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  1. Pubblicazioni

Host specificity pattern and chemical deception in a social parasite of ants

Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2019
Abstract:
In natural ecosystems, relationships between organisms are often characterised by high levels of complexity, where vulnerabilities in multi-trophic systems are difficult to identify, yet variation in specific community modules can be traceable. Within the complex community interactions, we can shed new light on dynamics by which co-evolutionary outcomes can inform science-led conservation. Here we assessed host-ant use in six populations of the butterfy Phengaris (=Maculinea) rebeli, an obligate social parasite of Myrmica ants and a model system in evolutionary and conservation ecology. Starting from the initial distribution of eggs, we estimated the survival of the parasite in the wild in nests of seven Myrmica ant species, and analysed the chemical cues evolved by the parasites to subvert its host defences. We found local variations in host specificity that are consistent with similarities found in the chemical profiles of hosts and parasites on different sites. At some sites, only one ant species is successfully exploited; at others, multiple-host populations are used. Understanding how stable or adaptable these associations are is essential knowledge when devising conservation measures to maintain keystone species of ant and locally adapted populations of Phengaris butterfy species, which are rare, threatened and a high priority for conservation worldwide
Tipologia CRIS:
03A-Articolo su Rivista
Keywords:
BUTTERFLY MACULINEA-REBELI, MYRMICA ANTS, LARGE BLUE, POLYMORPHIC GROWTH, CLIMATE, MODEL, RECOGNITION, LEPIDOPTERA, COLONIES, CUTICULAR HYDROCARBONS
Elenco autori:
Casacci, Luca Pietro; Schönrogge, Karsten; Thomas, Jeremy Ambler; Balletto, Emilio; Bonelli, Simona; Barbero, Francesca
Autori di Ateneo:
BARBERO Francesca
BONELLI Simona
CASACCI Luca Pietro
Link alla scheda completa:
https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1690959
Link al Full Text:
https://iris.unito.it/retrieve/handle/2318/1690959/484719/Casacci%20et%20al%202019.pdf
Pubblicato in:
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Journal
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URL

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38172-4
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