Moving forward with the primate microbiome: Introduction to a special issue of the American Journal of Primatology

Primate microbiome research is a quickly growing field with exciting potential for informing our understanding of primate biology, ecology, and evolution as well as host‐microbe interactions more broadly. This introductory essay to a special section of the American Journal of Primatology provides a cross‐sectional snapshot of current activity in these areas by briefly summarizing the diversity of contributed papers and their relationships to key themes in host‐associated microbiome research. It then uses this survey as a foundation for consolidating a set of key research questions to broadly guide future research. It also argues for the importance of methods standardization to facilitate comparative analyses and the identification of generalizable patterns and relationships. While primatology will benefit greatly from the integration of microbial datasets, it is uniquely positioned to address important questions regarding microbiology and macro‐ecology and evolution more generally. We are eager to see where the primate microbiome leads us.     

Phyletic coevolution between subterranean rodents of the genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Hystricognathi) and nematodes of the genus Paraspidodera (Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae) in the Neotropics: temporal and evolutionary implications

Coevolution was studied in six species of rodents of the genus Ctenomys and their parasitic nematodes of the genus Paraspidodera , collected in Bolivia. Representatives of the families Octodontidae and Caviidae were used as outgroups for the mammals, and nematodes from caviids were used as outgroups of the nematodes from ctenomyids. For the nematodes, quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics of both males and females and electrophoretic characters of both sexes were used to generate phylogenetic hypotheses of evolutionary relationships of the OTUs occurring in hosts of different species. Concordance estimates of cladograms generated from biochemical—genetic and morphological data of the nematodes show a percentage incongruence (Mickevich-Farris Incongruence Statistic or I _MF) of 8.23% in the character sets. Parsimony mapping, testing concordance of topologies between the trees derived from both analysis of both morphological and biochemical—genetic data indicates an overall agreement of 82.3°. Comparisons of topologies of the host and parasite cladograms, as measured with parsimony mapping, showed 70.8% concordance, indicating substantially more cospeciation than host-switching in the Ctenomys-Paraspidodera host-parasite system. Nematodes of the genus Paraspidodera appear to have invaded the Ctenomys lineage from an origin in caviids sometime before the ctenomyids began to diversify in early Pleistocene time.     

Location and distribution of symbiotic bacteria during floral development in Ardisia crispa

Abstract. The location and distribution of symbiotic bacteria during floral development in Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A.DC., a species characterized by bacterial leaf nodules, has been studied using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. During early floral development, bacteria in mucilage derived from host plant trichomes, become enclosed in a small conical chamber on top of the placenta, as a result of the closure and fusion of the carpel initials. The placental epidermal cells, which appear to be secretory in nature, become detached apically in places forming a network of grooves which traverse the placental surface. The symbiotic bacteria are preferentially located in these grooves. As growth and development of the placenta proceed, the grooves widen and deepen to form channels. The cells lining these channels secrete a mucilaginous material. The network of channels covers the entire placental surface and terminates at the placental margins surrounding the ovules. Bacteria are found within the channels, at the ends of the channels near the margin of the placenta, on the surface of the ovules and in the micropyle. It is suggested that these mucilage-filled channels are responsible for, and a prerequisite of, ensuring that the bacterial partner is efficiently transmitted from one host generation to the next by providing a mechanism by which the bacteria arc accurately placed within the developing seed.     

The importance of intraspecific frequency-dependent selection in modelling competitive coevolution

Summary The coevolution of competitors has been analyzed by two different types of fitness-maximization techniques; ESS methods (Lawlor and Maynard Smith, 1976), and CSS methods (Roughgarden, 1979). This paper argues that CSS methods generally do not predict the outcome of competitive coevolution. Even when there is relatively little variability within species, fitness maximization leads to an ESS rather than a CSS. A simple model is analyzed to show that ESS and CSS predictions about character displacement can differ qualitatively. Previous results of CSS analyses are discussed.     

Präadaptation, Wirtskreiserweiterung and Parallel-Cladogenese in der Evolution von phytophagen Insekten1, 2

Preadaptation, host shifts and parallel cladogenesis in the evolution of phytophagous insects In this contribution we investigate the possibilities to apply concepts developed for the evolution of animal parasites to insect-plant systems. We compare host parasite systems in animals with plant-herbivore systems and list similarities and differences. The terms preadaptation, predisposition, expansion and contraction of host ranges, and parallel cladogenesis are discussed. We enumerate general preadaptations for the evolution of herbivory in insects and preadaptations for shifts between herbivory and entomophagy. Examples are given for expansions of host ranges based on phytochemical or structural characters of host plants. Cases of parallel cladogenesis in herbivoreparasitoid systems and plant-herbivore systems are compiled from the literature. An analysis of the insect fauna of the “thistles” (Cynaroideae) in the Palearctic and Nearctic demonstrates the importance of the evolutionary history of the plant taxa and of the existence of preadapted pools of herbivores for the evolution of guilds of specialized herbivores. The members of the Curculionid taxon Cleoninae provide examples for multiple colonizations and radiations of herbivores on the Cynaroideae. The taxonomic and biological relationships of the weevil genera Rhinocyllus, Bangasternus and Larinus which exploit the flower heads of Cynaroideae, can be interpreted as result of a basic parallel cladogenesis between herbivore and host. A gelelectrophoretic analysis of Larinus spp. supports this hypothesis.     

Tree killing by herbicide producing ants for the establishment of pureTococa occidentalis populations in the Peruvian Amazon

Populations ofTococa occidentalis (Melastomataceae) and the inhabiting ants (Myrmelachista sp.) were observed for more than eight months in the Peruvian Amazon (Sira mountains). They represent a complex coevolutionary system: the plants offer shelter (leaf domatia, hollow stems) and food (leaf glands), whereas the ants kill all surrounding plants, including large trees up to 10 m, by chemical weapons. Experiments with exposed plants revealed a highly specialized way to attack meristematic tissue and leaf nervature, which leads to a quick decay of the plant individuals. The clearing of the vegetation by the ants allows theTococa population to expand mostly by vegetative shoots to large monocultures (up to 30 m in diameter) free from any other plant species. Artificially introduced plant individuals, from differentT. occidentalis populations, are regarded as a foreign species by the ants.The succession of such aTococa-Myrmelachista system begins with one or a few founder plants on a light place in the midst of the vegetation.Myrmelachista soon inhabits their host plants which otherwise would not survive and begin to clear the place from all foreign plant species.Tococa expands quickly, forming circle shaped populations. Distantly situated canopy trees shade theTococa population after a number of years and cause their decay. The whole place appears contaminated for years and no other plant can establish itself. Some of the consequences of these open places are erosion and a severe influence on the regeneration of the forest.     

Biodiversity amongst filamentous fungi

Diversities in fungi are manifold. Fungi themselves are heterogeneous and constitute at least three unrelated major taxa. Structural diversity reflects, in most cases, adaptive and functional strategies. Diversity in nucleic acids and chemical compounds is very high in several fungal taxa. Fungi play an essential role in the function of ecosystems. The diversity of plant parasites is extremely high and species-dependent associations exist. Saprobic fungi are most important in wood and litter decay and diverse taxa comprise the main decomposers in specific successional niches. Two dominating symbiotic systems have evolved convergently in various fungal groups, notably lichens and mycorrhizas, both remarkably diverse in their heterotrophic partners.     

光钳操纵生物活体的动态监测技术的研究

采用摄像、录像和视屏监控系统及显色偏振装置与光钳系统耦合,从空间分辨、色分辨和时间分辨多方面改善系统品质,实现了光钳捕获与操纵生物活体的动态监测、实时记录、资料保存和屏幕再现的功能,并能测量光钳操纵细胞的位移量和由此计算操纵速度,提高了光钳的自我调整和光钳操纵细胞的精细度。本研究为激光光钳技术在细胞工程等方面的应用研究提供了行之有效的技术手段。