Multivariate morphometrics and allometry in a polymorphic ant

Diniz‐Filho, José Alexandre Felizola; Zuben, Cláudio José Von; Fowler, H. G.; Schlindwein, Marcelo Nivert; Bueno, O. C.

doi:10.1007/bf01240475

Cited by 29 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Recently, the use of morphometric techniques to summarize and analyze biological relationships between ant species and genera has advanced our understanding of ant community composition (Weiser & Kaspari 2006) and caste evolution (Diniz-Filho et al 1994;De Andrade & Baroni Urbani 2000;Pie & Traniello 2007). Our PC analysis based on morphological variables showed signifi cant diff erences in overall size, EL and FL between ants collected by winkler sacs and the ones collected by pitfall traps.…”

Section: Taxonmentioning

confidence: 75%

Composition of a high diversity leaf litter ant community (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from an Ecuadorian pre-montane rainforest

Ramón¹

2009

Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.)

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Abstract. The pre-montane forest of the northern Andes is considered one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. Tools for rapidly assessing biodiversity inventories are currently being developed and may aid conservation efforts. Here, we focus on the use of the Ants of the Leaf Litter (ALL) protocol as such a tool and describe the composition of an Ecuadorian pre-montane leaf litter ant community. Two 200-m transects (i.e. two complete replications of the protocol) with a total of 40 winkler sacs and 39 pitfall traps were analyzed. In total, we collected 4 875 specimens from 103 species, 37 genera and 9 subfamilies. The abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE), an asymptotic estimator of species richness, predicted a total of 109 ant species for the forest fl oor, making this ant community one of the most diverse recorded in tropical mid-altitude forests. Subsets of the community sampled by winkler sacs and pitfall traps differed signifi cantly. Winkler sacs were more effi cient than pitfall traps at capturing individual ants (226% more) and species (129% more). Relative to pitfall traps, an analysis of morphology suggested that winkler sacs collected a subset of the ant community that was smaller, less mobile and with smaller eyes (e.g. more subterranean).

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Section: Taxonmentioning

confidence: 75%

Composition of a high diversity leaf litter ant community (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from an Ecuadorian pre-montane rainforest

Ramón¹

2009

Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.)

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“…In Camponotus, Diniz-Filho (1994) found that head width exhibited positive allometry (Fig. 1c), whereas scape length was isometric and suggested that for a bivariate analysis of allometry, scape length could be used as an independent variable (due to its isometry) 64 . Isometric measures, like scape length, are highly correlated and proportional to body size 64 and therefore serve as independent and accurate proxies for body size to examine the size frequency of individuals of a colony.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Workers were measured for several parameters for the purpose of identifying any shifts in size that might have been caused by the manipulation of larval methylation or EGFR signalling inhibition. In particular, we measured scape length, head width, thorax length, thorax width and mandible length as in Diniz-Filho (1994). In Camponotus, Diniz-Filho (1994) found that head width exhibited positive allometry (Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epigenetic variation in the Egfr gene generates quantitative variation in a complex trait in ants

et al. 2015

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Complex quantitative traits, like size and behaviour, are a pervasive feature of natural populations. Quantitative trait variation is the product of both genetic and environmental factors, yet little is known about the mechanisms through which their interaction generates this variation. Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, can mediate gene-byenvironment interactions during development to generate discrete phenotypic variation. We therefore investigated the developmental role of DNA methylation in generating continuous size variation of workers in an ant colony, a key trait associated with division of labour. Here we show that, in the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus, global (genome-wide) DNA methylation indirectly regulates quantitative methylation of the conserved cell-signalling gene Epidermal growth factor receptor to generate continuous size variation of workers. DNA methylation can therefore generate quantitative variation in a complex trait by quantitatively regulating the transcription of a gene. This mechanism, alongside genetic variation, may determine the phenotypic possibilities of loci for generating quantitative trait variation in natural populations.

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“…During our ongoing revision of the Colobopsis cylindrica group, which includes a morphometric analysis of species, a review of previous publications revealed multiple mentions of poly-or dimorphism in workers of Camponotini (e.g., Wilson 1953, Baroni Urbani 1974, Busher et al 1985, but a comparatively small number of more recent studies focusing on morphometry (e.g., Diniz-Filho et al 1994, Rakotonirina et al 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Workers, soldiers, and gynes – morphometric characterization and description of the female castes of Camponotus singularis (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Laciny¹,

Zettel²,

Druzhinina³

2016

DEZ

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Species of Camponotus Mayr, 1861 show a high variation of worker caste numbers, from a monomorphic worker caste to strong polymorphism along a continuous range of worker sizes or true worker dimorphism. Camponotus singularis (Smith, 1858) is used as a model for a Camponotus species with two very distinct worker castes (minors and majors) which are chiefly defined by morphometric data. We investigated shifts in proportions of C. singularis female castes in order to identify major allometric patters useful for characterizing caste differences in this species as well as in other Camponotini. We describe the main morphological traits which are characteristic for the respective morphs. The major worker, or "soldier", shows many characteristics which deviate from the minor worker, but also from the alate gyne. Its traits are assumingly modified for its function in nest defence. Morphometric data clearly set Bornean specimens of Camponotus singularis (described as var. rufomaculatus Donisthorpe, 1941) apart from specimens with other proveniences, suggesting that this island population is a distinct species.

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Multivariate morphometrics and allometry in a polymorphic ant

Cited by 29 publications

References 12 publications

Composition of a high diversity leaf litter ant community (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from an Ecuadorian pre-montane rainforest

Composition of a high diversity leaf litter ant community (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from an Ecuadorian pre-montane rainforest

Epigenetic variation in the Egfr gene generates quantitative variation in a complex trait in ants

Workers, soldiers, and gynes – morphometric characterization and description of the female castes of Camponotus singularis (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

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