The life of a dead ant -the expression of an adaptive extended phenotype
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The life of a dead ant -the expression of an adaptive extended phenotype. / Andersen, Sandra Breum; Gerritsma, Sylvia; Yusah, Kalsum M.; Mayntz, David; Hywel-Jones, Nigel L.; Billen, Johan; Boomsma, Jacobus Jan; Hughes, David Peter.
I: American Naturalist, Bind 174, Nr. 3, 2009, s. 424-433.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The life of a dead ant -the expression of an adaptive extended phenotype
AU - Andersen, Sandra Breum
AU - Gerritsma, Sylvia
AU - Yusah, Kalsum M.
AU - Mayntz, David
AU - Hywel-Jones, Nigel L.
AU - Billen, Johan
AU - Boomsma, Jacobus Jan
AU - Hughes, David Peter
N1 - Keywords: carpenter ants, histological cross sections, life-history evolution, Ophiocordyceps, sclerotia, behavioral manipulation.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Specialized parasites are expected to express complex adaptations to their hosts. Manipulation of host behavior is such an adaptation. We studied the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a locally specialized parasite of arboreal Camponotus leonardi ants. Ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps are known to make hosts bite onto vegetation prior to killing them. We show that this represents a fine-tuned fungal adaptation: an extended phenotype. Dead ants were found under leaves, attached by their mandibles, on the northern side of saplings ca. 25 cm above the soil, where temperature and humidity conditions were optimal for fungal growth. Experimental relocation confirmed that parasite fitness was lower outside this manipulative zone. Host resources were rapidly colonized and further secured by extensive internal structuring. Nutritional composition analysis indicated that such structuring allows the parasite to produce a large fruiting body for spore production. Our findings suggest that the osmotrophic lifestyle of fungi may have facilitated novel exploitation strategies.
AB - Specialized parasites are expected to express complex adaptations to their hosts. Manipulation of host behavior is such an adaptation. We studied the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a locally specialized parasite of arboreal Camponotus leonardi ants. Ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps are known to make hosts bite onto vegetation prior to killing them. We show that this represents a fine-tuned fungal adaptation: an extended phenotype. Dead ants were found under leaves, attached by their mandibles, on the northern side of saplings ca. 25 cm above the soil, where temperature and humidity conditions were optimal for fungal growth. Experimental relocation confirmed that parasite fitness was lower outside this manipulative zone. Host resources were rapidly colonized and further secured by extensive internal structuring. Nutritional composition analysis indicated that such structuring allows the parasite to produce a large fruiting body for spore production. Our findings suggest that the osmotrophic lifestyle of fungi may have facilitated novel exploitation strategies.
U2 - 10.1086/603640
DO - 10.1086/603640
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 19627240
VL - 174
SP - 424
EP - 433
JO - American Naturalist
JF - American Naturalist
SN - 0003-0147
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 14699265