Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons
Abstract In the Attina subtribe the division of labor among workers is based on different tasks performed by morphological subcastes. Considering that cuticular chemical compounds play important roles as protection against water loss and mediates interactions between nestmates, and that studies on t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade de São Paulo
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492022000100209&tlng=en |
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| author | Poliana Galvão dos Santos Elane Galvão dos Santos Ingrid de Carvalho Guimarães Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso William Fernando Antonialli-Jr. |
| author_facet | Poliana Galvão dos Santos Elane Galvão dos Santos Ingrid de Carvalho Guimarães Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso William Fernando Antonialli-Jr. |
| author_sort | Poliana Galvão dos Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In the Attina subtribe the division of labor among workers is based on different tasks performed by morphological subcastes. Considering that cuticular chemical compounds play important roles as protection against water loss and mediates interactions between nestmates, and that studies on the cuticular chemical profile of ants of the genus Atta are still scarce, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between morphological and chemical phenotypes in the subcastes of Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) workers. The cuticular chemical composition of the different subcastes was assessed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry technique. The compounds found in the cuticle of the different subcastes had carbon chain size between 18 and 31 atoms, with higher content of linear alkanes in workers and soldiers and higher content of branched alkanes in gardeners and generalists, probably related to the type of tasks they perform in their colonies, since some workers perform more intra- or extranidal tasks in relation to others. The results show significant qualitative differences in the cuticular composition of the different subcastes, with a greater relationship between them according to the environmental restrictions that each subcaste is more subjected to due to the role played in the colony. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:31:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dfe47e90d8dd41478a937ccc503b3672 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1807-0205 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:31:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Universidade de São Paulo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfe47e90d8dd41478a937ccc503b36722022-12-22T02:09:47ZengUniversidade de São PauloPapéis Avulsos de Zoologia1807-02052022-05-016210.11606/1807-0205/2022.62.009Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbonsPoliana Galvão dos Santoshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7753-7074Elane Galvão dos Santoshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0715-5585Ingrid de Carvalho Guimarãeshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8036-2703Kamylla Balbuena Micheluttihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4264-0703Claudia Andrea Lima Cardosohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4907-0056William Fernando Antonialli-Jr.https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7977-9827Abstract In the Attina subtribe the division of labor among workers is based on different tasks performed by morphological subcastes. Considering that cuticular chemical compounds play important roles as protection against water loss and mediates interactions between nestmates, and that studies on the cuticular chemical profile of ants of the genus Atta are still scarce, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between morphological and chemical phenotypes in the subcastes of Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) workers. The cuticular chemical composition of the different subcastes was assessed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry technique. The compounds found in the cuticle of the different subcastes had carbon chain size between 18 and 31 atoms, with higher content of linear alkanes in workers and soldiers and higher content of branched alkanes in gardeners and generalists, probably related to the type of tasks they perform in their colonies, since some workers perform more intra- or extranidal tasks in relation to others. The results show significant qualitative differences in the cuticular composition of the different subcastes, with a greater relationship between them according to the environmental restrictions that each subcaste is more subjected to due to the role played in the colony.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492022000100209&tlng=enMyrmicinaeSubcastesCuticular hydrocarbonsLeaf-cutting ants |
| spellingShingle | Poliana Galvão dos Santos Elane Galvão dos Santos Ingrid de Carvalho Guimarães Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso William Fernando Antonialli-Jr. Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia Myrmicinae Subcastes Cuticular hydrocarbons Leaf-cutting ants |
| title | Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons |
| title_full | Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons |
| title_short | Deciphering the chemical phenotype in Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons |
| title_sort | deciphering the chemical phenotype in atta laevigata smith 1858 hymenoptera formicidae a relationship between polymorphism and cuticular hydrocarbons |
| topic | Myrmicinae Subcastes Cuticular hydrocarbons Leaf-cutting ants |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492022000100209&tlng=en |
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