Induction of a reproductive-specific cuticular hydrocarbon profile by a juvenile hormone analog in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

Brent, Colin S.; Penick, Clint A.; Trobaugh, Beth; Moore, Dani; Liebig, Jürgen

doi:10.1007/s00049-016-0219-8

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 81 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Indeed, in several termite species, the CHC profiles have been shown to be caste specific and differ quantitatively and/or qualitatively between queens (eventually also kings) and sterile colony members [6,7]. The CHC profile was shown to shift towards that of fertile reproductives upon exogenous application of an analogue of juvenile hormone, the major regulator of insect reproductive maturation, to subfertile reproductives of the lower termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Archotermopsidae) [8]. In another model of lower termites, Cryptotermes secundus (Kalotermitidae), the queen-specific CHC profile has been modified towards that of sterile colony members when a gene encoding for a cytochrome P450 enzyme, probably involved in CHC biosynthesis and upregulated in queens, was silenced in the queens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

(3R,6E)-nerolidol, a fertility-related volatile secreted by the queens of higher termites (Termitidae: Syntermitinae)

Havlíčková

Dolejšová

Tichý

et al. 2019

Zeitschrift Für Naturforschung C

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The queens of advanced social insects maintain their reproductive monopoly by using exocrine chemicals. The chemistry of these “queen pheromones” in termites is poorly known. We show that primary queens of four higher termites from the subfamily Syntermitinae (Embiratermes neotenicus, Silvestritermes heyeri, Labiotermes labralis, and Cyrilliotermes angulariceps) emit significant amounts of the sesquiterpene alcohol (E)-nerolidol. It is the dominant analyte in queen body washes; it is present on the surface of eggs, but absent in kings, workers, and soldiers. In E. neotenicus, it is also produced by replacement neotenic queens, in quantities correlated with their fertility. Using newly synthesised (3R,6E)-nerolidol, we demonstrate that the queens of this species produce only the (R) enantiomer. It is distributed over the surface of their abdomen, in internal tissues, and in the haemolymph, as well as in the headspace of the queens. Both (R) and (S) enantiomers are perceived by the antennae of E. neotenicus workers. The naturally occurring (R) enantiomer elicited a significantly larger antennal response, but it did not show any behavioural effect. In spite of technical difficulties encountered in long-term experiments with the studied species, (3R,6E)-nerolidol remains among eventual candidates for the role in queen fertility signalling.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

(3R,6E)-nerolidol, a fertility-related volatile secreted by the queens of higher termites (Termitidae: Syntermitinae)

Havlíčková

Dolejšová

Tichý

et al. 2019

Zeitschrift Für Naturforschung C

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Importantly in these societies JH appears to be involved as part of an ‘honest’ signal that informs other colony members about their fertility (Cuvillier-Hot, Lenoir & Peeters, 2004), a key cue for the maintenance of dominance hierarchies in these societies. In studies on a gamergate ant society, a social wasp and a termite, topical applications of JH affect cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of adult and larval individuals such that the profile becomes more ‘reproductive-like’ and is perceived so by colony members (Kelstrup et al, 2014; Brent et al, 2016; Penick & Liebig, 2017). However in Streblognathus ants alphas treated with JH had their fertility reduced and the CHC profile matched more closely with that of a sterile worker than an alpha (Cuvillier-Hot et al, 2004)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of juvenile hormone in regulating reproductive physiology and dominance in Dinoponera quadriceps ants

Norman

Pamminger

Nascimento

et al. 2019

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Unequal reproductive output among members of the same sex (reproductive skew) is a common phenomenon in a wide range of communally breeding animals. In such species, reproductive dominance is often acquired during antagonistic interactions between group members that establish a reproductive hierarchy in which only a few individuals reproduce. Rank-specific syndromes of behavioural and physiological traits characterize such hierarchies, but how antagonistic behavioural interactions translate into stable rank-specific syndromes remains poorly understood. The pleiotropic nature of hormones makes them prime candidates for generating such syndromes as they physiologically integrate environmental (social) information, and often affect reproduction and behaviour simultaneously. Juvenile hormone (JH) is one of several hormones that occupy such a central regulatory role in insects and has been suggested to regulate reproductive hierarchies in a wide range of social insects including ants. Here we use experimental manipulation to investigate the effect of JH levels on reproductive physiology and social dominance in high-ranked workers of the eusocial ant Dinoponera quadriceps, a species that has secondarily reverted to queenless, simple societies. We show that JH regulated reproductive physiology, with ants in which JH levels were experimentally elevated having more regressed ovaries. In contrast, we found no evidence of JH levels affecting dominance in social interactions. This could indicate that JH and ovary development are decoupled from dominance in this species, however only high-ranked workers were investigated. The results therefore confirm that the regulatory role of JH in reproductive physiology in this ant species is in keeping with its highly eusocial ancestors rather than its secondary reversion to simple societies, but more investigation is needed to disentangle the relationships between hormones, behaviour and hierarchies.

show abstract

“…Importantly in these societies JH appears to be involved as part of an 'honest' signal in inform other colony members about their fertility (Cuvillier-Hot et al 2004b), a key cue for the maintenance of dominance hierarchies in these societies. In studies on a gamergate ant society, a social wasp and termite -topical applications of JH affect cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of adult and larval individuals such that the profile becomes more 'reproductive-like' and is perceived so by colony members (Kelstrup et al 2014;Brent et al 2016;Penick and Liebig 2017). However in Streblognathus ants alphas treated with JH had their fertility reduced and the CHC profile matched more closely with that of a sterile worker than an PeerJ reviewing PDF | (2018:02:25767:1:1:NEW 9 Jan 2019)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #2 of "The role of juvenile hormone in regulating reproductive physiology and dominance in Dinoponera quadriceps ants (v0.1)"

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Unequal reproductive output among members of the same sex (reproductive skew) is a common phenomenon in a wide range of communally breeding animals. In such species, reproductive dominance is often acquired during antagonistic interactions between group members that establish a reproductive hierarchy in which only a few individuals reproduce. Rank-specific syndromes of behavioural and physiological traits characterize such hierarchies, but how antagonistic behavioural interactions translate into stable rankspecific syndromes remains poorly understood. The pleiotropic nature of hormones makes them prime candidates for generating such syndromes as they physiologically integrate environmental (social) information, and often affect reproduction and behaviour simultaneously. Juvenile hormone (JH) is one of several hormones that occupy such a central regulatory role in insects and has been suggested to regulate reproductive hierarchies in a wide range of social insects including ants. Here we use experimental manipulation to investigate the effect of JH levels on reproductive physiology and social dominance in high-ranked workers of the eusocial ant Dinoponera quadriceps, a species that has secondarily reverted to queenless, simple societies. We show that JH regulated reproductive physiology, with ants in which JH levels were experimentally elevated having more regressed ovaries. In contrast, we found no evidence of JH levels affecting dominance in social interactions. This could indicate that JH and ovary development are decoupled from dominance in this species, however only high-ranked workers were investigated. The results therefore confirm that the regulatory role of JH in reproductive physiology in this ant species is in keeping with its highly eusocial ancestors rather than its secondary reversion to simple societies, but more investigation is needed to disentangle the relationships between hormones, behaviour and hierarchies.

show abstract

Induction of a reproductive-specific cuticular hydrocarbon profile by a juvenile hormone analog in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

Cited by 16 publications

References 81 publications

(3R,6E)-nerolidol, a fertility-related volatile secreted by the queens of higher termites (Termitidae: Syntermitinae)

(3R,6E)-nerolidol, a fertility-related volatile secreted by the queens of higher termites (Termitidae: Syntermitinae)

The role of juvenile hormone in regulating reproductive physiology and dominance in Dinoponera quadriceps ants

Peer Review #2 of "The role of juvenile hormone in regulating reproductive physiology and dominance in Dinoponera quadriceps ants (v0.1)"

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About