Ectoparasitic fungi of Myrmica ants alter the success of parasitic butterflies
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Ectoparasitic fungi of Myrmica ants alter the success of parasitic butterflies. / Tartally, András; Szabó, Norbert; Somogyi, Anna Ágnes; Báthori, Ferenc; Haelewaters, Danny; Mucsi, András; Fürjes-Mikó, Ágnes; Nash, David R.
In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 11, 24031, 2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Ectoparasitic fungi of Myrmica ants alter the success of parasitic butterflies
AU - Tartally, András
AU - Szabó, Norbert
AU - Somogyi, Anna Ágnes
AU - Báthori, Ferenc
AU - Haelewaters, Danny
AU - Mucsi, András
AU - Fürjes-Mikó, Ágnes
AU - Nash, David R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Exploitation of organisms by multiple parasite species is common in nature, but interactions among parasites have rarely been studied. Myrmica ants are rich in parasites. Among others, the ectoparasitic Rickia wasmannii fungus and the parasitic caterpillars of myrmecophilous Phengaris butterflies often infect the same Myrmica colonies. In this study, we examined the effects of R. wasmannii on the adoption, long-term development, and survival of P. alcon. In laboratory conditions, caterpillars introduced into nests of Myrmica scabrinodis uninfected with R. wasmannii survived significantly longer compared to caterpillars introduced into infected nests. In the field, joint infection was less common than expected if both parasites exploited M. scabrinodis colonies independently. Pre-pupal caterpillars of P. alcon were somewhat larger in nests infected with R. wasmannii than those found in uninfected nests. Based on these results it seems that R. wasmannii infection of M. scabrinodis affects the survival and development of P. alcon caterpillars, suggesting competition between these two ant parasites.
AB - Exploitation of organisms by multiple parasite species is common in nature, but interactions among parasites have rarely been studied. Myrmica ants are rich in parasites. Among others, the ectoparasitic Rickia wasmannii fungus and the parasitic caterpillars of myrmecophilous Phengaris butterflies often infect the same Myrmica colonies. In this study, we examined the effects of R. wasmannii on the adoption, long-term development, and survival of P. alcon. In laboratory conditions, caterpillars introduced into nests of Myrmica scabrinodis uninfected with R. wasmannii survived significantly longer compared to caterpillars introduced into infected nests. In the field, joint infection was less common than expected if both parasites exploited M. scabrinodis colonies independently. Pre-pupal caterpillars of P. alcon were somewhat larger in nests infected with R. wasmannii than those found in uninfected nests. Based on these results it seems that R. wasmannii infection of M. scabrinodis affects the survival and development of P. alcon caterpillars, suggesting competition between these two ant parasites.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-021-02800-3
DO - 10.1038/s41598-021-02800-3
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34911991
AN - SCOPUS:85121379362
VL - 11
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
M1 - 24031
ER -
ID: 288050818