Using chemo-taxonomy of host ants to help conserve the large blue butterfly

Guillem, Rhian; Drijfhout, Falko P.; Martin, Stephen J.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2012.01.066

Cited by 23 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The localities in Greece and Spain were chosen as they represent two different glacial refugia - the Balkans and Iberia, respectively - thus maximizing any potential chemical diversity within species profiles. We used previous data from Guillem et al (2012) for M. sabuleti and M. scabrinodis from Great Britain, but included an additional six colonies of M. scabrinodis . All samples were morphologically identified prior to chemical analysis, using keys in Radchenko and Elmes (2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…*Data used from Guillem et al (2012). Number of colonies represent the total number of nests chemo-typed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, earlier studies on ant chemistry often used species from this genus (Attygalle et al 1983; Evershed et al 1982; Morgan et al 1979). Limited studies on Myrmica have shown CHC profiles to be species-specific, at least within a small geographical range for a limited number of species (Elmes et al 2002; Guillem et al 2012). The Myrmica species used in this study were chosen because they are common and abundant, have extensive and continuous temperate-boreal Palaearctic distributions, and have wide ecological tolerances, occurring in a diverse array of habitats and climates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species-Specific Cuticular Hydrocarbon Stability within European Myrmica Ants

2016

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Recognition is a fundamental process on which all subsequent behaviors are based at every organizational level, from the gene up to the super-organism. At the whole organism level, visual recognition is the best understood. However, chemical communication is far more widespread than visual communication, but despite its importance is much less understood. Ants provide an excellent model system for chemical ecology studies as it is well established that compounds known as cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are used as recognition cues in ants. Therefore, stable species-specific odors should exist, irrespective of geographic locality. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the CHC profiles of workers of twelve species of Myrmica ants from four countries across Europe, from Iberia to the Balkans and from the Mediterranean to Fennoscandia. CHCs remained qualitatively stable within each species, right down to the isomer level. Despite the morphological similarity that occurs within the genus Myrmica, their CHCs were highly diverse but remarkably species-specific and stable across wide geographical areas. This indicates a genetic mechanism under strong selection that produces these species-specific chemical profiles, despite each species encountering different environmental conditions across its range.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10886-016-0784-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…*Data used from Guillem et al (2012). Number of colonies represent the total number of nests chemo-typed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species-Specific Cuticular Hydrocarbon Stability within European Myrmica Ants

2016

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“…scabrinodis'' because of the minor morphological differences between the species making proper identification contentious. The only certain method in this case seems to be chromatography (Guillem et al 2012), but due to the very large number of contentious samples and low probability of finding M. sabuleti in this area, this species was omitted in the analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive goldenrods affect abundance and diversity of grassland ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2016

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Goldenrods (Solidago sp.) are currently one of the most invasive plant species in Central Europe. They threaten abandoned semi-natural wet grasslands which are extremely vulnerable to plant succession and invasions. We assessed whether Solidago invasion affects ants, keystone organisms essential to proper ecosystem functioning and to the existence of myrmecophilous Phengaris butterflies. Ten meadows containing 60 plots with and without goldenrods were studied. We found a strong, negative dependence between the presence of goldenrod cover and the number of ant nests (more than 50 % reduction compared to control) as well as the number of species, and changes in species composition. Myrmica ants, essential hosts for Phengaris larvae, were among the most affected species by goldenrod invasion. Immediate action should be undertaken for restoration and maintenance of biodiversity hotspots affected by goldenrod invasion.

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“…Chemical profiling of cuticular lipids 1044 could provide a rapid, inexpensive way to identify species, espe-1045 cially in the case of cryptic species which are indistinguishable 1046 based on morphology alone. Notably, cuticular lipid profiles have 1047 proven to be useful for identification of a number of cryptic species 1048of ants, butterflies, termites, and beetles[235][236][237][238]…”

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confidence: 99%