Complexity of insect-fungal associations: Exploring the influence of microorganisms on the attine ant-fungus symbiosis

TY - CHAP

T1 - Complexity of insect-fungal associations

T2 - Exploring the influence of microorganisms on the attine ant-fungus symbiosis

AU - Poulsen, Michael

AU - Currie, Cameron R.

PY - 2006/1/1

Y1 - 2006/1/1

N2 - Ants that culture fungi for food belong to the tribe Attini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae); a monophyletic group of more than 210 species of fungus-growing ants, distributed in 12 genera (Chapela et al., 1994; Wetterer et al., 1998; Brandão and Mayhé-Nunes, 2001; Mueller et al ., 2001). Fungus-growing ants are exclusively Neotropical, and the most specious group of the tribe includes the eight “lower” attine genera Apterostigma, Cyphomyrmex, Mycetosoritis, Mycetophylax, Mycetarotes, Mycocepurus, Mycetagroicus, and Myrmicocrypta (Schultz and Meier, 1995). Most “lower” attines have relatively small colonies of a few dozen to a few thousand individuals, have few relatively small fungus gardens, and are characterized by their use of plant detritus or insect feces as substrate for fungiculture (Weber, 1966, 1972; Hölldobler and Wilson, 1990; Mueller and Wcislo, 1998). The remaining four genera (Sericomyrmex, Trachymyrmex, Acromyrmex, and Atta) are commonly referred to as the “higher” attines, with the latter two being referred to as leafcutting ants (Figure 4.1A), due to their use of fresh plant material for culturing their fungi.

AB - Ants that culture fungi for food belong to the tribe Attini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae); a monophyletic group of more than 210 species of fungus-growing ants, distributed in 12 genera (Chapela et al., 1994; Wetterer et al., 1998; Brandão and Mayhé-Nunes, 2001; Mueller et al ., 2001). Fungus-growing ants are exclusively Neotropical, and the most specious group of the tribe includes the eight “lower” attine genera Apterostigma, Cyphomyrmex, Mycetosoritis, Mycetophylax, Mycetarotes, Mycocepurus, Mycetagroicus, and Myrmicocrypta (Schultz and Meier, 1995). Most “lower” attines have relatively small colonies of a few dozen to a few thousand individuals, have few relatively small fungus gardens, and are characterized by their use of plant detritus or insect feces as substrate for fungiculture (Weber, 1966, 1972; Hölldobler and Wilson, 1990; Mueller and Wcislo, 1998). The remaining four genera (Sericomyrmex, Trachymyrmex, Acromyrmex, and Atta) are commonly referred to as the “higher” attines, with the latter two being referred to as leafcutting ants (Figure 4.1A), due to their use of fresh plant material for culturing their fungi.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047430746&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1201/9781420005936

DO - 10.1201/9781420005936

M3 - Book chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85047430746

SN - 0849341949

SN - 9780849341946

VL - 2

SP - 57

EP - 77

BT - Insect Symbiosis

PB - CRC Press

ER -