Unusual chromosome numbers and polyploidy in invasive fire ant populations

Murakami, Takahiro; Paris, Carolina Ivon; Chirino, Mónica Gabriela; Sasa, Chifune; Sakamoto, Hironori; Higashi, Seigo; Sato, Kazuki

doi:10.1007/s10709-021-00128-4

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Here we observed a chromosome number variation in S. saevissima from n = 16 to 8n = 128 chromosomes. These counts agree with previous descriptions ( Murakami et al 2021 ). The typical chromosome number recovered from other Solenopsis species, such as Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804), Solenopsis richteri Forel, 1909, and Solenopsis invicta is n = 16 ( Cardoso et al 2018a ), which suggests that the chromosome number of n = 16 was the regular count of the haploid karyotype of S. saevissima .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…A recent study on Solenopsis by Murakami et al (2021) compared species in native and invaded areas. Their results showed differences in chromosomal morphology between the analyzed populations, mainly in ploidy, suggesting a possible generalized hybridization between ants native to South and North America.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on cytogenetic evidence, Murakami et al (2021) suggested that invasive Solenopsis species, when settling in new environments, hybridize with closely related, or even genetically distant species. This process resulted in various chromosome numbers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Andrade¹,

Cardoso²,

Cristiano³

2023

CCG

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The family Formicidae is composed of ants that organize themselves into castes in which every individual has a joint organizational function. Solenopsis Westwood, 1840 is an ant genus with opportunistic and aggressive characteristics, known for being invasive species and stings that cause burning in humans. This genus is particularly difficult to classify and identify since its morphology provides few indications for species differentiation. For this, a tool that has been useful for evolutionary and taxonomic studies is cytogenetics. Here, we cytogenetically studied Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 from Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We evaluated the occurrence of polyploid cells in individuals and colonies by conventional cytogenetics. A total of 450 metaphases were analyzed and counted. Chromosome counts of individuals and colonies showed varied numbers of ploidies, from n = 16 to 8n = 128. The karyomorphometrical approach allowed determination of the following karyotypes: n = 10 m + 4 sm + 2 st, 2n = 20 m + 8 sm + 4 st, and 4n = 40 m + 16 sm + 8 st. Polyploidy can be found naturally in individuals and colonies and may represent an adaptative trait related to widespread distribution and invasion ability of new habitats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Andrade¹,

Cardoso²,

Cristiano³

2023

CCG

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“…Interestingly these colonies also produce some triploid males (Tsuchida et al, 2014). This is a rare phenomenon also known to occur in the invasive ant S. invicta (Murakami et al, 2021) and widespread bumblebee B. terrestris (Ayabe et al, 2004). Of P. chinensis antennalis , the authors speculate that these triploid males have triploid sperm and produce tetraploid females, although how triploid males affect the DMV dynamic has not been well explored for any species.…”

Section: Diploid Male Vortex Incidence Is Rare and Is Associated With...mentioning

confidence: 96%

Revisiting the hymenopteran diploid male vortex: a review of avoidance mechanisms and incidence

Leung

Meulen

2022

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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All hymenopterans (bees, ants, wasps, and sawflies) have haplodiploid sex determination. Generally, this involves haploid males developing from unfertilized eggs and diploid females developing from fertilized eggs, but diploid male production (DMP) frequently occurs. Some species have complementary sex determination (CSD), in which heterozygotes of a csd locus or loci are diploid females, hemizygotes are haploid males, and homozygotes are typically sterile diploid males. These diploid males underlie the diploid male vortex (DMV), the phenomenon of inbreeding reducing csd allelic diversity and causing increasingly higher production of sterile diploid males until the population dies out. The DMV has been cited as an extinction risk for many species across the order and a danger to both human-controlled and natural hymenopteran populations important in biological control, pollination, and endangered species conservation. However, it has been unclear how frequently it occurs. We review the known mechanisms for DMV avoidance. Many of these mechanisms are linked to lifestyle, and so we structure our investigation around eusocial lifestyle and non-eusocial (solitary or gregarious) species. We also review documented DMV incidence to make an inference about its prevalence. There are many means to avoid inbreeding or diploid male production, including eusocial-exclusive polygyny, polyandry, and diploid queen execution. For both eusocial and non-eusocial species these include biological mechanisms such as multi-locus CSD or non-CSD sex determination, diploid male inviability or brood removal, partial diploid male fecundity, and mating avoidance of kin or diploid males; or population genetic mechanisms such as gene flow and dispersal, balancing selection of csd alleles (with some being more prominent in eusocial vs. noneusocial species). Documented cases of DMV are uncommon, and incidence is often tied to exacerbatory conditions such as habitat fragmentation and host declines. With this review we suggest that due to numerous avoidance mechanisms, DMV risk may not be as high as previously believed, and requires specific circumstances. In doing so we aim to better inform hymenopteran breeding and conservation efforts.

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“…In Formicidae , molecular cytogenetic studies involving fluorescence in situ hybridization ( FISH ) for physical mapping of major ribosomal genes, 45S ribosomal DNA ( rDNA ), here referred to as rDNA clusters, were first conducted in Australian ants of the genus Myrmecia Fabricius, 1804 ( Imai et al 1992 ; Hirai et al 1994 , 1996 ). In recent years, FISH has been widely employed in several ant species, particularly in the Neotropical region ( Santos et al 2016 ; Aguiar et al 2017 ; Micolino et al 2019 , 2022 ; Barros et al 2021a , b , 2022a , b ; Murakami et al 2021 ; Silveira 2022 ; Teixeira et al 2022 , 2023 ; Jacintho et al 2023 ). These molecular cytogenetic studies have provided valuable insights into various biological aspects of these insects, including evolution, taxonomy, and reproduction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical chromosomal mapping of major ribosomal genes in 15 ant species with a review of hypotheses regarding evolution of the number and position of NORs in ants

Damasceno,

Teixeira,

Ferreira

et al. 2024

CCG

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Recently, hypotheses regarding the evolutionary patterns of ribosomal genes in ant chromosomes have been under discussion. One of these hypotheses proposes a relationship between chromosomal location and the number of rDNA sites, suggesting that terminal locations facilitate the dispersion of rDNA clusters through ectopic recombination during meiosis, while intrachromosomal locations restrict them to a single chromosome pair. Another hypothesis suggests that the multiplication of rDNA sites could be associated with an increase in the chromosome number in Hymenoptera due to chromosomal fissions. In this study, we physically mapped rDNA sites in 15 new ant species and also reviewed data on rDNA available since the revision by Teixeira et al. (2021a). Our objectives were to investigate whether the new data confirm the relationship between chromosomal location and the number of rDNA sites, and whether the increase in the chromosome number is significant in the dispersion of rDNA clusters in ant karyotypes. Combining our new data with all information on ant cytogenetics published after 2021, 40 new species and nine new genera were assembled. Most species exhibited intrachromosomal rDNA sites on a single chromosome pair, while three species showed these genes in terminal regions of multiple chromosome pairs. On one hand, the hypothesis that the chromosomal location of rDNA clusters may facilitate the dispersion of rDNA sites in the ant genome, as previously discussed, was strengthened, but, on the other hand, the hypothesis of chromosomal fission as the main mechanism for dispersion of ribosomal genes in ants is likely to be refuted. Furthermore, in certain genera, the location of rDNA sites remained similar among the species studied, whereas in others, the distribution of these genes showed significant variation between species, suggesting a more dynamic chromosomal evolution.

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Unusual chromosome numbers and polyploidy in invasive fire ant populations

Cited by 5 publications

References 45 publications

Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Revisiting the hymenopteran diploid male vortex: a review of avoidance mechanisms and incidence

Physical chromosomal mapping of major ribosomal genes in 15 ant species with a review of hypotheses regarding evolution of the number and position of NORs in ants

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Unusual chromosome numbers and polyploidy in invasive fire ant populations

Cited by 5 publications

References 45 publications

﻿Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

﻿Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Revisiting the hymenopteran diploid male vortex: a review of avoidance mechanisms and incidence

Physical chromosomal mapping of major ribosomal genes in 15 ant species with a review of hypotheses regarding evolution of the number and position of NORs in ants

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Product

Resources

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Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Assessing ploidy levels and karyotype structure of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)