Revealing Evolutionary Pathways in Fungus-Growing Ants: A Phylogenomic Study of the Genus Mycetomoellerius Solomon et al., 2019 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

• Grant number: 24/20819-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Gabriela Procópio Camacho
• Grantee: Carlos Daniel Assis dos Santos
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/12809-0 - Unraveling hidden patterns: exploring the diversity and phylogenetic endemism of Atlantic Forest ants through genomic data, AP.JP

Abstract

Fungus-growing ants (Attina) maintain an obligatory mutualistic relationship with fungi in the order Agaricales, forming a diverse monophyletic group of approximately 249 described species in 20 genera. Based on molecular data, the genus Trachymyrmex s.l. Forel 1893 was divided into three genera: Mycetomoellerius Solomon et al. 2019, Paratrachymyrmex Solomon et al. 2019, and Trachymyrmex. As currently circumscribed, the genus Mycetomoellerius includes the largest number of described and many additional undescribed species. Ultra-Conserved Elements (UCEs) have emerged as key markers for genomic studies, strongly contributing to robust evolutionary relationships among species. This study aims to conduct a taxonomic revision of the fungus-farming ant genus Mycetomoellerius, with phylogenomic support, aiming to review the morphological and molecular characteristics of the species, identify and resolve synonyms, describe and redescribe species, and construct a robust phylogeny for the genus. Colony sampling will be conducted in various regions of Brazil, following specific protocols to ensure the acquisition of workers, larvae, pupae, males, queens, and fungal gardens. In addition to field samples, specimens from scientific collections will also be studied. Morphological analyses, measurements, photographs, and dissections will be performed to detail anatomical characteristics. For molecular analysis, DNA will be extracted from both field samples and scientific collections using destructive and non-destructive methods. DNA libraries will be prepared and sequenced, with data processing through the PHYLUCE bioinformatics pipeline. Contigs will be aligned to construct phylogenetic trees using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. Phylogenomic analysis will allow the comparison of genetic data between different populations, providing a robust basis for taxonomic revision of the genus. (AU)