Population genetic analyses reveal host association and genetically distinct populations of social parasite Solenopsis daguerrei (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution

DeWayne Shoemaker¹  Allyson Dekovich¹  Margaret Staton¹  Sean Ryan²  Andrew Bouwma³  Luis Calcaterra⁴  Rogerio Silvestre⁵ 

[1] Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Herbert College of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States;Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Herbert College of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, United States;Exponent, Menlo Park, CA, United States;Department of Integrative Biology, College of Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States;Fundación Para El Estudio De Especies Invasivas, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina;Programa De Pós-Graduação Em Entomologia E Conservação Da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal Da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil;

关键词: fire ants;    population structure;    social parasitism;    inquiline;    microsatellites;    mitochondrial DNA;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fevo.2023.1227847

 received in 2023-05-23, accepted in 2023-10-12,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Inquiline ant social parasites exploit other ant species for their reproductive benefit because they do not possess a worker caste. Due to their relative rarity in nature, the biology and natural history of inquilines are largely unknown. Likewise, not much research exists that details the close relationship between inquilines and their host(s), and how each organism influences the genetic structure of the other. Here, we conducted a comparative population genetics study to assess patterns of genetic structure within and among populations of inquiline Solenopsis daguerrei and its known fire ant hosts, which includes invasive Solenopsis invicta. Using nuclear and mitochondrial markers, we show that four genetically distinct groups of S. daguerrei likely exist, each with different degrees of host association. Consistent with previous inferences of the inquiline lifestyle, we find that inbreeding is common in S. daguerrei, presumably a result of intranidal mating and restricted dispersal. Results from this study, specifically host association patterns, may inform future biological control strategies to mitigate invasive S. invicta populations.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Dekovich, Ryan, Bouwma, Calcaterra, Silvestre, Staton and Shoemaker