Impact of neoteny on termite colony structure inferred by microsatellite genotyping

• Grant number: 14/00720-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo
• Grantee: Ives Haifig
• Supervisor: Edward L. Vargo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: North Carolina State University (NC State), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/23898-0 - Manipulation of reproduction in termites with focus on strategies via neotenics, BP.PD

Abstract

A termite colony may exhibit neotenic reproductives, which are young individuals that reached the maturation of their reproductive apparatus prior to the molt to imago. These reproductives are commonly of two types, namely nymphoid neotenics when derived from nymphs and ergatoid neotenics when derived from workers. Some termite species exhibit a biased production of one or another type of neotenic reproductives when at least one of the primary reproductives is absent. It is known that these reproductives completely change the termite colony structure in lower termites, being a key factor for the appearance of particular castes. However, no study to date analyzed the impact of neotenics on colony structure in higher termites. The main goal of the present research is to access the impact of neotenic reproduction on the structure of termite colonies in a genetic point of view. We will develop microsatellite markers for two neotropical termite species, Silvestritermes euamignathus and Nasutitermes aquilinus. The markers will be used for genotyping samples of colonies headed by different reproductives, including primary, nymphoid and ergatoid reproductives. These genetic analyses will enable us to characterize the degrees of parentage among individuals and establish the influence of the neotenics on colony structure by comparing the results. The development of microsatellite markers and the initial genetic analyses will be place at the laboratory of Dr. Edward L. Vargo (Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, USA). The laboratory of Dr. Vargo has experience working with the development of microsatellite markers for termites and other insects, and he has already demonstrated interest in participate of this research when the initial project was proposed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

HAIFIG, IVES; VARGO, EDWARD L.; LABADIE, PAUL; COSTA-LEONARDO, ANA MARIA. Unrelated secondary reproductives in the neotropical termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae). NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN, v. 103, n. 1-2, FEB 2016. (14/25857-4, 12/23898-0, 14/00720-6)