Article
Microbiology
Mariela O. Nascimento, Amanda C. Teles Tenorio, Renato A. Sarmento, Rita de Cassia C. Melo, Terezinha Maria Castro Della Lucia, Karina Dias Amaral, Danival J. Souza
Summary: Founder females of leaf-cutting ant species Atta sexdens experience high mortality during colony establishment, with actinobacteria from soil potentially playing a key role in inhibiting pathogenic fungi.
JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Antonin J. J. Crumiere, Aidan James, Pol Lannes, Sophie Mallett, Anders Michelsen, Riikka Rinnan, Jonathan Z. Shik
Summary: This study found that the requirements of the fungus-cultivar for macronutrients and minerals influence the foraging niche breadth of Atta colombica leafcutter ants in the Neotropics. Some plant fragments provide excess protein, while certain minerals can expand the ants' foraging niche.
Article
Agronomy
Maria Schulze-Sylvester, Francisco Sylvester, Victor Manuel Torres, Carolina Ivon Paris, Jose Antonio Corronca
Summary: Leafcutter ants are a major pest in Argentine vineyards, but their damage to vine plants has not been sufficiently quantified. This study demonstrates that the Argentine ant Linepithema humile can act as a plant bodyguard against a leafcutter ant, reducing the damage inflicted on the plants. The use of artificial sugar sources can enhance this defense service.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jonas Morales-Linares, Angelica Maria Corona-Lopez, Victor Hugo Toledo-Hernandez, Alejandro Flores-Palacios
Summary: Specialized mutualistic systems such as ant-gardens are suggested to be more vulnerable to climate change. The geographical distribution and individual species compositions within ant-gardens have different responses to climate change, with ant-gardens providing a potential for the species within them to broaden their ecological niche and adapt to changing climates.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alain Dejean, Frederic Petitclerc, Arthur Compin, Frederic Azemar, Stanislas Talaga, Bruno Corbara
Summary: In the Amazonia region, higher sea surface temperatures, greenhouse gasses, deforestation, and El Nino events have resulted in an increase in the frequency of severe droughts, despite an overall increase in total rainfall. A study on ant gardens in the region shows that rainfall plays a crucial role in the density of these gardens, with reduced rainfall during the dry season leading to a decrease in ant garden density.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ana Filipa Palmeirim, Maira Benchimol, Inara R. Leal, Carlos A. Peres
Summary: Habitat loss and fragmentation have profound impacts on local ecological processes, accelerating species extinctions and disrupting ecosystem functions. Different trophic groups, including apex predators, mesopredators, and ants, are influenced by forest area in diverse ways on variable-sized islands. These findings shed light on the long-term viability of forest ecosystems in lowland Amazonia affected by hydropower development.
Article
Biology
Benjamin H. Conlon, David O'Tuama, Anders Michelsen, Antonin J. J. Crumiere, Jonathan Z. Shik
Summary: This study reveals that leafcutter ants utilize cellulose as a food source by converting it into edible fungal tissue, shedding light on the eco-evolutionary success of these important herbivores.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Thembekile A. Mthimunye, Thinandavha C. Munyai
Summary: Understanding the distribution of biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem conservation. Recent studies suggest that monoculture timber plantations can serve as alternative habitats for forest species. We investigated the diversity patterns of ants in monoculture plantations and natural forests in South Africa. Our findings show that monoculture plantations affect ant communities, leading to changes in their distribution and composition.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
I. B. Muratore, I. Ilies, A. K. Huzar, F. H. Zaidi, J. F. A. Traniello
Summary: This study focused on the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes, and identified five distinct worker size classes with significant differences in task division and performance. However, there was task overlap at the boundaries between different size classes. The findings shed light on the relationship between worker size classification, task performance, and the organization of complex insect societies.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Renata Cunha Pereira, Omar Bailez, Jose Olivio Lopes Vieira-Junior, Gerson Adriano Silva, Analia Aredes, Ana Maria Viana-Bailez
Summary: This study found that E. tonhascai prefers larger host ants with a cephalic capsule size of 3-5 mm when attacking A. sexdens. However, there was no preference for host species between A. sexdens and A. laevigata, indicating that E. tonhascai can contribute equally to the biological control of both leafcutter ant species.
NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jonas Morales-Linares, Alejandro Flores-Palacios, Angelica Maria Corona-Lopez, Victor Hugo Toledo-Hernandez
Summary: This study examined the structure and robustness of interactions among species in different ecological networks, using Neotropical ant-gardens as a case study in the context of global climate change. The results showed that the AG network exhibited high robustness and nestedness, despite ant-epiphyte interactions being generalist.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
I. B. Muratore, E. M. Fandozzi, J. F. A. Traniello
Summary: The study found a correlation between the brain structure and task performance of leafcutter ants. The variation in task performance influences the selection of brain structure, resulting in different brain structures among different worker types.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Mycology
Caio Ambrosio Leal-Dutra, Lok Man Yuen, Bruno Augusto Maciel Guedes, Marta Contreras-Serrano, Pedro Elias Marques, Jonathan Zvi Shik
Summary: Leafcutter ants farm a fungal cultivar called Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, which forms gongylidia cells through autophagy, providing nutritional rewards for ant farmers. This study used microscopy and experimental analysis to uncover the mechanisms of gongylidia formation and found that autophagy plays a critical role in this process.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Palatty Allesh Sinu, Mubarak Jamal, Greeshma Shaji, M. Hariraveendra, Gopika Viswan, P. Abhiram Krishnan, Ankita Das, K. Aneha, A. R. Pooja, Spandana Salikity, V Arathy
Summary: Pollinator conservation is a global priority, but current schemes lack planning for nesting opportunities for wild solitary bees. Our study found that the leaves of the popular ornamental plant, rose, can help conserve leafcutter bees, providing a new method for protecting and restoring pollinators.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jon Kleinberg, Manish Raghavan
Summary: As algorithms become increasingly common in decision-making processes, algorithmic monoculture may reduce the overall quality of decisions made by a group of decision-making agents, even if the algorithm is more accurate when used by a single decision-maker. This risk does not require unexpected shocks to manifest itself.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rodolfo Bizarria, Fernando Carlos Pagnocca, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Insects interact with a diverse array of yeasts, with Attine ants and basidiomycete fungi forming a mutualistic relationship for millions of years. Previous research has focused on a small fraction of Attine ants, identifying common yeast orders and genera, but the full ecological roles of yeasts in this mutualism remain largely unexplored. The attine ant environment holds significant potential for studying yeast biodiversity, ecology, and biotechnology, with parallels seen in biotechnological processes.
Article
Microbiology
Irina Jimenez-Gomez, Mariana O. Barcoto, Quimi V. Montoya, Aryel C. Goes, Lana S. V. E. Monteiro, Odair C. Bueno, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Health and disease are influenced by complex interactions between genotypes, phenotypes, and environmental factors. In host-microbial interactions, the pathogenic potential of microorganisms is modulated by both the host and environmental conditions. Different ant fungal cultivars show varying susceptibility to the same Escovopsis strains, and the health of ant colonies significantly impacts the outcomes of host-Escovopsis interactions.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Carolina Giraldo, Clemencia Chaves-Lopez, Rosanna Tofalo, Roberto Angrisani, Andre Rodrigues, James Montoya-Lerma
Summary: Yeasts isolated from the worker caste of the Colombian leaf-cutting ant were analyzed and compared with other leaf-cutting ant species. The composition of yeast species varied significantly among different ant species. The identified yeasts play a crucial role in the mutualism between the ants and their fungal cultivars.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Tatiane de Castro Pietrobon, Pepijn Wilhelmus Kooij, Quimi Vidaurre Montoya, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Fungus-growing attine ants have a mutualistic relationship with basidiomycete fungi, but also face challenges from fungal parasites. This study provides new insights into the interaction between the ant colonies and Escovopsioides nivea, a fungal parasite, suggesting a different evolutionary path compared to its close relative Escovopsis.
Article
Microbiology
Mariana O. Barcoto, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Anthropogenic activities have significantly altered the biosphere, leading to a global crisis of waste overload. Both lignocellulose and plastic polymers share similar physical-chemical properties and can be degraded by microorganisms. We propose to learn from insect fungiculture to understand the degradation of plant polymers, which could offer insights for degrading synthetic plastics.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rodolfo Bizarria Jr, Tatiane de Castro Pietrobon, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Yeast diversity in attine ant environments was assessed by sampling fungus gardens across different fungiculture systems. Taxonomically unique and diverse yeast communities were found in the fungus gardens of all ants examined. Different ant colonies and fungiculture systems harbored distinct yeast communities. Killer yeasts were also identified, exhibiting a classical inhibition pattern. These findings highlight the importance of studying yeast diversity and ecology in attine ant fungus gardens.
Article
Ecology
Aryel C. Goes, Pepijn W. Kooij, Laurence Culot, Odair C. Bueno, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Leaf-cutting ant workers are able to distinguish between different fungi and apply distinct responses to remove them. Repeated exposure to the same pathogen enhances the hygiene defenses of ant colonies.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rebekka S. Janke, Filip Kaftan, Sarah P. Niehs, Kirstin Scherlach, Andre Rodrigues, Ales Svatos, Christian Hertweck, Martin Kaltenpoth, Laura V. Florez
Summary: The cuticle is the first line of defense against predators and pathogens in invertebrates. In this study, it was found that the beetle Lagria villosa harbors bacterial symbionts in unique dorsal invaginations of its cuticle, which release protective compounds during molting and provide extended defense against fungi during larval development. One dominant bacterial strain, producing an antifungal compound called lagriamide, plays a crucial role in protecting the beetle from pathogenic fungi at all life stages.
Article
Ecology
Keminy R. Bautz, Marcela C. S. Caixeta, Nathalia P. Del Puppo, Andre Rodrigues, Thiago G. Kloss, Simon L. Elliot
Summary: Leaf-cutting ants interact with the soil-borne fungus Syncephalastrum, which has been shown to antagonize the ants' fungal cultivar. However, the impacts of this fungus on whole colonies of leaf-cutting ants are unknown. In this study, we assessed the impacts of Syncephalastrum on queenless and queenright colonies, and found that it negatively affected leaf cutting in both types of colonies, but did not compromise their survival. These findings suggest that the virulence of this fungus may be limited in a more realistic set-up.
Article
Ecology
Maria Jesus Sutta Martiarena, Aurelie Deveau, Quimi Vidaurre Montoya, Laura V. Florez, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Bacteria in the microbiome of leaf-cutting attine ant colonies interact with the ant fungal cultivar, affecting gongylidia production and fungal biomass. Some bacterial strains have positive effects, while others have inhibitory effects. Bacteria-bacteria interactions also play a role in regulating the community structure within the ant-fungus garden.
Article
Mycology
Salome Urrea-Valencia, Rodolfo Bizarria Jr, Pepijn W. Kooij, Quimi Vidaurre Montoya, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Leaf-cutting ants rely on a nutritional mutualism with fungi, but only two fungal species cultivated by these ants have been described previously. In this study, basidiomata were obtained from fungal cultivars of two lower attine ant species, and two new species were described. This highlights the importance of in vitro cultures in assessing the taxonomic diversity of mushroom species grown by these ants.
MYCOLOGICAL PROGRESS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Andre Rodrigues, Andrew J. Johnson, Ross A. Joseph, You Li, Nemat O. Keyhani, Edward L. Stanley, Benjamin Weiss, Martin Kaltenpoth, Matthew E. Smith, Jiri Hulcr
Summary: Platypodinae ambrosia beetles rely on mutualistic fungi for food and cooperate in colonizing dead trees. The study discovered that Euplatypus parallelus may lack mycangia, unlike other Platypodinae species. However, both Euplatypus species contain yeast related to the fungi.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rodolfo Bizarria Jr, Tatiane de Castro Pietrobon, Henrique Ferreira, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: In eukaryotes, the ribosome machinery is encoded by repeated genes and is believed to evolve through concerted evolution. However, a new yeast species related to Cyberlindnera was found to have polymorphisms and heterogeneity in its ribosomal RNA genes, suggesting a different mode of evolution. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the rDNA of this yeast species evolved by reticulation rather than the traditional bifurcating tree model. This study highlights the heterogeneity of rDNA genes in yeasts and calls for further investigation into their evolution.
FEMS YEAST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Sandra Regina Sousa Cardoso, Andre Rodrigues, Luiz Carlos Forti, Nilson Satoru Nagamoto
Summary: The study evaluated the pathogenicity of several filamentous fungi to leaf-cutting ant workers and found that some fungi may have better potential for biological control of leaf-cutting ants. Additionally, it reported for the first time the pathogenicity of certain fungi towards leaf-cutting ant workers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TROPICAL INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andreza P. Garbin, Nayara F. L. Garcia, Gabriela F. Cavalheiro, Maria Alice Silvestre, Andre Rodrigues, Marcelo F. Da Paz, Gustavo G. Fonseca, Rodrigo S. R. Leite
Summary: The study found that cultivating the fungus Thermoascus crustaceus in a low-cost cultivation medium can efficiently produce beta-glucosidase and xylanase, with the optimal production conditions being the use of wheat bran as substrate, cultivation at 70% humidity, for 96 hours at 40 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the enzymatic activity was found to be optimal at pH 4.5 and 65 degrees Celsius, and maintained activity within a pH range of 4.0-8.0 and temperature range of 30-55 degrees Celsius.
ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS
(2021)