What Can the Bacterial Community of <i>Atta sexdens </i>(Linnaeus, 1758) Tell Us about the Habitats in Which This Ant Species Evolves?

Studies of bacterial communities can reveal the evolutionary significance of symbiotic interactions between hosts and their associated bacteria, as well as identify environmental factors that may influence host biology. <i>Atta sexdens</i> is an ant species native to Brazil that can act...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Manuela de Oliveira Ramalho, Cintia Martins, Maria Santina Castro Morini, Odair Correa Bueno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/6/332
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Summary:Studies of bacterial communities can reveal the evolutionary significance of symbiotic interactions between hosts and their associated bacteria, as well as identify environmental factors that may influence host biology. <i>Atta sexdens</i> is an ant species native to Brazil that can act as an agricultural pest due to its intense behavior of cutting plants. Despite being extensively studied, certain aspects of the general biology of this species remain unclear, such as the evolutionary implications of the symbiotic relationships it forms with bacteria. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, we compared for the first time the bacterial community of <i>A. sexdens</i> (whole ant workers) populations according to the habitat (natural versus agricultural) and geographical location. Our results revealed that the bacterial community associated with <i>A. sexdens</i> is mainly influenced by the geographical location, and secondarily by the differences in habitat. Also, the bacterial community associated with citrus<i> </i>differed significantly from the other communities due to the presence of <i>Tsukamurella</i>. In conclusion, our study suggests that environmental shifts may influence the bacterial diversity found in <i>A. sexdens</i>.
ISSN:2075-4450