Phylogeny and evolutionary history of queen polymorphic Myrmecina ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Steiner, Florian M.; Schlick‐Steiner, Birgit C.; Konrad, Heino; Linksvayer, Timothy A.; Quek, Swee-Peck; Christian, Erhard; Stauffer, Christian; Buschinger, Alfred

doi:10.14411/eje.2006.083

Cited by 7 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…These findings indicate that variable expression of colony‐founding strategy in M. nipponica exhibits both a phylogenetic and geographic pattern, making it difficult to infer the underlying driver of this variation. It has been suggested, however, that polymorphism is basal to this genus (Steiner et al., 2006), and our results indicate that intra‐population polymorphism in reproductive strategy is widespread in Japan. Both queen morphs were found in two N populations, two SH populations (including a single colony in Takanawa) and one SL population (Table 1).…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 40%

“…The ant genus Myrmecina has a global distribution and comprises 53 species (Guénard, Weiser, Gomez, Narula, & Economo, 2017). Species in Europe, Japan and the Americas exhibit both winged and ergatoid queen morphs indicating intra‐specific variation in reproductive strategy, and it has been proposed that polymorphism is the ancestral condition for the group (Steiner et al., 2006). In the Japanese member of the genus, M. nipponica , both queen morphs occur and may be found in the same population (Miyazaki, Murakami, Azuma, Higashi, & Miura, 2005; Murakami, Ohkawara, & Higashi, 2002), suggesting colony‐founding strategy is polymorphic in this species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geographic patterns in colonial reproductive strategy inMyrmecina nipponica: Links between biogeography and a key polymorphism in ants

Cronin

Azuma

Miyazaki

et al. 2020

J of Evolutionary Biology

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The ability to express different phenotypes can help define species distributions by allowing access to, and exploitation of, new environments. Social insects employ two markedly different reproductive strategies with contrasting cost/benefit characteristics: independent colony foundation (ICF), which is associated with high dispersal range and high risk, and dependent colony foundation (DCF), characterized by low risk but low dispersal. The ant Myrmecina nipponica employs both of these strategies, with the frequency of each apparently varying between populations. We combine molecular data with data on reproductive strategy from different populations of this species throughout Japan to explore how this polymorphism is linked to environmental factors and whether this relationship can help explain the current and historical biogeography of this species. Reproductive strategy exhibited a strong geographic pattern, with ICF predominant in southern populations and DCF more common in northern and southern highland populations. Molecular analyses clearly divided populations into broad geographic regions, with the southern lowland populations basal to (southern highland (+ northern)) populations. Intra‐population polymorphism in colony‐founding strategy was widespread, and polymorphism was reconstructed as the likely ancestral state. The frequency of different strategies was linked with climate, with DCF more common in colder areas. A recent inferred origin to the northern lineage suggests that colonization of northern Japan was a rapid event coincident with warming at the end of the Last Glacial Maxima, likely facilitated by the cold‐adaptive advantages of DCF. We discuss how such polymorphisms could help explain the biogeography of this and other social insects.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 40%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic patterns in colonial reproductive strategy inMyrmecina nipponica: Links between biogeography and a key polymorphism in ants

Cronin

Azuma

Miyazaki

et al. 2020

J of Evolutionary Biology

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“…If a gradual polymorphism, such as reduction of wings and other thoracic characters, is seen, these forms are usually termed ‘intercastes’. Intercastes are known for instance in Myrmecina (Buschinger & Schreiber, 2002; Steiner et al , 2006) and also in Crematogaster (Heinze et al , 1999; Oettler et al , 2008). In contrast to the above examples, the queen polymorphism in C. ranavalonae is not restricted to size or thorax reduction and does not involve wing reduction, and appears to represent an exceptional and until now undescribed case in the ants.…”

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confidence: 99%

Untangling complex morphological variation: taxonomic revision of the subgenus Crematogaster (Oxygyne) in Madagascar, with insight into the evolution and biogeography of this enigmatic ant clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Blaimer

2011

Systematic Entomology

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The subgenus Crematogaster (Oxygyne) shows an Old World distribution and comprises a group of ants with specialised queen morphology suggestive of temporary social parasitism. This study investigated species hypotheses for Oxygyne species in Madagascar by integrating morphology and mitochondrial and nuclear sequences in an iterative taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses (mrbayes and raxml) of one mitochondrial gene (cytochrome oxidase I) and analysis of population genetic structure (structure) based on three nuclear markers (long wavelength rhodopsin, arginine kinase, carbomoyl phosphate synthase) yielded a contrast between complex morphological variation and genetic data in six previously described species and subspecies. Thus, the taxonomy of the Malagasy Oxygyne is revised and three species are recognised: Crematogaster ranavalonae Forel, C. agnetis Forel and C. marthae Forel. The previously described C. ranavalonae pepo Forel, C. ranavalonae paulinae Forel, C. emmae Forel, C. emmae laticeps Forel, C. inops Forel and C. descarpentriesi Santschi are synonymised under C. ranavalonae, a species that is morphologically highly variable and shows exceptional polymorphism in the queen caste. Species descriptions and identification keys based on worker and queen ants are provided. A taxonomic synopsis, updated species list and morphological diagnosis of the entire subgenus Oxygyne is presented, and the subgenus Nematocrema is hereby synonymised under Oxygyne. Phylogenetic estimations (mrbayes, raxml, *beast) explore relationships between Malagasy and four other African and Asian taxa within Oxygyne and are based on both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences. The monophyly of the subgenus Oxygyne is strongly supported and the Malagasy Oxygyne form a clade that is sister to a clade of both African and an Asian taxa. Social parasitism is discussed as the cause for complex morphological variation in queens of C. ranavalonae, and phylogenetic results lead to the hypothesis of a single origin of this highly specialised queen caste in Crematogaster in the Old World. These findings highlight the need for field studies to explore the temporary parasitic behaviour and host–parasite relationships in these enigmatic ants, and to increase phylogenetic sampling to further investigate the evolution of this intriguing trait.

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“…Furthermore, wingless reproductive castes like ergatoids have frequently been described in the genus Myrmecina (Ito 1996;Buschinger & Schreiber 2002;Steiner et al 2006). Although the molecular phylogeny among species in the genus was recently proposed (Steiner et al 2006), the evolutionary origins of wingless reproductives among species remain debatable. Future research will include comparative developmental analyses to reveal how the caste differentiation pathways have evolved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ergatoid queen development in the ant Myrmecina nipponica : modular and heterochronic regulation of caste differentiation

Miyazaki

Murakami²,

Kubo

et al. 2010

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Caste polyphenism in social insects provides us with excellent opportunities to examine the plasticity and robustness underlying developmental pathways. Several ant species have evolved unusual castes showing intermediate morphologies between alate queens and wingless workers. In some low-temperature habitats, the ant Myrmecina nipponica produces such intermediate reproductives (i.e. ergatoids), which can mate and store sperm but cannot fly. To gain insight into the developmental and evolutionary aspects associated with ergatoid production, we conducted morphological and histological examinations of the post-embryonic development of compound eyes, gonads and wings during the process of caste differentiation. In compound eyes, both the queen-worker and ergatoid-worker differences were already recognized at the third larval instar. In gonads, queen-worker differentiation began at the larval stage, and ergatoid-worker differentiation began between the prepupal and pupal stages. Wing development in ergatoids was generally similar to that in workers throughout post-embryonic development. Our results showed that the developmental rate and timing of differentiation in body parts differed among castes and among body parts. These differences suggest that the rearrangement of modular body parts by heterochronic developmental regulation is responsible for the origination of novel castes, which are considered to be adaptations to specific ecological niches.

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Phylogeny and evolutionary history of queen polymorphic Myrmecina ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cited by 7 publications

References 56 publications

Geographic patterns in colonial reproductive strategy inMyrmecina nipponica: Links between biogeography and a key polymorphism in ants

Geographic patterns in colonial reproductive strategy inMyrmecina nipponica: Links between biogeography and a key polymorphism in ants

Untangling complex morphological variation: taxonomic revision of the subgenus Crematogaster (Oxygyne) in Madagascar, with insight into the evolution and biogeography of this enigmatic ant clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Ergatoid queen development in the ant Myrmecina nipponica : modular and heterochronic regulation of caste differentiation

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