A5078521810- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Plant and animal studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Heat shock proteins research
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
2019-2025
The exceptional longevity of social insect queens despite their lifelong high fecundity remains poorly understood in ageing biology. To gain insights into the mechanisms that might underlie insects, we compared gene expression patterns between young and old castes (both workers) across different lineages insects (two termite, two bee ant species). After global analyses, paid particular attention to genes insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 signalling (IIS)/target rapamycin (TOR)/juvenile...
The evolution of sociality in insects caused a divergence lifespan between reproductive and non-reproductive castes. Ant queens can live for decades, while most workers survive only weeks to few years. In organisms, longevity is traded-off with reproduction, but social insects, these two life-history traits are positively linked. Once fertility induced workers, e.g. by queen removal, worker increases. molecular regulation this positive link fecundity generally the underpinnings...
Abstract Parasitism, a common strategy across life, often involves genomic reduction. Socially parasitic “slavemaking” ants provide an excellent model to study the evolution of this lifestyle. Here, we compared genomes four closely related, independently evolved parasite-host pairs and their outgroups identify convergent patterns. While genome size gene numbers remain relatively stable, parasites show increased positive relaxed selection, more putative de novo genes which have recently...
ABSTRACT Social insects form complex societies with division of labour between different female castes. In most species, a single queen heads the colony; in others, several queens share task reproduction. These social organisations are often associated distinct morphologies and life‐history strategies occur environments. ant Temnothorax rugatulus , dimorphic. Macrogynes microgynes reside mono‐ polygynous colonies at lower higher elevations, respectively. We analysed plastic changes brain...
Tandem-running is a recruitment behaviour in ants that has been described as form of teaching, where spatial information possessed by leader conveyed to following nestmates. Within Temnothorax ants, tandem-running used within variety contexts, from foraging and nest relocation to-in the case slavemaking species-slave raiding. Here, we elucidate transcriptomic basis scouting, tandem-leading tandem-following behaviours across two species with divergent lifestyles: americanus its primary,...
The gene family of insect olfactory receptors (ORs) has expanded greatly over the course evolution. ORs enable insects to detect volatile chemicals and therefore play an important role in social interactions, enemy prey recognition, foraging. sequences several thousand are known, but their specific function or ligands have only been identified for very few them. To advance functional characterization ORs, we assembled, curated, aligned 3902 from 21 species, which provide as annotated online...
The geographical mosaic theory of coevolution predicts that species interactions vary between locales. Depending on who leads the coevolutionary arms race, effectivity parasite attack or host defence strategies will explain prevalence. Here, we compare behaviour and brain transcriptomes Temnothorax longispinosus ant workers when defending their nest against an invading social parasite, slavemaking americanus. A full-factorial design allowed us to test whether gene expression are linked...
Most species are either parasites or exploited by parasites, making parasite–host interactions a driver of evolution. Parasites with complex life cycles often evolve strategies to facilitate transmission the definitive host manipulating their intermediate host. Such manipulations could explain phenotypic changes in ant Temnothorax nylanderi, cestode Anomotaenia brevis. In addition behavioral and morphological alterations, infected workers exhibit prolonged lifespans, comparable that queens,...
Abstract Social insects dominate arthropod communities worldwide due to cooperation and division of labor in their societies. This, however, makes them vulnerable exploitation by social parasites, such as slave‐making ants. Slave‐making ant workers pillage brood from neighboring nests related host species. After emergence, take over all nonreproductive colony tasks, whereas slavemakers have lost the ability care for themselves offspring. Here, we compared transcriptomes different...
Insect social parasites are characterized by exploiting the hosts' behaviour. Why exactly hosts direct their caring behaviour towards these and offspring remains largely unstudied. One hypothesis is that do not perceive environment as altered accept parasitic colony own. We used ant Leptothorax acervorum, host of dulotic, obligate parasite Harpagoxenus sublaevis, to shed light on molecular mechanisms underlying behavioural exploitation contrasting tissue-specific transcriptomes in young...
Abstract Parasites with complex life cycles are known to induce phenotypic changes in their intermediate hosts increase transmission the final host. The magnitude of these could number parasites, which would be beneficial co‐infecting parasites. Yet, adverse effects high parasite load (i.e. many parasites a single host) might stress both and (e.g. through an increased immune response). We investigated consequences on transcriptional activity morphology cestode Anomotaenia brevis its host,...
Parasites with complex life cycles often manipulate the phenotype of their intermediate hosts to increase probability transmission definitive hosts. Infection Anomotaenia brevis, a cestode that uses Temnothorax nylanderi ants as hosts, leads multiple-fold extension host lifespan and changes in behaviour, morphology colouration. The mechanisms behind these are unknown, is whether increased longevity achieved through parasite manipulation. Here, we demonstrate releases proteins into its...
Parasites with complex lifecycles often manipulate the phenotype of their intermediate hosts to increase probability transmission definitive hosts. Infection Anomotaenia brevis , a cestode that uses Temnothorax nylanderi ants as hosts, leads multiple-fold extension host lifespan and changes in behaviour, morphology, colouration. The mechanisms behind these are unknown, is whether increased longevity achieved through parasite manipulation. Here we demonstrate releases proteins into its...
Navigation is crucial for central-place foragers to locate food and return the nest.
Abstract Parasites with complex life cycles are known to induce phenotypic changes in their intermediate hosts increase transmission the final host. The magnitude of these could number parasites, which would be beneficial co-infecting parasites. Yet, adverse effects high parasite load (i.e., many parasites a single host) might stress both and (e.g., through an increased immune response). We investigated consequences on transcriptional activity morphology cestode Anomotaenia brevis its host,...
Social insects form complex societies with division of labor between different female castes. In most species, a single queen heads the colony; in others, several queens share task reproduction. These social organizations are often associated distinct morphologies and life history strategies occur environments. ant Temnothorax rugatulus , two morphs - macrogynes microgynes exist mono- polygynous colonies, respectively, which at lower higher elevations. We analyzed plastic changes brain...
Abstract The gene family of insect odorant receptors (ORs) has greatly expanded in the course evolution. ORs allow insects to detect volatile chemicals and therefore play an important role social interactions, detection enemies preys, during foraging. sequences several thousand are known, but their specific function or ligands have been identified only for very few them. To advance functional characterization ORs, we compiled, curated aligned 3,902 from 21 species. We amino acid positions...