An ant social parasite in-between two chemical disparate host species |
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Authors: | Sabine Bauer Melanie Böhm Volker Witte Susanne Foitzik |
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Institution: | 1.Department Biologie II,Ludwig Maximilians Universit?t München,Planegg-Martinsried,Germany |
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Abstract: | Host-parasite coevolution shapes the structure of communities and simultaneously the traits of the interacting species. Social
parasites developed sophisticated chemical integration strategies to circumvent host defences. Here, we show that the two
Leptothorax host species of the obligate social parasite Harpagoxenus sublaevis exhibit extremely divergent chemical profiles, making it nearly impossible for this parasite to closely adapt to both hosts
at once. Our cuticular hydrocarbon analyses demonstrate that H.
sublaevis acquires some host chemicals passively, but additionally, actively biosyntheses some host hydrocarbons. The parasite adjusts
thereby more closely to its smaller host, L.
muscorum, because it actively produces two of its cuticular substances and also more easily acquires the short-chained hydrocarbons
of this host. Community composition analyses indicate that the social parasite overexploits this chemical closer host species
and, albeit costly for the parasite, frequently enslaves workers of the second host concurrently. |
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