| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 3
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| Affiliation: | [1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Gen & Appl Biol, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
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| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | JOURNAL OF FUNGI; v. 7, n. 11 NOV 2021. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 0 |
| Abstract | |
Maintaining symbiosis homeostasis is essential for mutualistic partners. Leaf-cutting ants evolved a long-term symbiotic mutualism with fungal cultivars for nourishment while using vertical asexual transmission across generations. Despite the ants' efforts to suppress fungal sexual reproduction, scattered occurrences of cultivar basidiomes have been reported. Here, we review the literature for basidiome occurrences and associated climate data. We hypothesized that more basidiome events could be expected in scenarios with an increase in temperature and precipitation. Our field observations and climate data analyses indeed suggest that Acromyrmex coronatus colonies are prone to basidiome occurrences in warmer and wetter seasons. Even though our study partly depended on historical records, occurrences have increased, correlating with climate change. A nest architecture with low (or even the lack of) insulation might be the cause of this phenomenon. The nature of basidiome occurrences in the A. coronatus-fungus mutualism can be useful to elucidate how resilient mutualistic symbioses are in light of climate change scenarios. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/24412-2 - Diversity and functional roles of yeasts in fungus-growing insects |
| Grantee: | Rodolfo Bizarria Júnior |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/03746-0 - Collaborative research: Dimensions US-São Paulo: integrating phylogeny, genetics, and chemical ecology to unravel the tangled bank of the multipartite fungus-farming ant symbiosis |
| Grantee: | André Rodrigues |
| Support Opportunities: | BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants |