Article (Scientific journals)
Bacteria may enhance species association in an ant-aphid mutualistic relationship
Fischer, Christophe; Lognay, Georges; Detrain, Claire et al.
2015In Chemoecology
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Keywords :
ant; aphid; mutualism; bacteria; VOC; honeydew
Abstract :
[en] The mutualistic relationships between certain ant and aphid species are well known, the primary benefits being protection for the aphids and carbohydrate-rich honeydew for the ants. Questions remain, however, as to the exact semiochemical factors that establish and maintain such relationships. In this study we used a series of treatments and associated controls placed at the end of a two-way olfactometer to determine the degree of attractiveness of a complete plant-aphid-honeydew system as well as individual components of that system. Both the olfactometer branch selected by the black garden ant (Lasius niger), and the linear speed with which ants moved through the device, were measured. Study results showed that ants were attracted not just to the complete plant system and the honeydew itself, but also to the microbial flora in the absence of plant or honeydew, and specifically to a bacterium from the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) honeydew, Staphylococcus xylosus. This bacterium produces a blend of semiochemicals that attract the ant scouts. This information suggests the presence of a naturally-occurring, reliable biotic cue for detection of potential aphid partners. This would have to be confirmed in natural conditions by further field experiments. Rather than being opportunistic species that coincidentally colonize a sugar-rich environment, microorganisms living in aphid honeydew may be able to alter emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), thus significantly mediating partner attraction. A bacterial involvement in this mutualistic relationship could alter the manner in which these and similar relationships are viewed and evaluated. Future studies into mutualism stability and function among macroscopic partners will likely need to transition from a two-partner perspective to a multiple-partner perspective, and consider the microbial component, with the potential for one or more taxa making significant contributions to the relationship
Disciplines :
Chemistry
Entomology & pest control
Microbiology
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Fischer, Christophe ;  Université de Liège > Agronomie, Bio-ingénierie et Chimie (AgroBioChem) > Analyse, qual. et risques - Labo. de Chimie analytique
Lognay, Georges ;  Université de Liège > Agronomie, Bio-ingénierie et Chimie (AgroBioChem) > Analyse, qual. et risques - Labo. de Chimie analytique
Detrain, Claire
Heil, Martin
Grigorescu, Alina ;  Université de Liège > Centre Wallon de biologie industrielle
Sabri, Ahmed
Thonart, Philippe ;  Université de Liège > Agronomie, Bio-ingénierie et Chimie (AgroBioChem) > Bio-industries
Haubruge, Eric  ;  Université de Liège > Premier Vice-Recteur
Verheggen, François  ;  Université de Liège > Agronomie, Bio-ingénierie et Chimie (AgroBioChem) > Entomologie fonctionnelle et évolutive
Language :
English
Title :
Bacteria may enhance species association in an ant-aphid mutualistic relationship
Publication date :
February 2015
Journal title :
Chemoecology
ISSN :
0937-7409
eISSN :
1423-0445
Publisher :
Springer, New York, United States - New York
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
FRFC - Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective [BE]
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