - Jari Saramäki
- Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, PO Box 15400, Aalto, 00076, Finland
| | - Heikki Helanterä
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, J.A. Palménin tie 260, Hanko, 10900, Finland
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Large-scale population genetics of the mountain ant Proformica longiseta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). POPUL ECOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-015-0505-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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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