Repeated evolution of crop theft in fungus-farming ambrosia beetles

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
Jiri Hulcr, Anthony I Cognato

Abstract

Ambrosia beetles, dominant wood degraders in the tropics, create tunnels in dead trees and employ gardens of symbiotic fungi to extract nutrients from wood. Specificity of the beetle-fungus relationship has rarely been examined, and simple vertical transmission of a specific fungal cultivar by each beetle species is often assumed in literature. We report repeated evolution of fungal crop stealing, termed mycocleptism, among ambrosia beetles. The mycocleptic species seek brood galleries of other species, and exploit their established fungal gardens by tunneling through the ambient mycelium-laden wood. Instead of carrying their own fungal sybmbionts, mycocleptae depend on adopting the fungal assemblages of their host species, as shown by an analysis of fungal DNA from beetle galleries. The evidence for widespread horizontal exchange of fungi between beetles challenges the traditional concept of ambrosia fungi as species-specific symbionts. Fungus stealing appears to be an evolutionarily successful strategy. It evolved independently in several beetle clades, two of which have radiated, and at least one case was accompanied by a loss of the beetles' fungus-transporting organs. We demonstrate this using the first robust phylogeny of...Continue Reading

References

Jan 11, 2001·Die Naturwissenschaften·R M AdamsJ Narozniak
Feb 24, 2001·Die Naturwissenschaften·R M AdamsB Norden
Jan 5, 2002·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·B D FarrellB H Jordal
Mar 5, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Paul D N HebertJeremy R deWaard
Aug 13, 2003·Bioinformatics·Fredrik Ronquist, John P Huelsenbeck
Jun 28, 2005·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Giora EndenJosé C Merchuk
Mar 19, 2009·Journal of Chemical Ecology·Daniel R Miller, Robert J Rabaglia
Apr 8, 2009·Mycological Research·Sepideh Massoumi AlamoutiColette Breuil

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 2, 2012·Microbial Ecology·J HulcrR R Dunn
Jul 15, 2011·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jiri Hulcr, Robert R Dunn
Nov 1, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Martin PionPilar Junier
Nov 20, 2016·Annual Review of Entomology·Jiri Hulcr, Lukasz L Stelinski
Sep 14, 2019·Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B·Joseph D CarrilloAkif Eskalen
Apr 11, 2021·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Ross Joseph, Nemat O Keyhani
Jun 10, 2017·Microbiology Spectrum·Meredith Blackwell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.