Phylogeny of leafcutter ants in the genus Atta Fabricius (Formicidae: Attini) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

Bacci, Maurício; Solomon, Scott E.; Mueller, Ulrich G.; Martins, Vanderlei Geraldo; Carvalho, Alfredo Otavio Rodrigues de; Vieira, Luiz Gonzaga Esteves; Silva-Pinhati, Ana Carla O.

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.11.005

Cited by 58 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…insularis and At. texana [49], we find no evidence for significant genetic differentiation between Attamyces from At. insularis and some Attamyces from At.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 82%

“…insularis occurs only in Cuba but not on mainland North America, and because At. insularis is significantly derived at both the molecular and morphological levels from the mainland Atta lineages ( [49], suggesting significant evolutionary time to permit divergence of At. insularis), it seems unlikely that the current genetic similarity between mainland and Cuban Attamyces was maintained during the divergence process of At.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Frontier mutualism: coevolutionary patterns at the northern range limit of the leaf-cutter ant–fungus symbiosis

et al. 2011

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Tropical leaf-cutter ants cultivate the fungus Attamyces bromatificus in a many-to-one, diffuse coevolutionary relationship where ant and fungal partners re-associate frequently over time. To evaluate whether ant -Attamyces coevolution is more specific (tighter) in peripheral populations, we characterized the host-specificities of Attamyces genotypes at their northern, subtropical range limits (southern USA, Mexico and Cuba). Population-genetic patterns of northern Attamyces reveal features that have so far not been observed in the diffusely coevolving, tropical ant -Attamyces associations. These unique features include (i) cases of one-to-one ant -Attamyces specialization that tighten coevolution at the northern frontier; (ii) distributions of genetically identical Attamyces clones over large areas (up to 81 000 km 2 , approx. the area of Ireland, Austria or Panama); (iii) admixture rates between Attamyces lineages that appear lower in northern than in tropical populations; and (iv) long-distance gene flow of Attamyces across a dispersal barrier for leaf-cutter ants (ocean between mainland North America and Cuba). The latter suggests that Attamyces fungi may occasionally disperse independently of the ants, contrary to the traditional assumption that Attamyces fungi depend entirely on leaf-cutter queens for dispersal. Peripheral populations in Argentina or at mid-elevation sites in the Andes may reveal additional regional variants in ant -Attamyces coevolution. Studies of such populations are most likely to inform models of coextinctions of obligate mutualistic partners that are doubly stressed by habitat marginality and by environmental change.

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“…insularis and At. texana [49], we find no evidence for significant genetic differentiation between Attamyces from At. insularis and some Attamyces from At.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frontier mutualism: coevolutionary patterns at the northern range limit of the leaf-cutter ant–fungus symbiosis

et al. 2011

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“…The genus Atta contains 15 highly polymorphic species, actually subdivided into the four following monophyletic groups, Atta s. str., Archeatta, Neoatta and Epiatta , a subdivision that slightly differs from a previous taxonomical division [Borgmeier, 1959;Bacci et al, 2009]. Our study covered species of all subgenera, and in all of the 15 investigated species we found an MG.…”

Section: The Macroglomerulusmentioning

confidence: 56%

The Antennal Lobes of Fungus-Growing Ants (Attini): Neuroanatomical Traits and Evolutionary Trends

et al. 2009

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Ants of the tribe Attini are characterized by their obligate cultivation of symbiotic fungi. In addition to the complex chemical communication system of ants in general, substrate selection and fungus cultivation pose high demands on the olfactory system of the Attini. Indeed, behavioral studies have shown a rich diversity of olfactory-guided behaviors and tremendous odor sensitivity has been demonstrated. To allow fine-tuned behavioral responses, adaptations within the olfactory system of the Attini are expected. We compared the number, volumes and position of the glomeruli (functional units) of the antennal lobe of 25 different species from all three major Attini groups (lower, higher and leaf-cutting Attini). The antennal lobes of all investigated Attini comprise a high number of glomeruli (>257). The highest number (630) was found in Apterostigma cf. mayri. This species is at a basal position within the Attini phylogeny, and we suggest that a high number of glomeruli might have been advantageous in the evolution of the advanced olfactory systems of the Attini. In the leaf-cutting Attini, an extremely large glomerulus (macroglomerulus) near the antennal nerve entrance was recently described in two species. Preliminary results show that this macroglomerulus is involved in processing of trail-pheromone information. In our comparative study, we find this macroglomerulus in all investigated leaf-cutting Attini, but in none of the lower and higher Attini species. It is found only in large workers, and for all investigated species it is located close to the entrance of the antennal nerve. Our results indicate that the presence of a macroglomerulus in large workers of leaf-cutting Attini is a derived over-expression of a trait in the polymorphic leaf-cutting species. It presumably represents an olfactory adaptation to elaborate foraging and mass recruitment systems, and adds to the complexity of division of labor and social organization known for this group.

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“…These results are possibly related to the recent evolutionary history of the two species. The genus Atta is monophyletic (Bacci et al, 2009), with relatively recent adaptive radiation about 8 to 13 million years ago (Brady et al, 2006). However, the identification of adaptive radiation is based on the phylogenetic relationships of species and not on the dating of known fossils of Atta, which are scarce for the genus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mandibles of Leaf-Cutting Ants: Morphology Related to Food Preference

et al. 2016

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Feed adaptation is crucial for the ecological success of animals, which explore specific or varied resources according to the suitability of the selected feature. We hypothesized that the mandibles of leaf-cutting ants exhibit a greater degree of specialization because of the specific food preference of some species. The objective of this study was to highlight possible morphological differences between the mandibles of leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta related to the food preference of the species, i.e., to investigate the morphofunctionality of mandibles in conjunction with a study of the leaf anatomy of plants selected. A detailed description of the mandibles of workers of the grass-cutting ant Atta bisphaerica and of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa was provided, and the anatomy and chemical composition of the plant material foraged by these species were investigated. For morphometric analysis, 50 individuals of each of the four size classes were dissected for removal of the right mandible and one sample of each caste was processed for scanning electron microscopy. The Atta species had a similar mandibular morphology and differences were only observed between species and among castes, demonstrating the clear specialization of workers. Together with the anatomical study of the foraged plant material, the results indicate a high abundance of lignified cells in grasses, permitting to infer that the foraging and processing of these plants can lead to differences in behavioral acts during their preparation and incorporation in the fungus garden. We accept the hypothesis of morphofunctionality in view of the mandibular morphology observed.

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Phylogeny of leafcutter ants in the genus Atta Fabricius (Formicidae: Attini) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

Cited by 58 publications

References 35 publications

Frontier mutualism: coevolutionary patterns at the northern range limit of the leaf-cutter ant–fungus symbiosis

Frontier mutualism: coevolutionary patterns at the northern range limit of the leaf-cutter ant–fungus symbiosis

The Antennal Lobes of Fungus-Growing Ants (Attini): Neuroanatomical Traits and Evolutionary Trends

Mandibles of Leaf-Cutting Ants: Morphology Related to Food Preference

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