Molecular ecology of neotropical ants

• Grant number: 17/16645-1
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira
• Grantee: Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Anete Pereira de Souza ; Gustavo Maruyama Mori ; Marina Corrêa Côrtes ; Sebastian Felipe Sendoya Echeverry

Abstract

This project is linked to the research area of molecular ecology, currently being developed by our group, having ants as our focal study organism. This research area was established and amplified through a number of active collaborations with groups of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) and the Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (Rio Claro e São Vicente-SP). The studies to be carried out in this project are arranged in two subprojects, one of which includes a PhD thesis currently being developed by one graduate student in our group through Graduate Program in Ecology of UNICAMP. The subprojects are the following: Subproject A - Biodiversity and molecular ecology of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) along a latitudinal gradient in the Cerrado. Specific objectives: (1) Describe how ant genetic diversity within the genus Camponotus (the most dominant on leaves) is distributed along a latitudinal gradient in the Cerrado; (2) Investigate the relation between intraspecific genetic diversity in Camponotus ants and species diversity of arboreal ants and plants; (3) Investigate the relation between genetic diversity and intraspecific morphological variation in ants with environmental heterogeneity. Subproject B - Border effect on the breeding system and genetic structure of Odontomachus chelifer (Formicidae: Ponerinae) in Cerrado. Specific objectives: (1) Describe the genetic structure and breeding system of O. chelifer colonies; (2) Evaluate if genetic diversity and functional polygyny in O. chelifer are associated with nest location (border versus interior of cerrado fragments). This application for Auxílio à Pesquisa aims to obtain funds to improve the conditions of our laboratory and of our field trips, allowing the adequate development of our research project. We are searching for funds to cover the costs associated with field work, genetic analyses, equipment, consumables, per diem expenses, third party services, and transportation. (AU)

Scientific publications

(18)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LEMOS, ALESSANDRA S. M.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; GONCALVES-NETO, SALATIEL; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Microsatellites for the Neotropical Ant, Odontomachus chelifer (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE, v. 20, n. 5, OCT 24 2020. (17/16645-1, 17/18291-2, 19/12683-1, 14/23141-1)

ROCHA, FELIPE P.; RONQUE, MARIANE U., V; LYRA, MARIANA L.; BACCI JR, MAURICIO; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Habitat and Host Species Drive the Structure of Bacterial Communities of Two Neotropical Trap-Jaw Odontomachus Ants. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2022-07-08. (17/16645-1, 17/26162-8, 17/04824-9, 14/23141-1)

RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; LYRA, MARIANA L.; MIGLIORINI, GUSTAVO H.; BACCI, MAURICIO; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Symbiotic bacterial communities in rainforest fungus-farming ants: evidence for species and colony specificity. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 10, n. 1, JUN 23 2020. (17/26162-8, 17/16645-1, 14/23141-1)

AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; MORI, GUSTAVO M.; CARVALHO, CAROLINA S.; CORTES, MARINA C.; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Breeding systems and genetic diversity in tropical carpenter ant colonies: different strategies for similar outcomes in Brazilian Cerrado savanna. ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. 190, n. 3, p. 1020-1035, NOV 2020. (14/23141-1, 17/16645-1, 14/22821-9, 13/08086-1, 17/18291-2, 14/01029-5)

VIDAL, MAYRA C.; SENDOYA, SEBASTIAN F.; YAMAGUCHI, LYDIA F.; KATO, MASSUO J.; OLIVEIRA, RAFAEL S.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Natural History of a Sit-and-Wait Dipteran Predator That Uses Extrafloral Nectar as Prey Attractant. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY, v. 47, n. 5, p. 1165-1172, OCT 2018. (12/23399-3, 14/23141-1, 11/18580-8, 10/13619-0, 17/16645-1)

FREITAS, A. V. L.; MUNIZ, D. G.; CARREIRA, J. Y. O.; OLIVEIRA, P. S.. FRUIT-FEEDING BUTTERFLY ASSEMBLAGES IN A NEOTROPICAL SAVANNA: ASSESSING PHENOLOGICAL PATTERNS USING BAITED TRAPS. JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, v. 75, n. 2, p. 88-103, JUN 8 2021. (12/50260-6, 09/02451-4, 14/50316-7, 14/23141-1, 17/16645-1, 11/50225-3, 13/50297-0, 11/18580-8)

CALHEIROS, ANA C.; RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; SOARES, HELIO; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Foraging Ecology of the Leaf-Cutter Ant, Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in a Neotropical Cerrado Savanna. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY, v. 48, n. 6, p. 1434-1441, DEC 2019. (14/23141-1, 17/16645-1)

PERES, PEDRO A.; FERREIRA, ANA PAULA; MACHADO, GLAUCO B. O.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; SIQUEIRA, SILVANA G. L.; LEITE, FOSCA P. P.. Sex-biased dispersal depends on the spatial scale in a tube-building amphipod. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES, v. 658, p. 135-148, JAN 21 2021. (17/16645-1, 14/15614-7, 18/10313-0, 14/23141-1, 17/18291-2)

CALHEIROS, ANA C.; RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Social Organization and Subcaste Specialization in the Leaf-Cutting Ant Acromyrmex subterraneus (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Journal of Insect Behavior, v. 32, n. 4-6, OCT 2019. (17/16645-1, 14/23141-1)

SOARES, JR., HELIO; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Foraging and Spatial Ecology of a Polydomous Carpenter Ant, Camponotus leydigi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Tropical Cerrado Savanna: A Natural History Account. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY, v. 50, n. 1, p. 19-27, FEB 2021. (17/16645-1, 14/23141-1)

SALLES, L. F. P.; CHRISTIANINI, A. V.; OLIVEIRA, P. S.. Dirt roads and fire breaks produce no edge effects on litter-dwelling arthropods in a tropical dry-forest: a case study. JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION, v. 22, n. 5-6, p. 647-657, DEC 2018. (14/23141-1, 17/16645-1)

MAGALHAES, VERONICA B.; ESPIRITO SANTO, NADIA B.; SALLES, LUIS F. P.; SOARES, JR., HELIO; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Secondary seed dispersal by ants in Neotropical cerrado savanna: species-specific effects on seeds and seedlings of Siparuna guianensis (Siparunaceae). ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, v. 43, n. 5, p. 665-674, OCT 2018. (17/16645-1, 14/23141-1)

RONQUE, M. U. V.; FEITOSA, R. M.; OLIVEIRA, P. S.. Natural history and ecology of fungus-farming ants: a field study in Atlantic rainforest. Insectes Sociaux, v. 66, n. 3, p. 375-387, AUG 2019. (17/16645-1, 14/23141-1)

GONCALVES-NETO, SALATIEL; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; LEMOS, ALESSANDRA S. M.; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Microsatellites for the Neotropical ant, Camponotus leydigi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, v. 24, n. 1, p. 79-84, MAR 2021. (17/18291-2, 19/12683-1, 17/16645-1, 14/23141-1)

RONQUE, M. U. V.; MIGLIORINI, G. H.; OLIVEIRA, P. S.. Thievery in rainforest fungus-growing ants: interspecific assault on culturing material at nest entrance. Insectes Sociaux, v. 65, n. 3, p. 507-510, AUG 2018. (17/16645-1, 14/23141-1)

CAMARGO, PAULO H. S. A.; RODRIGUES, SUELEN B. M.; PIRATELLI, AUGUSTO J.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.; CHRISTIANINI, V, ALEXANDER. Interhabitat variation in diplochory: Seed dispersal effectiveness by birds and ants differs between tropical forest and savanna. PERSPECTIVES IN PLANT ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS, v. 38, p. 48-57, JUN 2019. (14/23141-1, 02/12895-8, 17/16645-1)

AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; LEMOS, ALESSANDRA S. M.; GONCALVES-NETO, SALATIEL; SALLES, LUIS F. P.; PEREYRA, MARIANA; CHRISTIANINI, ALEXANDER, V; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Are There Edge Effects on the Genetic Diversity of the Trap-Jaw Ant Odontomachus chelifer (Formicidae: Ponerinae) in a Neotropical Savanna Fragment? A First Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 7-pg., 2023-02-06. (17/18291-2, 22/06529-2, 19/12683-1, 14/23141-1, 17/16645-1, 18/02769-3)

PEREYRA, M.; ZEBALLOS, S. R.; GALETTO, L.; OLIVEIRA, P. S.. Influence of secondary dispersal by ants on invasive processes of exotic species with fleshy fruits. Biological Invasions, v. 24, n. 10, p. 15-pg., 2022-06-27. (14/23141-1, 17/16645-1)