Bacterial communities of fungus-growing ant queens are species-specific and suggest vertical transmission. [PDF]
PLoS ONEMultipartite symbioses are inherently complex, involving dynamic ecological interactions between organisms with intertwined yet distinct evolutionary histories.
Victoria A Sadowski +4 more
doaj +2 more sources
Comparative Dating Of Attine Ant And Lepiotaceous Cultivar Phylogenies Reveals Coevolutionary Synchrony And Discord [PDF]
The American Naturalist, 2010 The mutualistic symbiosis between fungus-gardening ants and their cultivars has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of the coevolution of complex species interactions.
Abbot, Patrick +2 more
core +4 more sources
SociobiologyThe ability to recognize nestmates is critical to the ecological success of social insects. Fungus-farming “attine” ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini: Attina) can recognize their nestmates and symbiotic fungi via chemoreception.
Diego Santana Assis +4 more
doaj +2 more sources
Coevolution between Attine Ants and Actinomycete Bacteria: A Reevaluation [PDF]
Evolution, 2008 We reassess the coevolution between actinomycete bacteria and fungus-gardening (attine) ants. Actinomycete bacteria are of special interest because they are metabolic mutualists of diverse organisms (e.g., in nitrogen-fixation or antibiotic production) and because Pseudonocardia actinomycetes are thought to serve disease-suppressing functions in attine
U. Mueller +3 more
semanticscholar +4 more sources
Mutualistic interactions between ants and fungi: A review. [PDF]
Ecol Evol, 2023 We review the mutualistic interactions between ants and fungi. Neotropical myrmicine Attina cultivate Basidiomycota for food, the same being true for certain “plant‐ants” associated with myrmecophytes that also feed on Ascomycota fungi. Otherwise, these Ascomycota have antibacterial properties.
Dejean A +6 more
europepmc +2 more sources
Distinct and enhanced hygienic responses of a leaf-cutting ant toward repeated fungi exposures. [PDF]
Ecol Evol, 2022 The leaf‐cutting ant Atta sexdens discriminates between different antagonistic fungi and apply distinct responses to remove them from the fungus garden. Also, successive exposures to the same antagonist increase sanitization in the fungus garden.
Goes AC +4 more
europepmc +2 more sources
Phylogenomics and Divergence Dating of Fungus-Farming Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Genera Sericomyrmex and Apterostigma. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2016 Fungus-farming ("attine") ants are model systems for studies of symbiosis, coevolution, and advanced eusociality. A New World clade of nearly 300 species in 15 genera, all attine ants cultivate fungal symbionts for food. In order to better understand the
Ana Ješovnik +2 more
doaj +1 more source
Extreme specificity in obligate mutualism-A role for competition? [PDF]
Ecol EvolThe high degree of specificity in obligate mutualisms is driven by competition within obligate mutualist guilds that limits species richness. As mutualistic partners are completely dependent on each other for fitness gains, competition may be particularly potent in these mutualisms.
Agarwal R, Althoff DM.
europepmc +2 more sources
Harnessing Nutritional Niches to Explore Fungus-Animal Symbioses. [PDF]
Ecol LettThe stability of fungus‐animal symbioses often depends on optimised nutrient exchange, but we lack a framework to explore whether animal‐derived nutrients are optimal for fungal symbionts. This conceptual gap has constrained studies of how fungus‐animal symbioses achieve ecological success as well as predictions about their evolutionarily stability ...
Shik JZ, Dussutour A, De Fine Licht HH.
europepmc +2 more sources
Morphophysiological differences between the metapleural glands of fungus-growing and non-fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2012 The metapleural gland is an organ exclusive to ants. Its main role is to produce secretions that inhibit the proliferation of different types of pathogens.
Alexsandro Santana Vieira +2 more
doaj +1 more source