Biochemical Implications of Insect Mycophagy

Martin, Michael M.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-185x.1979.tb00865.x

Cited by 131 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 113 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Acquired microbial cellulases have been reported in some insects. For example, Martin andMartin (1978, 1979) found the termite Macrotermes depends on a cultivated fungus for a supply of cellulase. Kukor and Martin (1983) found that the woodwasp Sirex cyaneus used cellulase acquired by ingestion of a fungus, Amylostereum chailletii, for the digestion of wood tissue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, we previously demonstrated that microbial cellulases were ubiquitous on decaying leaves in the stream from which nymphs used here were collected (Sinsabaugh et al 1981). Since fungal cellulases are very stable enzymes (Reese 1977, Linkins et al 1978, Martin 1979) any detritivore whose gut environment is of the proper pH, redox potential, and ionic strength (Martin 1979) could benefit from ingested enzymes. We have no data on the redox potential or ionic strength of gut fluids in Pteronarcys, but in situ gut pH measurements on individuals collected over the study period revealed a mean anterior gut pH of 6.4 (range 6.2-6.4, n = 14) and a mean hindgut pH of 7.2 (range 7.1-7.4, n = 14).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evidence mitigating against an endosymbiotic origin for the high levels of cellulase activity in Pteronarcys also supports an acquired glucanase hypothesis. The nymphs have simple tubular guts that lack the distinctive fermentation chambers found in most animals harboring cellulolytic endosymbionts (Martin 1979). In addition, there appears to be no permanent gut flora in the Pteronarcys alimentary tract (Meitz 1974, Cummins andKlug 1979).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Cellulose Digestion and Assimilation by Three Leaf‐shredding Aquatic Insects

Sinsabaugh¹,

Linkins²,

Benfield³

1985

Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. Abstract. The capacity of three leaf-shredding aquatic insects, Pteronarcys proteus (Plecoptera: Pteronarcidae), Tipula abdominalis (Diptera: Tipulidae), and Pycnopsyche luculenta (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), to digest and assimilate cellulose was investigated. Pteronarcys nymphs collected from two second-order woodland streams over a 14-mo period exhibited high levels of cellulolytic activity in their alimentary tracts, especially in the anterior gut. Similar though slightly lower activity levels were measured in Pycnopsyche guts. Cellulolytic activity in Tipula larvae collected from the streams during the same period was low to absent, and when present, was concentrated in the hindgut. General proteolytic activity was similar in the alimentary tracts of all three species. Ecological Society of AmericaAssimilation of uniformly labelled 14C-cellulose was determined by a dual-label technique, and assimilation efficiencies were estimated at 11.2% for Pteronarcys, 18.5% for Tipula, and 12.0% for Pycnopsyche. Confirmation that labelled digestion products passed the gut wall in two species was obtained by in vitro label transport experiments. Ion exchange fractionation of labelled digestion products crossing the gut wall showed that >90% of the label was transported as organic acids and amino acids in Tipula, while >40% of the label crossing the gut wall in Pteronarcys was neutral sugar. Based on the label experiments and published information, we hypothesize that Tipula relies mainly on microbial endosymbionts for cellulose hydrolysis, while Pteronarcys accomplishes hydrolysis largely by means of acquired microbial enzymes obtained through ingestion of microbially conditioned detritus. This study demonstrates the potential for certain leaf-shredding stream insects to derive nutritional benefit from plant polysaccharides, although not without microbial mediation.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Cellulose Digestion and Assimilation by Three Leaf‐shredding Aquatic Insects

Sinsabaugh¹,

Linkins²,

Benfield³

1985

Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…I suggest that the requirements of the ants' fungal mutualist may be the primary reason for discrimination against plants containing certain lipids. Fungi are sources of potent enzyme systems for detoxifying plant secondary chemicals, particularly phenolic substances (Martin 1979). It may be that the leafcutting ant fungus is well equipped to detoxify many nitrogenous and phenolic secondary compounds, but is vulnerable to some classes of non?…”

Section: Relationship Of Plant Chemistry To Palatabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Leafcutting Ant Diet Selection: The Role of Nutrients, Water, and Secondary Chemistry

Howard¹

1987

Ecology

102

101

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. The relationship of plant secondary chemistry, water content, and nutrient content to the palatability of leaves to the leafcutting ant Atta cephalotes was determined in a study of individuals from 50 woody plant species in tropical dry forest of Costa Rica. The study took place during the yearly period of maximum leaf harvest, in the early rainy season. The palatability of plants was determined by presenting leaf disks to ants on active foraging trails of three ant colonies. The distribution of several classes of polar secondary compounds in leaf samples was determined using chemical spot tests, and that of antdeterrent nonpolar compounds using laboratory bioassays of plant nonpolar extracts. Ni? trogen, energy, and water availability in leaves were assessed using quantitative analyses. Ecological Society of AmericaPlants of high relative palatability generally lacked deterrent nonpolar extracts but did contain hydrolyzable tannins; the opposite was true for plants of low palatability. Little or no relationship was found to exist between plant palatability and measures of leaf nitrogen, energy content, and moisture content, or the presence of alkaloids and condensed tannins in leaves. No statistically significant interactions among leaf characteristics were found. The number of leaf disks harvested by ant colonies decreased during the study period. This decrease was unrelated to nutrient and moisture availability in leaves, but may be related to changes in secondary chemistry over the course ofthe season. Although plants were not equally palatable to all colonies tested, there was no evidence that colony-to-colony dif? ferences in plant preferences were related to the plant characteristics studied. Overall, the results suggest that plant secondary chemistry is the best predictor of plant species utilization by leafcutting ants.

show abstract

“…The cellulases in invertebrates are believed to originate predominantly from symbiotic bacteria (Kristensen 1972;Wainright and Mann 1982) or from ingestion of microbial enzymes (Martin 1979), but may also be produced by the animals (Wildish and Poole 1970). Transmission electron microscopy of A. curvirostris and D. magna intestines did not reveal a gut flora, and the sterile food used in our experiments precludes the possibility of acquired exogenous enzymes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 77%