Comparative chemical analysis of army ant mandibular gland volatiles (Formicidae: Dorylinae)

Brückner, Adrian; Hoenle, Philipp O.; Beeren, Christoph von

doi:10.7717/peerj.5319

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…To test whether army ant phylogeny determines dietary preferences, we created two distance matrices. First, we extracted the pairwise species divergence times of army ants from a well‐resolved phylogeny of Eciton (Winston, Kronauer, & Moreau, ; see also Brückner, Hoenle, & von Beeren, for details of the analysis). Divergence data were not available for some of the studied Neivamyrmex and Nomamyrmex species , and we thus included only Ne.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species‐level predation network uncovers high prey specificity in a Neotropical army ant community

et al. 2019

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Army ants are among the top arthropod predators and considered keystone species in tropical ecosystems. During daily mass raids with many thousand workers, army ants hunt live prey, likely exerting strong top-down control on prey species. Many tropical sites exhibit a high army ant species diversity (>20 species), suggesting that sympatric species partition the available prey niches. However, whether and to what extent this is achieved has not been intensively studied yet. We therefore conducted a large-scale diet survey of a community of surface-raiding army ants at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. We systematically collected 3,262 prey items from eleven army ant species (genera Eciton, Nomamyrmex and Neivamyrmex). Prey items were classified as ant prey or non-ant prey. The prey nearly exclusively consisted of other ants (98%), and most booty was ant brood (87%). Using morphological characters and DNA barcoding, we identified a total of 1,103 ant prey specimens to the species level. One hundred twenty-nine ant species were detected among the army ant prey, representing about 30% of the known local ant diversity. Using weighted bipartite network analyses, we show that prey specialization in army ants is unexpectedly high and prey niche overlap very small. Besides food niche differentiation, we uncovered a spatiotemporal niche differentiation in army ant raid activity. We discuss competition-driven multidimensional niche differentiation and predator-prey arms races as possible mechanisms underlying prey specialization in army ants. By combining systematic prey sampling with species-level prey identification and network analyses, our integrative approach can guide future research by portraying how predator-prey interactions in complex communities can be reliably studied, even in cases where morphological prey identification is infeasible. K E Y W O R D Scompetitive release, DNA barcoding, niche differentiation, predator-prey network, prey specialization, species coexistence

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species‐level predation network uncovers high prey specificity in a Neotropical army ant community

et al. 2019

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“…Determination of the key compounds, and their physiological and behavioral effects, will provide a foundation for comparative studies (e.g., Ngumbi and Fadamiro, 2015). Such studies will clarify the evolutionary trajectories of specific compounds (Norman et al, 2017;Brückner et al, 2018;Hamilton et al, 2018) and improve our understanding of their perception by ant associates. Finally, an evolutionary approach to ant chemistry and eavesdropping will provide a basis for understanding how eavesdroppers and other ant associates, can shape the evolution of pheromone profiles.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Species with frequent nest migration are more likely to be discovered by ant associates. Army ants are constantly laying trail pheromones (Oldham et al, 1994), and excrete volatile alarm substances when in conflict (Brückner et al, 2018). They do not construct permanent nests, but instead have statary (i.e., stationary) and nomadic phases (Gotwald, 1995).…”

Section: Nest Migration/extensive Trail Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspecific Eavesdropping on Ant Chemical Communication

et al. 2020

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Chemical communication is a fundamental, highly complex component of social insect societies. Ants in particular employ a remarkable diversity of chemical signals to maintain social cohesion among nestmates, gain essential resources through coordinated foraging, and warn of danger. Although the chemicals used can be functionally specific, they are vulnerable to exploitation by eavesdropping natural enemies (e.g., parasitoids, predators, parasites) and other associates (e.g., myrmecophiles). Ant nests are nutrient hotspots due to their collection of resources warranting keen defense systems; yet the heavily defended hideouts are frequently invaded. Many organisms exploit ant species, but how they locate hosts-including what host-derived cues are used-is still poorly understood. Here, we review current knowledge about how ant chemical communication systems can be exploited by unintended receivers. We take a case study approach and illustrate the diversity of ant associates and host traits that may predispose ants to exploitation. We identify knowledge gaps by reviewing host systems and listing: (1) the types of associates (e.g., fly, wasp, beetle) where eavesdropping is likely occurring, organized by the host communication system that is being exploited; (2) the ant parasites that exploit trail pheromones; and (3) the experimentally determined chemicals (i.e., alarm/defensive pheromones), used by eavesdroppers. At least 25 families of arthropods (10 orders) potentially eavesdrop on ant communication systems and nearly 20 host ant species are vulnerable to trail parasite ant species. We also propose future research that will improve our understanding of community assembly by examining host traits (e.g., latitude, nest characteristics, trail system) that influence their susceptibility to eavesdropping associates.

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“…Many social insect parasites outmaneuver the chemical alarm system of their hosts using chemical-deceptive strategies like de novo chemical mimicry, acquired chemical mimicry, chemical insignificance and/or chemical weaponry (Akino 2008;von Beeren et al 2012). Chemical mimicry and insignificance are very well studied tactics of ant colony parasites: many arthropods that successfully integrate themselves into heavily armed ant nests match their host CHC profiles either actively via biosynthesis of similar CHCs or passively by acquiring CHCs from their host's cuticle through occasional contact and/or specific grooming behavior (Akino 2008;Bagnères and Lorenzi 2010;Lenoir et al 2001;von Beeren et . CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license available under a (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many highly specialized "myrmecophiles" -here defined as parasites whose life history depends at least in some aspects on their social interaction with the ant colony without returning obvious benefits (Parker 2016) -that are obligately associated to their host, use chemical mimicry and display a closely matching CHC profile (Akino 2008;Bagnères and Lorenzi 2010;von Beeren et al 2018). Such parasites are often socially integrated into the ant society and are treated as nestmates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using weapons instead of perfume – chemical association strategies of the myrmecophilous bugScolopostethus pacificus(Rhyparochromidae)

Brueckner

2020

Preprint

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A vast diversity of parasites associate with ants. Living in and around ant nests these organisms must overcome ant colony defenses. As ant defensive behavior is mainly mediated by species-specific cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) or alarm pheromones, ant-associated parasites can either crack their hosts chemical communication code by modifying their own CHC-profiles or use pro-active strategies like chemical weaponry for distraction and repellency. While the chemical nature of ant-parasite interactions has been intensively studied for highly host specific parasites, the chemical-deceptive strategies of the rather rare ant-resembling Heteropterans are unknown. To gain insight into this system, I studied the bug Scolopostethus pacificus (Barber 1918) which can be found near the nests of the ecologically dominant and aggressive velvety tree ant (Liometopum occidentale, Emery 1895). Using behavioral, chemical and molecular approaches I disentangled the relationship of S. pasificus and its host ant. Chemical profiling of the bug and the ant revealed that the bug does not make use of CHC insignificance or mimicry, but instead uses a cocktail of volatile compounds released from its metathoracic glands that likely moderates encounters with its aggressive host. Feeding trials with armed and artificially disarmed bugs revealed a defensive function of the gland exudates. Targeted molecular gut barcoding showed that S. pasificus does not feed on L. occidentale. These results suggest that chemical weaponry, rather than a chemical code-cracking CHC matching or chemical insignificance, enables S. pasificus to get along with and live in close proximity to its host ant.

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Comparative chemical analysis of army ant mandibular gland volatiles (Formicidae: Dorylinae)

Cited by 11 publications

References 41 publications

Species‐level predation network uncovers high prey specificity in a Neotropical army ant community

Species‐level predation network uncovers high prey specificity in a Neotropical army ant community

Interspecific Eavesdropping on Ant Chemical Communication

Using weapons instead of perfume – chemical association strategies of the myrmecophilous bugScolopostethus pacificus(Rhyparochromidae)

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