Ancient death-grip leaf scars reveal ant–fungal parasitism

Hughes, David; Wappler, Torsten; Labandeira, Conrad C.

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0521

Cited by 61 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…complex was present 47 million years ago in what is modern day Germany, which was then an evergreen biome and 10° further south than its current location (Hughes et al. ). Thus, based on past climate and forest type distribution, fossil evidence of leaf biting and our ancestral state character reconstruction, there are grounds to suggest that the species in the O. unilateralis clade originally manipulated ants to bite leaves and subsequently experienced independent convergent evolution to twig biting by different fungal parasites in response to global climate change and the emergence of the deciduous forests in different areas of the globe.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

et al. 2018

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Environmental conditions exert strong selection on animal behavior. We tested the hypothesis that the altered behavior of hosts due to parasitic manipulation is also subject to selection imposed by changes in environmental conditions over time. Our model system is ants manipulated by parasitic fungi to bite onto vegetation. We analyzed the correlation between forest type (tropical vs. temperate) and the substrate where the host bites (biting substrate: leaf vs. twigs), the time required for the fungi to reach reproductive maturity, and the phylogenetic relationship among specimens from tropical and temperate forests from different parts of the globe. We show that fungal development in temperate forests is longer than the period of time leaves are present and the ants are manipulated to bite twigs. When biting twigs, 90% of the dead ants we examined had their legs wrapped around twigs, which appears to provide better attachment to the plant. Ancestral state character reconstruction suggests that leaf biting is the ancestral trait and that twig biting is a convergent trait in temperate regions of the globe. These three lines of evidence suggest that changes in environmental conditions have shaped the manipulative behavior of the host by its parasite.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

et al. 2018

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“…Therefore, it can be assumed that fungi were first adapted to plants and that interactions with insects developed much later. Examples show that since these interactions started to develop, they have often led to complex and rather sophisticated associations (Hughes et al 2010).…”

Section: Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bark beetle-associated fungi in Fennoscandia with special emphasis on species of Ophiostoma and Grosmannia

Linnakoski¹

2011

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Global trade in untreated timber and wood products raises the risk of accidentally introducing forest pests and pathogens into new environments. Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) include several species that are regarded as forest pests. These insects are known to live in close association with fungi, especially species of ophiostomatoid fungi (Ascomycota). Several of these fungi are agents of blue stain in timber, and some are serious plant pathogens. However, only little is known regarding the fungal associates of bark beetles, or the interactions between the fungus, the bark beetle and the host tree in the boreal forests of Fennoscandia.The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge regarding bark beetle-associated fungi in Fennoscandia, with special emphasis on the genera Ophiostoma Syd. & P. Syd. and Grosmannia Goid. Fungi associated with 13 different bark beetle species, infesting Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and birches (Betula L. spp.) in the eastern parts of Finland and neighboring Russia, as well as southern Norway, were isolated and identified. The fungal identifications were based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence comparisons.The survey revealed the occurrence of at least 29 species of Ophiostoma and Grosmannia. All the bark beetle species considered in this study were frequently associated with a complex of ophiostomatoid fungi. Several species were recorded for the first time in the countries in the study. A surprisingly high number of previously undescribed fungal species were discovered. During the survey, eight of these species were described as new taxa. In addition, the study revealed new insect-fungus relationships. The number of taxa encountered, covering a relatively small geographical area, indicates that there are many more ophiostomatoid fungi occurring in the boreal forests of Fennoscandia than has previously been recognized. The study emphasizes the importance of developing a clear understanding of the possible threats of moving timber and wood products without knowledge of the micro-organisms that might also be moved.Keywords: blue stain, insect-fungus interactions, molecular systematics, ophiostomatoid fungi, Ophiostomatales, symbioses 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "It's the journey that's important, not the getting there" (John McLeod). The writing of this dissertation has been a fascinating journey full of unforgettable experiences, from South African sunrises to a rail ride on the Trans Siberian Railway. It has also been a time of personal growth. The writing of a dissertation is a long journey, and obviously not possible without the support of numerous people. I've been truly privileged to start my journey in the world of science with many inspiring people. It's been a great pleasure to follow their enthusiasm and the deep commitment to the work they love. Thank you for passing on the passion for science! I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of you who have contributed and supported this project in v...

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“…Nonetheless, a few studies evaluating insect herbivory are available from the middle Eocene (Lutetian, 49–41.3 Ma) [14], [15]. These and other studies reveal that the inventory of insect damage on plant hosts constitutes an impressive spectrum of plant–insect associations [16]–[18] (Fig. 1), illustrating important, previously unknown aspects of plant-host and insect-herbivore diversification for the European Eocene.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Testing for the Effects and Consequences of Mid Paleogene Climate Change on Insect Herbivory

et al. 2012

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BackgroundThe Eocene, a time of fluctuating environmental change and biome evolution, was generally driven by exceptionally warm temperatures. The Messel (47.8 Ma) and Eckfeld (44.3 Ma) deposits offer a rare opportunity to take a census of two, deep-time ecosystems occurring during a greenhouse system. An understanding of the long-term consequences of extreme warming and cooling events during this interval, particularly on angiosperms and insects that dominate terrestrial biodiversity, can provide insights into the biotic consequences of current global climatic warming.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe compare insect-feeding damage within two middle Eocene fossil floras, Messel and Eckfeld, in Germany. From these small lake deposits, we studied 16,082 angiosperm leaves and scored each specimen for the presence or absence of 89 distinctive and diagnosable insect damage types (DTs), each of which was allocated to a major functional feeding group, including four varieties of external foliage feeding, piercing- and-sucking, leaf mining, galling, seed predation, and oviposition. Methods used for treatment of presence–absence data included general linear models and standard univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results show an unexpectedly high diversity and level of insect feeding than comparable, penecontemporaneous floras from North and South America. In addition, we found a higher level of herbivory on evergreen, rather than deciduous taxa at Messel. This pattern is explained by a ca. 2.5-fold increase in atmospheric CO2 that overwhelmed evergreen antiherbivore defenses, subsequently lessened during the more ameliorated levels of Eckfeld times. These patterns reveal important, previously undocumented features of plant-host and insect-herbivore diversification during the European mid Eocene.

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Ancient death-grip leaf scars reveal ant–fungal parasitism

Cited by 61 publications

References 14 publications

Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

Bark beetle-associated fungi in Fennoscandia with special emphasis on species of Ophiostoma and Grosmannia

Testing for the Effects and Consequences of Mid Paleogene Climate Change on Insect Herbivory

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