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Korczyńska J, Szczuka A, Urzykowska J, Kochanowski M, Andrzejczyk NG, Piwowarek KJ, Godzińska EJ. The Effects of Ethanol and Acetic acid on Behaviour of Extranidal Workers of the Narrow-Headed Ant Formica exsecta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) during a Field Experiment. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2734. [PMID: 37684998 PMCID: PMC10486794 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ethanol addiction belongs to the most important problems encountered in the domain of human mental health. The research on the behavioural effects of exposure to/consumption of ethanol are investigated largely with the help of animal models that also include insects, mainly fruit flies and honeybees. The effects of ethanol on ant behaviour remain, however, little known. In the present field study, we investigated the behaviour of workers of the narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta) displayed in the vicinity of cotton pads soaked in water or in water solutions of ethanol or acetic acid during 5 min tests (n = 30 tests in each group). Both ethanol and acetic acid induced significant modifications of ant locomotion, exploratory behaviour, self-grooming behaviour, and aggressive social behaviour. We confirmed that acetic acid is aversive for the ants, but ethanol enhances their exploratory behaviour. We also found out that field studies may document more types of responses to experimental compounds than laboratory ones, as the tested animals may also escape from aversive substances. Our findings documented a wide spectrum of behavioural effects of exposure to ethanol and acetic acid in a highly social animal species and broadened the general knowledge about behavioural responses to these compounds encountered in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Korczyńska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
| | - Anna Szczuka
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
| | - Julia Urzykowska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Kochanowski
- Botanic Garden, University of Warsaw, Aleje Ujazdowskie 4, PL 00-478 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Neptun Gabriela Andrzejczyk
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (N.G.A.); (K.J.P.)
| | - Kacper Jerzy Piwowarek
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Ilji Miecznikowa 1, PL 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (N.G.A.); (K.J.P.)
| | - Ewa Joanna Godzińska
- Laboratory of Ethology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Ludwika Pasteura 3, PL 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.S.); (J.U.)
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Dhaygude K, Nair A, Johansson H, Wurm Y, Sundström L. The first draft genomes of the ant Formica exsecta, and its Wolbachia endosymbiont reveal extensive gene transfer from endosymbiont to host. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:301. [PMID: 30991952 PMCID: PMC6469114 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5665-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Adapting to changes in the environment is the foundation of species survival, and is usually thought to be a gradual process. However, transposable elements (TEs), epigenetic modifications, and/or genetic material acquired from other organisms by means of horizontal gene transfer (HGTs), can also lead to novel adaptive traits. Social insects form dense societies, which attract and maintain extra- and intracellular accessory inhabitants, which may facilitate gene transfer between species. The wood ant Formica exsecta (Formicidae; Hymenoptera), is a common ant species throughout the Palearctic region. The species is a well-established model for studies of ecological characteristics and evolutionary conflict. Results In this study, we sequenced and assembled draft genomes for F. exsecta and its endosymbiont Wolbachia. The F. exsecta draft genome is 277.7 Mb long; we identify 13,767 protein coding genes, for which we provide gene ontology and protein domain annotations. This is also the first report of a Wolbachia genome from ants, and provides insights into the phylogenetic position of this endosymbiont. We also identified multiple horizontal gene transfer events (HGTs) from Wolbachia to F. exsecta. Some of these HGTs have also occurred in parallel in multiple other insect genomes, highlighting the extent of HGTs in eukaryotes. Conclusion We present the first draft genome of ant F. exsecta, and its endosymbiont Wolbachia (wFex), and show considerable rates of gene transfer from the symbiont to the host. We expect that especially the F. exsecta genome will be valuable resource in further exploration of the molecular basis of the evolution of social organization. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5665-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishor Dhaygude
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and environmental sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Abhilash Nair
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and environmental sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Helena Johansson
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and environmental sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Yannick Wurm
- Organismal Biology Department, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Liselotte Sundström
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and environmental sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, FI-10900, Hanko, Finland
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Dhaygude K, Johansson H, Kulmuni J, Sundström L. Genome organization and molecular characterization of the three Formica exsecta viruses-FeV1, FeV2 and FeV4. PeerJ 2019; 6:e6216. [PMID: 30809424 PMCID: PMC6387575 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We present the genome organization and molecular characterization of the three Formica exsecta viruses, along with ORF predictions, and functional annotation of genes. The Formica exsecta virus-4 (FeV4; GenBank ID: MF287670) is a newly discovered negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus representing the first identified member of order Mononegavirales in ants, whereas the Formica exsecta virus-1 (FeV1; GenBank ID: KF500001), and the Formica exsecta virus-2 (FeV2; GenBank ID: KF500002) are positive single-stranded RNA viruses initially identified (but not characterized) in our earlier study. The new virus FeV4 was found by re-analyzing data from a study published earlier. The Formica exsecta virus-4 genome is 9,866 bp in size, with an overall G + C content of 44.92%, and containing five predicted open reading frames (ORFs). Our bioinformatics analysis indicates that gaps are absent and the ORFs are complete, which based on our comparative genomics analysis suggests that the genomes are complete. Following the characterization, we validate virus infection for FeV1, FeV2 and FeV4 for the first time in field-collected worker ants. Some colonies were infected by multiple viruses, and the viruses were observed to infect all castes, and multiple life stages of workers and queens. Finally, highly similar viruses were expressed in adult workers and queens of six other Formica species: F. fusca, F. pressilabris, F. pratensis, F. aquilonia, F. truncorum and F. cinerea. This research indicates that viruses can be shared between ant species, but further studies on viral transmission are needed to understand viral infection pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishor Dhaygude
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Helena Johansson
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jonna Kulmuni
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Liselotte Sundström
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
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Lindström S, Rowe O, Timonen S, Sundström L, Johansson H. Trends in bacterial and fungal communities in ant nests observed with Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques-validity and compatibility in ecological studies. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5289. [PMID: 30042898 PMCID: PMC6055595 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes are ubiquitous and often occur in functionally and taxonomically complex communities. Unveiling these community dynamics is one of the main challenges of microbial research. Combining a robust, cost effective and widely used method such as Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) with a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) method (Illumina MiSeq), offers a solid alternative for comprehensive assessment of microbial communities. Here, these two methods were combined in a study of complex bacterial and fungal communities in the nest mounds of the ant Formica exsecta, with the aim to assess the degree to which these methods can be used to complement each other. The results show that these methodologies capture similar spatiotemporal variations, as well as corresponding functional and taxonomical detail, of the microbial communities in a challenging medium consisting of soil, decomposing plant litter and an insect inhabitant. Both methods are suitable for the analysis of complex environmental microbial communities, but when combined, they complement each other well and can provide even more robust results. T-RFLP can be trusted to show similar general community patterns as Illumina MiSeq and remains a good option if resources for NGS methods are lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stafva Lindström
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Owen Rowe
- Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, Hörnefors, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sari Timonen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Liselotte Sundström
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Helena Johansson
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
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Abstract
Inbred individuals and populations are predicted to suffer from inbreeding depression, especially in times of stress. Under natural conditions, organisms are exposed to more than one stressor at any one time, highlighting the importance of stress resistance traits. We studied how inbreeding- and immunity-related traits are correlated under different dietary conditions in the ant Formica exsecta. Its natural diet varies in the amount and nature of plant secondary compounds and the level of free radicals, all of which require detoxification to maintain organismal homeostasis. We found that inbreeding decreased general antibacterial activity under dietary stress, suggesting inbreeding-related physiological trade-offs.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Freitak
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| | - N Bos
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland
| | - D Stucki
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland
| | - L Sundström
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland
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