10.5061/DRYAD.V837K
LeBrun, Edward G.
The University of Texas at Austin
Diebold, Peter J.
The University of Texas at Austin
Orr, Matthew R.
Gilbert, Lawrence E.
The University of Texas at Austin
Data from: Widespread chemical detoxification of alkaloid venom by
formicine ants
Dryad
dataset
2017
Nylanderia fulva
Paratrechina longicornis
Brachymryrmex patagonicus
Camponotus festinatus
Alkaloid
Camponotus sansabeanus
Myrmecocystus placodops
Solenopsis invicta
Camponotus rufipes
Nylanderia vividula
venom
ant assemblage
Formica pallidefulva
Solenopsis geminata
antibiosis
2017-10-18T14:46:12Z
2017-10-18T14:46:12Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-015-0625-3
108936 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The ability to detoxify defensive compounds of competitors provides key
ecological advantages that can influence community-level processes.
Although common in plants and bacteria, this type of detoxification
interaction is extremely rare in animals. Here, using laboratory
behavioral assays and analyses of videotaped interactions in South
America, we report widespread venom detoxification among ants in the
subfamily Formicinae. Across both data sets, nine formicine species,
representing all major clades, used a stereotyped grooming behavior to
self-apply formic acid (acidopore grooming) in response to fire ant
(Solenopsis invicta and S. saevissima) venom exposure. In laboratory
assays, this behavior increased the survivorship of species following
exposure to S. invicta venom. Species expressed the behavior when exposed
to additional alkaloid venoms, including both compositionally similar
piperidine venom of an additional fire ant species and the
pyrrolidine/pyrroline alkaloid venom of a Monomorium species. In addition,
species expressed the behavior following exposure to the uncharacterized
venom of a Crematogaster species. However, species did not express
acidopore grooming when confronted with protein-based ant venoms or when
exposed to monoterpenoid-based venom. This pattern, combined with the
specific chemistry of the reaction of formic acid with venom alkaloids,
indicates that alkaloid venoms are targets of detoxification grooming.
Solenopsis thief ants, and Monomorium species stand out as brood-predators
of formicine ants that produce piperidine, pyrrolidine, and pyrroline
venom, providing an important ecological context for the use of
detoxification behavior. Detoxification behavior also represents a
mechanism that can influence the order of assemblage dominance hierarchies
surrounding food competition. Thus, this behavior likely influences
ant-assemblages through a variety of ecological pathways.
Detoxification Behavior in Formicinae LeBrun et alThe data file has 6
spreadsheets. Acido. Groom. - Sinvicta venom: For methods see - Acidopore
grooming response - S. invicta venom. Acido. Groom. - other sp venom: For
methods see - Acidopore grooming response - other venoms Detox. Capacity
CO2 Anesthetiz.: For methods see - Detoxification capacity assay – S.
invicta venom Detox Capacity Acidopor. Sealed: For methods see -
Detoxification capacity assay – S. invicta venom Acid. Groom. S.A. Vid.
Crufipes: For methods see - Video Analysis - South American Interactions
Acid. Groom. S.A. Vid. Nfulva: For methods see - Video Analysis - South
American Interactions
Texas
Brazil