How host diet impact the life of termitophiles: insights from the Corotoca–Constrictotermes cyphergaster relationship

Eloi, Igor; Ribeiro, Kézia Gomes; Bezerra-Gusmão, Maria Avany

doi:10.1007/s00040-023-00924-5

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Messor -specialized Neoasterolepisma also do not engage in trophallaxis (unlike obligate generalist nicoletiid species). A recent study underlined the importance of the diet quality of a termite host for the fitness of an associated beetle [ 57 ] . Messor -specialized silverfish are also subject to the quality of the food resources consumed by their ant hosts, but it is unknown whether these silverfish select nests based on the nest feeding ecology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology

Parmentier,

Molero-Baltanás,

Valdivia

et al. 2024

BMC Biol

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Background Various animal taxa have specialized to living with social hosts. Depending on their level of specialization, these symbiotic animals are characterized by distinct behavioural, chemical, and morphological traits that enable close heterospecific interactions. Despite its functional importance, our understanding of the feeding ecology of animals living with social hosts remains limited. We examined how host specialization of silverfish co-habiting with ants affects several components of their feeding ecology. We combined stable isotope profiling, feeding assays, phylogenetic reconstruction, and microbial community characterization of the Neoasterolepisma silverfish genus and a wider nicoletiid and lepismatid silverfish panel where divergent myrmecophilous lifestyles are observed. Results Stable isotope profiling (δ13C and δ15N) showed that the isotopic niches of granivorous Messor ants and Messor-specialized Neoasterolepisma exhibit a remarkable overlap within an ant nest. Trophic experiments and gut dissections further supported that these specialized Neoasterolepisma silverfish transitioned to a diet that includes plant seeds. In contrast, the isotopic niches of generalist Neoasterolepisma silverfish and generalist nicoletiid silverfish were clearly different from their ant hosts within the shared nest environment. The impact of the myrmecophilous lifestyle on feeding ecology was also evident in the internal silverfish microbiome. Compared to generalists, Messor-specialists exhibited a higher bacterial density and a higher proportion of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, the nest environment explained the infection profile (or the 16S rRNA genotypes) of Weissella bacteria in Messor-specialized silverfish and the ant hosts. Conclusions Together, we show that social hosts are important determinants for the feeding ecology of symbiotic animals and can induce diet convergence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology

Parmentier,

Molero-Baltanás,

Valdivia

et al. 2024

BMC Biol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Messor -specialized Neoasterolepisma also do not engage in trophallaxis (unlike obligate generalist nicoletiid species). A recent study underlined the importance of the diet quality of a termite host for the fitness of an associated beetle (Eloi et al, 2023). Messor -specialized silverfish are also subject to the quality of the food resources consumed by their ant hosts, but it is unknown whether these silverfish select nests based on the nest feeding ecology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology

Parmentier,

Molero-Baltanás,

Valdivia

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Species from a great number of animal taxa have specialized to living with social hosts. Depending on their level of specialization, these symbiotic animals are characterized by distinct behavioural, chemical, and morphological traits that enable close heterospecific interactions. Despite its functional importance, our understanding of the feeding ecology of specialized animals living with social hosts remains limited.In this study, we examined how host specialization of silverfish co-habiting with ants affects several components of their feeding ecology. We combined stable isotope profiling, feeding assays, phylogenetic reconstruction, and microbial community characterization of theNeoasterolepismasilverfish genus and a wider nicoletiid and lepismatid silverfish panel where divergent myrmecophilous lifestyles are observed.Stable isotope profiling (δ13C and δ15N) showed that the isotopic niches (proxy for trophic niches) of granivorousMessorants andMessor-specializedNeoasterolepismaexhibit a remarkable overlap within an ant nest. Trophic experiments and gut dissections further supported that these specializedNeoasterolepismasilverfish transitioned to a diet that includes plant seeds. In contrast, the isotopic niches of generalistNeoasterolepismasilverfish and generalist nicoletiid silverfish were clearly different from their ant hosts within the shared nest environment.The impact of the myrmecophilous lifestyle on feeding ecology was also evident in the internal silverfish microbiome. Compared to generalists,Messor-specialists exhibited a higher bacterial density and a higher proportion of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, the nest environment explained the infection profile (or the 16S rRNA genotypes) ofWeissellabacteria inMessor-specialized silverfish and the ant hosts.Together, we show that social hosts are important determinants for the feeding ecology of symbiotic animals, and can induce diet convergence.

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How host diet impact the life of termitophiles: insights from the Corotoca–Constrictotermes cyphergaster relationship

Cited by 2 publications

References 52 publications

Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology

Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology

Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology

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