Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
Abstract Background The morphological structures of organisms form tightly integrated but mutually independent character complexes (modules) linked through common development and function. Even though their abundance, diversity, and complex caste systems make camponotine ants ideal subjects to resea...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Zoology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-019-0048-7 |
| _version_ | 1819072687799009280 |
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| author | A. Laciny H. L. Nemeschkal H. Zettel B. Metscher I. S. Druzhinina |
| author_facet | A. Laciny H. L. Nemeschkal H. Zettel B. Metscher I. S. Druzhinina |
| author_sort | A. Laciny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The morphological structures of organisms form tightly integrated but mutually independent character complexes (modules) linked through common development and function. Even though their abundance, diversity, and complex caste systems make camponotine ants ideal subjects to research developmental modularity and phenotypic integration, no studies investigating these phenomena have been conducted in this taxonomic group. This study attempts to identify and visualize integrated character complexes in 14 taxa from the genera Camponotus and Colobopsis using statistical analyses of morphometry. Results The identified modules differ between castes: Minor workers have small heads and long extremities, while major workers have enlarged heads modified for defence, and short, thick appendages; extremities (legs and antennae) are strongly correlated in both worker castes. Gynes show weaker integration of extremities, but a strong correlation of mesosoma and eyes, and highly variable median ocellus size. Gynes infested by mermithid nematodes exhibit reduction of gyne-specific characters and altered patterns of phenotypic integration. Conclusion The integrated character complexes described herein can largely be interpreted as functional, caste-specific modules related to behavioural ecology and task allocation within ant colonies. This modular nature of the body plan is hypothesized to facilitate the evolution of novel phenotypes and thus contributes to the tremendous evolutionary success of ants. The study of these modules can help to further elucidate the evolution and ontogeny of castes in camponotine ants, as well as the effects of parasite infestation on the phenotype. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:41:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca14e8f771a14b5a8bafd69cf4eeb29b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-3132 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:41:42Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Zoology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca14e8f771a14b5a8bafd69cf4eeb29b2022-12-21T18:55:37ZengBMCBMC Zoology2056-31322019-12-014112010.1186/s40850-019-0048-7Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)A. Laciny0H. L. Nemeschkal1H. Zettel2B. Metscher3I. S. Druzhinina4Department of Theoretical Biology, University of ViennaDepartment of Theoretical Biology, University of ViennaNatural History Museum Vienna, 2nd Zoological DepartmentDepartment of Theoretical Biology, University of ViennaInstitute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, ICEBE, TU WienAbstract Background The morphological structures of organisms form tightly integrated but mutually independent character complexes (modules) linked through common development and function. Even though their abundance, diversity, and complex caste systems make camponotine ants ideal subjects to research developmental modularity and phenotypic integration, no studies investigating these phenomena have been conducted in this taxonomic group. This study attempts to identify and visualize integrated character complexes in 14 taxa from the genera Camponotus and Colobopsis using statistical analyses of morphometry. Results The identified modules differ between castes: Minor workers have small heads and long extremities, while major workers have enlarged heads modified for defence, and short, thick appendages; extremities (legs and antennae) are strongly correlated in both worker castes. Gynes show weaker integration of extremities, but a strong correlation of mesosoma and eyes, and highly variable median ocellus size. Gynes infested by mermithid nematodes exhibit reduction of gyne-specific characters and altered patterns of phenotypic integration. Conclusion The integrated character complexes described herein can largely be interpreted as functional, caste-specific modules related to behavioural ecology and task allocation within ant colonies. This modular nature of the body plan is hypothesized to facilitate the evolution of novel phenotypes and thus contributes to the tremendous evolutionary success of ants. The study of these modules can help to further elucidate the evolution and ontogeny of castes in camponotine ants, as well as the effects of parasite infestation on the phenotype.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-019-0048-7Cluster analysisDivision of labourModulesMorphometryPCASocial insects |
| spellingShingle | A. Laciny H. L. Nemeschkal H. Zettel B. Metscher I. S. Druzhinina Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) BMC Zoology Cluster analysis Division of labour Modules Morphometry PCA Social insects |
| title | Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) |
| title_full | Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) |
| title_fullStr | Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) |
| title_short | Caste-specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe Camponotini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) |
| title_sort | caste specific morphological modularity in the ant tribe camponotini hymenoptera formicidae |
| topic | Cluster analysis Division of labour Modules Morphometry PCA Social insects |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-019-0048-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alaciny castespecificmorphologicalmodularityintheanttribecamponotinihymenopteraformicidae AT hlnemeschkal castespecificmorphologicalmodularityintheanttribecamponotinihymenopteraformicidae AT hzettel castespecificmorphologicalmodularityintheanttribecamponotinihymenopteraformicidae AT bmetscher castespecificmorphologicalmodularityintheanttribecamponotinihymenopteraformicidae AT isdruzhinina castespecificmorphologicalmodularityintheanttribecamponotinihymenopteraformicidae |