The effects of a myrmecochore-produced chemical on entomopathogenic fungal growth and seed-dispersing ant survival rates
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Insectes Sociaux
RESEARCH ARTICLE
The effects of a myrmecochore‑produced chemical on entomopathogenic fungal growth and seed‑dispersing ant survival rates and foraging patterns C. L. Lash1,2 · S. L. Sturiale3 · S. A. Kisare4,5 · C. Kwit1,6 Received: 27 April 2020 / Revised: 12 August 2020 / Accepted: 23 September 2020 / Published online: 10 November 2020 © International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) 2020
Abstract Myrmecochory, a type of ant-mediated seed dispersal, is a diffuse, widespread mutualism in which both partners are purported to benefit from the services or rewards of the other. However, ant benefits in this interaction are conflicted and understudied, especially in the context of microbial third parties. Here, we investigate the effect of a myrmecochore plant-produced antimicrobial chemical (sanguinarine) on the growth of a common entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana). We then explore whether sanguinarine, through its effect on entomopathogen growth, might influence ant survival and foraging behavior. At high concentrations, sanguinarine increased the growth of B. bassiana, but fungal growth was not affected at concentrations of sanguinarine near natural levels produced in seeds. When ant colonies were exposed to B. bassiana, survival was not affected by a sanguinarine-supplemented diet. Furthermore, ant foraging patterns (preference for or avoidance of food items with sanguinarine) did not change when ants were exposed to the entomopathogen. Though sanguinarine promotes the growth of an entomopathogen at higher concentrations, which might pose an additional risk for ants in myrmecochory, we assert that social immune behavioral defenses (such as grooming or redispersal of seeds after elaiosome consumption) help ants mitigate this risk. By incorporating a microbial third party into this ant-plant interaction, we seek to more fully understand the risks and benefits provided to both partners in this mutualism. We encourage the investigation of third-party influences in reciprocal pairwise interactions to assist in the understanding of the evolution and persistence of mutualisms. Keywords Ant seed dispersal · Plant antimicrobial chemicals · Entomopathogenic fungi · Mutualisms
Introduction Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-020-00786-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * C. L. Lash [email protected] 1
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
2
Natural Sciences Department, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 60435, USA
3
Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
4
Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
5
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
6
Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Though ants participate in numerous mutualisms
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