Microbiome Stabilization of Symbiotic Interactions in Fungus-Gardening Ants
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Date of Publication
2021
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
This gut microbiome serves many beneficial purposes for animals. For example, the gut microbiome helps aid in digestion and has also been found to provide immune system functions. However, the gut microbiome is just one of the microbiomes in an animal. I study fungus gardening ants. These ants are agriculturalists, collecting fallen plant material to grow a certain fungus on and then eating a portion of their fungus crop. There are multiple different varieties of fungus that the ants have a capacity to grow, but each colony only grows one of these varieties. In addition to having a close relationship with the fungus, these ants form close relationships with the beneficial bacteria in their microbiomes. Some beneficial players in their microbiome include bacteria provide nutrients that are lacking for an ant on an all-fungus diet. Some bacteria produce antibiotics that protect the fungus crop from pathogens and diseases. While there are many beneficial players within this network, some members of this microbiome are antagonistic players. Some fungi act as pathogens to the fungal crop, killing the fungus and the ants. My research plans to look at the stomachs of these fungus gardening ants and see what happens to the microbiome when you change the fungus variety consumed by the ants. I hope to see what bacteria help support the relationships between the ants and their fungal crop.
Keywords
microbiome, ants, fungus-gardening, Trachymyrmex, fungus, Atta, gut microbiome, Pseudonocardia
Microbiome Stabilization of Symbiotic Interactions in Fungus-Gardening Ants
This gut microbiome serves many beneficial purposes for animals. For example, the gut microbiome helps aid in digestion and has also been found to provide immune system functions. However, the gut microbiome is just one of the microbiomes in an animal. I study fungus gardening ants. These ants are agriculturalists, collecting fallen plant material to grow a certain fungus on and then eating a portion of their fungus crop. There are multiple different varieties of fungus that the ants have a capacity to grow, but each colony only grows one of these varieties. In addition to having a close relationship with the fungus, these ants form close relationships with the beneficial bacteria in their microbiomes. Some beneficial players in their microbiome include bacteria provide nutrients that are lacking for an ant on an all-fungus diet. Some bacteria produce antibiotics that protect the fungus crop from pathogens and diseases. While there are many beneficial players within this network, some members of this microbiome are antagonistic players. Some fungi act as pathogens to the fungal crop, killing the fungus and the ants. My research plans to look at the stomachs of these fungus gardening ants and see what happens to the microbiome when you change the fungus variety consumed by the ants. I hope to see what bacteria help support the relationships between the ants and their fungal crop.