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Author Cereghino, R.; Leroy, C.; Carrias, J.F.; Pelozuelo, L.; Segura, C.; Bosc, C.; Dejean, A.; Corbara, B. openurl 
  Title Ant-plant mutualisms promote functional diversity in phytotelm communities Type Journal Article
  Year 2011 Publication Functional Ecology Abbreviated Journal Funct. Ecol.  
  Volume 25 Issue 5 Pages 954-963  
  Keywords (up) ant gardens; biodiversity; bromeliads; community functions; forest; French Guiana; invertebrates; phytotelmata; two-species mutualism  
  Abstract 1. Our understanding of the contribution of interspecific interactions to functional diversity in nature lags behind our knowledge of spatial and temporal patterns. Although two-species mutualisms are found in all types of ecosystems, the study of their ecological influences on other community members has mostly been limited to third species, while their influence on entire communities remains largely unexplored. 2. We hypothesized that mutualistic interactions between two respective ant species and an epiphyte mediate the biological traits composition of entire invertebrate communities that use the same host plant, thereby affecting food webs and functional diversity at the community level. 3. Aechmea mertensii (Bromeliaceae) is both a phytotelm ('plant-held water') and an ant-garden epiphyte. We sampled 111 bromeliads (111 aquatic invertebrate communities) associated with either the ant Pachycondyla goeldii or Camponotus femoratus. The relationships between ants, bromeliads and invertebrate abundance data were examined using a redundancy analysis. Biological traits information for invertebrates was structured using a fuzzy-coding technique, and a co-inertia analysis between traits and abundance data was used to interpret functional differences in bromeliad ecosystems. 4. The vegetative traits of A. mertensii depended on seed dispersion by C. femoratus and P. goeldii along a gradient of local conditions. The ant partner selected sets of invertebrates with traits that were best adapted to the bromeliads' morphology, and so the composition of the biological traits of invertebrate phytotelm communities depends on the identity of the ant partner. Biological traits suggest a bottom-up control of community structure in C. femoratus-associated phytotelmata and a greater structuring role for predatory invertebrates in P. goeldii-associated plants. 5. This study presents new information showing that two-species mutualisms affect the functional diversity of a much wider range of organisms. Most biological systems form complex networks where nodes (e. g. species) are more or less closely linked to each other, either directly or indirectly, through intermediate nodes. Our observations provide community-level information about biological interactions and functional diversity, and perspectives for further observations intended to examine whether large-scale changes in interacting species/community structure over broad geographical and anthropogenic gradients affect ecosystem functions.  
  Address [Cereghino, R; Pelozuelo, L; Segura, C; Bosc, C] Univ Toulouse, EcoLab, Lab Ecol Fonct & Environm, UMR 5245, F-31062 Toulouse, France, Email: cereghin@cict.fr  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0269-8463 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000295132100003 Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 341  
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Author Dejean, A.; Labrière, N.; Touchard, A.; Petitclerc, F.; Roux, O. url  openurl
  Title Nesting habits shape feeding preferences and predatory behavior in an ant genus Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication Naturwissenschaften Abbreviated Journal Naturwissenschaften  
  Volume 101 Issue 4 Pages 323-330  
  Keywords (up) Ant genus Pseudomyrmex; Arboreal and ground nesting; Feeding preferences; Myrmecophytism; Predation  
  Abstract We tested if nesting habits influence ant feeding preferences and predatory behavior in the monophyletic genus Pseudomyrmex (Pseudomyrmecinae) which comprises terrestrial and arboreal species, and, among the latter, plant-ants which are obligate inhabitants of myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering so-called plant-ants in hollow structures). A cafeteria experiment revealed that the diet of ground-nesting Pseudomyrmex consists mostly of prey and that of arboreal species consists mostly of sugary substances, whereas the plant-ants discarded all the food we provided. Workers forage solitarily, detecting prey from a distance thanks to their hypertrophied eyes. Approach is followed by antennal contact, seizure, and the manipulation of the prey to sting it under its thorax (next to the ventral nerve cord). Arboreal species were not more efficient at capturing prey than were ground-nesting species. A large worker size favors prey capture. Workers from ground- and arboreal-nesting species show several uncommon behavioral traits, each known in different ant genera from different subfamilies: leaping abilities, the use of surface tension strengths to transport liquids, short-range recruitment followed by conflicts between nestmates, the consumption of the prey's hemolymph, and the retrieval of entire prey or pieces of prey after having cut it up. Yet, we never noted group ambushing. We also confirmed that Pseudomyrmex plant-ants live in a kind of food autarky as they feed only on rewards produced by their host myrmecophyte, or on honeydew produced by the hemipterans they attend and possibly on the fungi they cultivate. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.  
  Address IRD, MIVEGEC (IRD 224-CNRS 5290-UM1-UM2), Équipe BEES, 911 avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Springer Verlag Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 00281042 (Issn) ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Export Date: 5 May 2014; Source: Scopus; Coden: Natwa; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Dejean, A.; CNRS, Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (UMR-CNRS 8172), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France; email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 539  
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Author Dejean, A.; Compin, A.; Delabie, J.H.C.; Azémar, F.; Corbara, B.; Leponce, M. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Biotic and abiotic determinants of the formation of ant mosaics in primary Neotropical rainforests Type Journal Article
  Year 2019 Publication Ecological Entomology Abbreviated Journal Ecol Entomol  
  Volume 44 Issue 4 Pages 560-570  
  Keywords (up) Ant mosaics; connections on the ground; host tree attractiveness; indicators of disturbance; primary Neotropical rainforest; territoriality  
  Abstract 1. Ants are widespread in tropical rainforests, including in the canopy where territorially dominant arboreal species represent the main part of the arthropod biomass.
2. By mapping the territories of dominant arboreal ant species and using a null model analysis and a pairwise approach this study was able to show the presence of an ant mosaic on the upper canopy of a primary Neotropical rainforest (c. 1ha sampled; 157 tall trees from 28 families). Although Neotropical rainforest canopies are frequently irregular, with tree crowns at different heights breaking the continuity of the territories of dominant ants, the latter are preserved via underground galleries or trails laid on the ground.
3. The distribution of the trees influences the structure of the ant mosaic, something related to the attractiveness of tree taxa for certain arboreal ant species rather than others.
4. Small-scale natural disturbances, most likely strong winds in the area studied (presence of canopy gaps), play a role by favouring the presence of two ant species typical of secondary formations: Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior, which live in parabiosis (i.e. share territories and nests but lodge in different cavities) and build conspicuous ant gardens. In addition, pioneer Cecropia myrmecophytic trees were recorded.
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (10.1111) Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0307-6946 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes doi: 10.1111/een.12735 Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 882  
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Author Dejean, A.; Azémar, F.; Céréghino, R.; Leponce, M.; Corbara, B.; Orivel, J.; Compin, A. url  doi
openurl 
  Title The dynamics of ant mosaics in tropical rainforests characterized using the Self-Organizing Map algorithm Type Journal Article
  Year 2016 Publication Insect Science Abbreviated Journal Insect Science  
  Volume 23 Issue 4 Pages 630-637  
  Keywords (up) ant plant relationships; dynamics of associations; myrmecophytes; tropical rainforests  
  Abstract Ants, the most abundant taxa among canopy-dwelling animals in tropical rainforests, are mostly represented by territorially dominant arboreal ants (TDAs) whose territories are distributed in a mosaic pattern (arboreal ant mosaics). Large TDA colonies regulate insect herbivores, with implications for forestry and agronomy. What generates these mosaics in vegetal formations, which are dynamic, still needs to be better understood. So, from empirical research based on 3 Cameroonian tree species (Lophira alata, Ochnaceae; Anthocleista vogelii, Gentianaceae; and Barteria fistulosa, Passifloraceae), we used the Self-Organizing Map (SOM, neural network) to illustrate the succession of TDAs as their host trees grow and age. The SOM separated the trees by species and by size for L. alata, which can reach 60 m in height and live several centuries. An ontogenic succession of TDAs from sapling to mature trees is shown, and some ecological traits are highlighted for certain TDAs. Also, because the SOM permits the analysis of data with many zeroes with no effect of outliers on the overall scatterplot distributions, we obtained ecological information on rare species. Finally, the SOM permitted us to show that functional groups cannot be selected at the genus level as congeneric species can have very different ecological niches, something particularly true for Crematogaster spp., which include a species specifically associated with B. fistulosa, nondominant species and TDAs. Therefore, the SOM permitted the complex relationships between TDAs and their growing host trees to be analyzed, while also providing new information on the ecological traits of the ant species involved. © 2015 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences  
  Address Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, LMGE, BP 10448, Clermont-Ferrand, France  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Export Date: 1 September 2016 Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 689  
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Author Dejean, A.; Corbara, B.; Azémar, F.; Carpenter, J.M. url  openurl
  Title When attempts at robbing prey turn fatal Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Naturwissenschaften Abbreviated Journal Naturwissenschaften  
  Volume 99 Issue 7 Pages 579-582  
  Keywords (up) Ant predation; Azteca andreae; Cleptobiosis; Flies and dung beetles; Myrmecophyte; Reduviidae; Socialwasps; Stinglessbees  
  Abstract Because group-hunting arboreal ants spread-eagle insect prey for a long time before retrieving them, these prey can be coveted by predatory flying insects. Yet, attempting to rob these prey is risky if the ant species is also an effective predator. Here, we show that trying to rob prey from Azteca andreae workers is a fatal error as 268 out of 276 potential cleptobionts (97.1 %) were captured in turn. The ant workers hunt in a group and use the “Velcro®” principle to cling firmly to the leaves of their host tree, permitting them to capture very large prey. Exceptions were one social wasp, plus some Trigona spp. workers and flies that landed directly on the prey and were able to take off immediately when attacked. We conclude that in this situation, previously captured prey attract potential cleptobionts that are captured in turn in most of the cases. © Springer-Verlag 2012.  
  Address Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, United States  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 00281042 (Issn) ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Export Date: 30 July 2012; Source: Scopus; Coden: Natwa; doi: 10.1007/s00114-012-0929-x; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Dejean, A.; CNRS, Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (UMR-CNRS 8172), Campus agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France; email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 417  
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Author Dejean, A.; Carpenter, J.M.; Corbara, B.; Wright, P.; Roux, O.; LaPierre, L.M. url  openurl
  Title The hunter becomes the hunted: When cleptobiotic insects are captured by their target ants Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Naturwissenschaften Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 99 Issue 4 Pages 265-273  
  Keywords (up) Ant predation; Cleptobiosis; Flies and Reduviidae; Myrmecophyte; Social wasps; Stingless bees  
  Abstract Here we show that trying to rob prey (cleptobiosis) from a highly specialized predatory ant species is risky. To capture prey, Allomerus decemarticulatus workers build gallery-shaped traps on the stems of their associated myrmecophyte, Hirtella physophora. We wondered whether the frequent presence of immobilized prey on the trap attracted flying cleptoparasites. Nine social wasp species nest in the H. physophora foliage; of the six species studied, only Angiopolybia pallens rob prey from Allomerus colonies. For those H. physophora not sheltering wasps, we noted cleptobiosis by stingless bees (Trigona), social wasps (A. pallens and five Agelaia species), assassin bugs (Reduviidae), and flies. A relationship between the size of the robbers and their rate of capture by ambushing Allomerus workers was established for social wasps; small wasps were easily captured, while the largest never were. Reduviids, which are slow to extract their rostrum from prey, were always captured, while Trigona and flies often escaped. The balance sheet for the ants was positive vis-à-vis the reduviids and four out of the six social wasp species. For the latter, wasps began by cutting up parts of the prey's abdomen and were captured (or abandoned the prey) before the entire abdomen was retrieved so that the total weight of the captured wasps exceeded that of the prey abdomens. For A. pallens, we show that the number of individuals captured during attempts at cleptobiosis increases with the size of the Allomerus' prey. © Springer-Verlag 2012.  
  Address Department of Biology, Lower Columbia College, 1600 Maple St., Longview, WA 98632, United States  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
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  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Cited By (since 1996): 1; Export Date: 16 January 2013; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 458  
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Author Aili, S.R.; Touchard, A.; Escoubas, P.; Padula, M.P.; Orivel, J.; Dejean, A.; Nicholson, G.M. url  openurl
  Title Diversity of peptide toxins from stinging ant venoms Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication Toxicon Abbreviated Journal Toxicon  
  Volume 92 Issue Pages 166-178  
  Keywords (up) Ant venom; Chemotaxonomy; Disulfide linkage; Peptides; Venom biochemistry  
  Abstract Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) represent a taxonomically diverse group of arthropods comprising nearly 13,000 extant species. Sixteen ant subfamilies have individuals that possess a stinger and use their venom for purposes such as a defence against predators, competitors and microbial pathogens, for predation, as well as for social communication. They exhibit a range of activities including antimicrobial, haemolytic, cytolytic, paralytic, insecticidal and pain-producing pharmacologies. While ant venoms are known to be rich in alkaloids and hydrocarbons, ant venoms rich in peptides are becoming more common, yet remain understudied. Recent advances in mass spectrometry techniques have begun to reveal the true complexity of ant venom peptide composition. In the few venoms explored thus far, most peptide toxins appear to occur as small polycationic linear toxins, with antibacterial properties and insecticidal activity. Unlike other venomous animals, a number of ant venoms also contain a range of homodimeric and heterodimeric peptides with one or two interchain disulfide bonds possessing pore-forming, allergenic and paralytic actions. However, ant venoms seem to have only a small number of monomeric disulfide-linked peptides. The present review details the structure and pharmacology of known ant venom peptide toxins and their potential as a source of novel bioinsecticides and therapeutic agents.  
  Address Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, 118 Route de NarbonneToulouse, France  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Elsevier Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 00410101 (Issn) ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Export Date: 2 December 2014; Coden: Toxia; Correspondence Address: Nicholson, G.M.; Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology SydneyAustralia Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 568  
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Author Touchard, A.; Dauvois, M.; Arguel, M.-J.; Petitclerc, F.; Leblanc, M.; Dejean, A.; Orivel, J.; Nicholson, G.M.; Escoubas, P. url  openurl
  Title Elucidation of the unexplored biodiversity of ant venom peptidomes via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and its application for chemotaxonomy Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication Journal of Proteomics Abbreviated Journal J. Proteomics  
  Volume 105 Issue Pages 217-231  
  Keywords (up) Ant venom; Chemotaxonomy; Maldi-Tof Ms; Peptide; Peptidome; Ponerinae; ant venom; cytochrome c oxidase; ant; article; biodiversity; chemotaxonomy; correlational study; DNA sequence; French Guiana; Hymenoptera; matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry; mitochondrial gene; nonhuman; Odontomachus biumbonatus; Odontomachus haematodus; Odontomachus hastatus; Odontomachus mayi; Odontomachus scalptus; Pachcondyla apicalis; Pachcondyla arhuaca; Pachcondyla commutata; Pachcondyla constricta; Pachcondyla crassinola; Pachcondyla goeldii; Pachcondyla inversa; Pachcondyla marginata; Pachcondyla procidua; Pachcondyla stigma; Pachcondyla verenae; Pachcondyla villosa; peptidomics; phylogeny; priority journal; Animalia; Formicidae; Hymenoptera; Odontomachus; Pachycondyla; Pachycondyla apicalis; Pachycondyla stigma; Ponerinae  
  Abstract The rise of integrative taxonomy, a multi-criteria approach used in characterizing species, fosters the development of new tools facilitating species delimitation. Mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of venom peptides from venomous animals has previously been demonstrated to be a valid method for identifying species. Here we aimed to develop a rapid chemotaxonomic tool for identifying ants based on venom peptide mass fingerprinting. The study focused on the biodiversity of ponerine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) in French Guiana. Initial experiments optimized the use of automated matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to determine variations in the mass profiles of ant venoms using several MALDI matrices and additives. Data were then analyzed via a hierarchical cluster analysis to classify the venoms of 17 ant species. In addition, phylogenetic relationships were assessed and were highly correlated with methods using DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1. By combining a molecular genetics approach with this chemotaxonomic approach, we were able to improve the accuracy of the taxonomic findings to reveal cryptic ant species within species complexes. This chemotaxonomic tool can therefore contribute to more rapid species identification and more accurate taxonomies. Biological significance: This is the first extensive study concerning the peptide analysis of the venom of both Pachycondyla and Odontomachus ants. We studied the venoms of 17 ant species from French Guiana that permitted us to fine-tune the venom analysis of ponerine ants via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. We explored the peptidomes of crude ant venom and demonstrated that venom peptides can be used in the identification of ant species. In addition, the application of this novel chemotaxonomic method combined with a parallel genetic approach using COI sequencing permitted us to reveal the presence of cryptic ants within both the Pachycondyla apicalis and Pachycondyla stigma species complexes. This adds a new dimension to the search for means of exploiting the enormous biodiversity of venomous ants as a source for novel therapeutic drugs or biopesticides. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics of non-model organisms. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.  
  Address Neurotoxin Research Group, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Elsevier Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 18767737 (Issn) ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Cited By (since 1996):1; Export Date: 30 July 2014; Correspondence Address: Touchard, A.; UMR-EcoFoG, Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou Cedex, France; email: axel.touchard@ecofog.gf; Chemicals/CAS: cytochrome c oxidase, 72841-18-0, 9001-16-5 Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 555  
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Author Aili, S.R.; Touchard, A.; Koh, J.M.S.; Dejean, A.; Orivel, J.; Padula, M.P.; Escoubas, P.; Nicholson, G.M. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Comparisons of Protein and Peptide Complexity in Poneroid and Formicoid Ant Venoms Type Journal Article
  Year 2016 Publication Journal of Proteome Research Abbreviated Journal Journal of Proteome Research  
  Volume 15 Issue 9 Pages 3039-3054  
  Keywords (up) ant venom; Hymenoptera; Lc-Maldi-Tof Ms; mass spectrometry; nanoLC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS; peptidome; proteomic analysis; toxin  
  Abstract Animal venom peptides are currently being developed as novel drugs and bioinsecticides. Because ants use venoms for defense and predation, venomous ants represent an untapped source of potential bioactive toxins. This study compared the protein and peptide components of the poneroid ants Neoponera commutata, Neoponera apicalis, and Odontomachus hastatus and the formicoid ants Ectatomma tuberculatum, Ectatomma brunneum, and Myrmecia gulosa. 1D and 2D PAGE revealed venom proteins in the mass range <10 to >250 kDa. NanoLC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS analysis of tryptic peptides revealed the presence of common venom proteins and also many undescribed proteins. RP-HPLC separation followed by MALDI-TOF MS of the venom peptides also revealed considerable heterogeneity. It was found that the venoms contained between 144 and 1032 peptides with 5-95% of peptides in the ranges 1-4 and 1-8 kDa for poneroid and formicoid ants, respectively. By employing the reducing MALDI matrix 1,5-diaminonapthalene, up to 28 disulfide-bonded peptides were also identified in each of the venoms. In particular, the mass range of peptides from poneroid ants is lower than peptides from other venoms, indicating possible novel structures and pharmacologies. These results indicate that ant venoms represent an enormous, untapped source of novel therapeutic and bioinsecticide leads. © 2016 American Chemical Society.  
  Address VenomeTech, 473 Route des Dolines, Valbonne, France  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
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  Language Summary Language Original Title  
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  Notes Export Date: 15 September 2016 Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 695  
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Author Touchard, A.; Labrière, N.; Roux, O.; Petitclerc, F.; Orivel, J.; Escoubas, P.; Koh, J.M.S.; Nicholson, G.M.; Dejean, A. url  openurl
  Title Venom toxicity and composition in three Pseudomyrmex ant species having different nesting modes Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication Toxicon Abbreviated Journal Toxicon  
  Volume 88 Issue Pages 67-76  
  Keywords (up) Ant venoms; Ants; Arboreal and ground-nesting ants; Evolution; Peptides; Pseudomyrmex; ant venom; acute toxicity; animal experiment; ant; article; biochemical composition; controlled study; disulfide bond; high performance liquid chromatography; lethality; matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry; molecular weight; myrmecophyte; nesting; nonhuman; predator prey interaction; priority journal; Pseudomyrmex gracilis; Pseudomyrmex penetrator; Pseudomyrmex termitarius; species diversity; toxin analysis  
  Abstract We aimed to determine whether the nesting habits of ants have influenced their venom toxicity and composition. We focused on the genus Pseudomyrmex (Pseudomyrmecinae) comprising terrestrial and arboreal species, and, among the latter, plant-ants that are obligate inhabitants of myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering ants in hollow structures). Contrary to our hypothesis, the venom of the ground-dwelling species, Pseudomyrmex termitarius, was as efficacious in paralyzing prey as the venoms of the arboreal and the plant-ant species, Pseudomyrmexpenetrator and Pseudomyrmexgracilis. The lethal potency of P. termitarius venom was equipotent with that of P. gracilis whereas the venom of P. penetrator was less potent. The MALDI-TOF MS analysis of each HPLC fraction of the venoms showed that P. termitarius venom is composed of 87 linear peptides, while both P. gracilis and P. penetrator venoms (23 and 26 peptides, respectively) possess peptides with disulfide bonds. Furthermore, P. penetrator venom contains three hetero- and homodimeric peptides consisting of two short peptidic chains linked together by two interchain disulfide bonds. The large number of peptides in P. termitarius venom is likely related to the large diversity of potential prey plus the antibacterial peptides required for nesting in the ground. Whereas predation involves only the prey and predator, P. penetrator venom has evolved in an environment where trees, defoliating insects, browsing mammals and ants live in equilibrium, likely explaining the diversity of the peptide structures. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.  
  Address Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Elsevier Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 18793150 (Issn) ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Export Date: 30 July 2014; Coden: Toxia; Correspondence Address: Labrière, N.; CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (EcoFoG), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 553  
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