The Evolutionary Innovation of Nutritional Symbioses in Leaf-Cutter Ants

Insects

Frank O. Aylward¹  Cameron R. Currie¹ 

[1] Department of Bacteriology, Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: symbiosis;    attine ants;    Leucoagaricus;    co-evolution;    microbial consortia;   

DOI  :  10.3390/insects3010041

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Fungus-growing ants gain access to nutrients stored in plant biomass through their association with a mutualistic fungus they grow for food. This 50 million-year-old obligate mutualism likely facilitated some of these species becoming dominant Neotropical herbivores that can achieve immense colony sizes. Recent culture-independent investigations have shed light on the conversion of plant biomass into nutrients within ant fungus gardens, revealing that this process involves both the fungal cultivar and a symbiotic community of bacteria including Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pantoea species. Moreover, the genome sequences of the leaf-cutter ants Atta cephalotes and Acromyrmex echinatior have provided key insights into how this symbiosis has shaped the evolution of these ants at a genetic level. Here we summarize the findings of recent research on the microbial community dynamics within fungus-growing ant fungus gardens and discuss their implications for this ancient symbiosis.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.