5730
2010
eng
article
1
2012-03-26
--
--
Societies Drifting Apart? Behavioural, Genetic and Chemical Differentiation between Supercolonies in the Yellow Crazy Ant Anoplolepis gracilipes
Background: In populations of most social insects, gene flow is maintained through mating between reproductive individuals from different colonies in periodic nuptial flights followed by dispersal of the fertilized foundresses. Some ant species, however, form large polygynous supercolonies, in which mating takes place within the maternal nest (intranidal mating) and fertilized queens disperse within or along the boundary of the supercolony, leading to supercolony growth (colony budding). As a consequence, gene flow is largely confined within supercolonies. Over time, such supercolonies may diverge genetically and, thus, also in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons, CHC’s) by a combination of genetic drift and accumulation of colony-specific, neutral mutations. Methodology/Principal Findings: We tested this hypothesis for six supercolonies of the invasive ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in north-east Borneo. Within supercolonies, workers from different nests tolerated each other, were closely related and showed highly similar CHC profiles. Between supercolonies, aggression ranged from tolerance to mortal encounters and was negatively correlated with relatedness and CHC profile similarity. Supercolonies were genetically and chemically distinct, with mutually aggressive supercolony pairs sharing only 33.1%617.5% (mean 6 SD) of their alleles across six microsatellite loci and 73.8%611.6% of the compounds in their CHC profile. Moreover, the proportion of alleles that differed between supercolony pairs was positively correlated to the proportion of qualitatively different CHC compounds. These qualitatively differing CHC compounds were found across various substance classes including alkanes, alkenes and mono-, di- and trimethyl-branched alkanes. Conclusions: We conclude that positive feedback between genetic, chemical and behavioural traits may further enhance supercolony differentiation through genetic drift and neutral evolution, and may drive colonies towards different evolutionary pathways, possibly including speciation.
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68573
6857
PLOS ONE (2010) 5, 10, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013581
Jochen Drescher
Nico Bluethgen
Thomas Schmitt
Jana Buehler
Heike Feldhaar
deu
swd
Ameisen
eng
uncontrolled
Anoplolepis gracilipes
Tiere (Zoologie)
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/5730/Bluethgen_journal.pone.0013581.pdf
12527
2015
eng
540
16
article
1
2016-01-25
--
--
Scrutinizing the immune defence inventory of Camponotus floridanus applying total transcriptome sequencing
Background
Defence mechanisms of organisms are shaped by their lifestyle, environment and pathogen pressure. Carpenter ants are social insects which live in huge colonies comprising genetically closely related individuals in high densities within nests. This lifestyle potentially facilitates the rapid spread of pathogens between individuals. In concert with their innate immune system, social insects may apply external immune defences to manipulate the microbial community among individuals and within nests. Additionally, carpenter ants carry a mutualistic intracellular and obligate endosymbiotic bacterium, possibly maintained and regulated by the innate immune system. Thus, different selective forces could shape internal immune defences of Camponotus floridanus.
Results
The immune gene repertoire of C. floridanus was investigated by re-evaluating its genome sequence combined with a full transcriptome analysis of immune challenged and control animals using Illumina sequencing. The genome was re-annotated by mapping transcriptome reads and masking repeats. A total of 978 protein sequences were characterised further by annotating functional domains, leading to a change in their original annotation regarding function and domain composition in about 8 % of all proteins. Based on homology analysis with key components of major immune pathways of insects, the C. floridanus immune-related genes were compared to those of Drosophila melanogaster, Apis mellifera, and other hymenoptera. This analysis revealed that overall the immune system of carpenter ants comprises many components found in these insects. In addition, several C. floridanus specific genes of yet unknown functions but which are strongly induced after immune challenge were discovered. In contrast to solitary insects like Drosophila or the hymenopteran Nasonia vitripennis, the number of genes encoding pattern recognition receptors specific for bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN) and a variety of known antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes is lower in C. floridanus. The comparative analysis of gene expression post immune-challenge in different developmental stages of C. floridanus suggests a stronger induction of immune gene expression in larvae in comparison to adults.
Conclusions
The comparison of the immune system of C. floridanus with that of other insects revealed the presence of a broad immune repertoire. However, the relatively low number of PGN recognition proteins and AMPs, the identification of Camponotus specific putative immune genes, and stage specific differences in immune gene regulation reflects Camponotus specific evolution including adaptations to its lifestyle.
BMC Genomics
10.1186/s12864-015-1748-1
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125279
BMC Genomics (2015) 16:540 DOI 10.1186/s12864-015-1748-1
Shishir K. Gupta
Maria Kupper
Carolin Ratzka
Heike Feldhaar
Andreas Vilcinskas
Roy Gross
Thomas Dandekar
Frank Förster
eng
uncontrolled
immune system
eng
uncontrolled
transcriptome
eng
uncontrolled
carpenter ant
eng
uncontrolled
camponotus floridanus
eng
uncontrolled
re-annotation
Medizin und Gesundheit
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Förderzeitraum 2015
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/12527/Gupta_10.1186_s12864-015-1748-1.pdf
16496
2016
eng
3115-3128
10
6
article
1
2018-07-19
--
--
Population-specific effects of developmental temperature on body condition and jumping performance of a widespread European frog
All physiological processes of ectotherms depend on environmental temperature. Thus, adaptation of physiological mechanisms to the thermal environments is important for achieving optimal performance and fitness. The European Common Frog, Rana temporaria, is widely distributed across different thermal habitats. This makes it an exceptional model for studying the adaptations to different thermal conditions. We raised tadpoles from Germany and Croatia at two constant temperature treatments (15°C, 20°C), and under natural temperature fluctuations (in outdoor treatments), and tested how different developmental temperatures affected developmental traits, that is, length of larval development, morphometrics, and body condition, as well as jumping performance of metamorphs. Our results revealed population‐specific differences in developmental time, body condition, and jumping performance. Croatian frogs developed faster in all treatments, were heavier, in better body condition, and had longer hind limbs and better jumping abilities than German metamorphs. The populations further differed in thermal sensitivity of jumping performance. While metamorphs from Croatia increased their jumping performance with higher temperatures, German metamorphs reached their performance maximum at lower temperatures. These population‐specific differences in common environments indicate local genetic adaptation, with southern populations being better adapted to higher temperatures than those from north of the Alps.
Ecology and Evolution
10.1002/ece3.2113
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-164960
Ecology and Evolution 2016; 6(10): 3115–3128
false
true
Sanja Drakulić
Heike Feldhaar
Duje Lisičić
Mia Mioč
Ivan Cizelj
Michael Seiler
Theresa Spatz
Mark-Oliver Rödel
eng
uncontrolled
Amphibians
eng
uncontrolled
ectotherms
eng
uncontrolled
physiological traits
eng
uncontrolled
plasticity
eng
uncontrolled
thermal adaptation
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/16496/038_Drakulic_ECOLOGY_AND_EVOLUTION.pdf
6559
2012
eng
article
1
2013-04-17
--
--
Molecular characterization of antimicrobial peptide genes of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus
The production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is a major defense mechanism against pathogen infestation and of particular importance for insects relying exclusively on an innate immune system. Here, we report on the characterization of three AMPs from the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus. Due to sequence similarities and amino acid composition these peptides can be classified into the cysteine-rich (e.g. defensin) and glycine-rich (e.g. hymenoptaecin) AMP groups, respectively. The gene and cDNA sequences of these AMPs were established and their expression was shown to be induced by microbial challenge. We characterized two different defensin genes. The defensin-2 gene has a single intron, whereas the defensin-1 gene has two introns. The deduced amino acid sequence of the C. floridanus defensins is very similar to other known ant defensins with the exception of a short C-terminal extension of defensin-1. The hymenoptaecin gene has a single intron and a very peculiar domain structure. The corresponding precursor protein consists of a signal- and a pro-sequence followed by a hymenoptaecin-like domain and six directly repeated hymenoptaecin domains. Each of the hymenoptaecin domains is flanked by an EAEP-spacer sequence and a RR-site known to be a proteolytic processing site. Thus, proteolytic processing of the multipeptide precursor may generate several mature AMPs leading to an amplification of the immune response. Bioinformatical analyses revealed the presence of hymenoptaecin genes with similar multipeptide precursor structure in genomes of other ant species suggesting an evolutionary conserved important role of this gene in ant immunity.
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-75985
7598
In: PLoS One (2012) 7: 8, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0043036
Carolin Ratzka
Frank Förster
Chunguang Liang
Maria Kupper
Thomas Dandekar
Heike Feldhaar
Roy Gross
deu
swd
Biologie
deu
swd
Camponotus floridanus
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Förderzeitraum 2012
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/6559/058_journal.pone.0043036.pdf
11720
2014
eng
e89982
3
9
article
1
2015-08-04
--
--
Giants, Dwarfs and the Environment - Metamorphic Trait Plasticity in the Common Frog
In order to understand adaptation processes and population dynamics, it is central to know how environmental parameters influence performance of organisms within populations, including their phenotypes. The impact of single or few particular parameters in concert was often assessed in laboratory and mesocosm experiments. However, under natural conditions, with many biotic and abiotic factors potentially interacting, outcomes on phenotypic changes may be different. To study the potential environmental impact on realized phenotypic plasticity within a natural population, we assessed metamorphic traits (developmental time, size and body mass) in an amphibian species, the European common frog Rana temporaria, since a) larval amphibians are known to exhibit high levels of phenotypic plasticity of these traits in response to habitat parameters and, b) the traits' features may strongly influence individuals' future performance and fitness. In 2007 we studied these metamorphic traits in 18 ponds spread over an area of 28 km 2. A subset of six ponds was reinvestigated in 2009 and 2010. This study revealed locally high variances in metamorphic traits in this presumed generalist species. We detected profound differences between metamorphing froglets (up to factor ten); both between and within ponds, on a very small geographic scale. Parameters such as predation and competition as well as many other pond characteristics, generally expected to have high impact on development, could not be related to the trait differences. We observed high divergence of patterns of mass at metamorphosis between ponds, but no detectable pattern when metamorphic traits were compared between ponds and years. Our results indicate that environment alone, i.e. as experienced by tadpoles sharing the same breeding pond, can only partly explain the variability of metamorphic traits observed. This emphasizes the importance to assess variability of reaction norms on the individual level to explain within-population variability.
PLOS ONE
10.1371/journal.pone.0089982
1932-6203
24599256
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-117203
PLoS ONE 9(3): e89982. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089982
Franziska Grözinger
Jürgen Thein
Heike Feldhaar
Mark-Oliver Rödel
eng
uncontrolled
rana temporaria populations
eng
uncontrolled
prey growth rate
eng
uncontrolled
phenotypic plasticity
eng
uncontrolled
larval density
eng
uncontrolled
amphibian metamorphosis
eng
uncontrolled
ambystoma opacum
eng
uncontrolled
predation risk
eng
uncontrolled
life history
eng
uncontrolled
developmental plasticity
eng
uncontrolled
adaptive plasticity
Chordata (Chordatiere)
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/11720/110_Groezinger_PLOS_ONE.pdf
30128
2022
eng
1
22
article
1
--
--
--
Evidence for a chemical arms race between cuckoo wasps of the genus Hedychrum and their distantly related host apoid wasps
Background
Brood parasites can exert strong selection pressure on their hosts. Many brood parasites escape their detection by mimicking sensory cues of their hosts. However, there is little evidence whether or not the hosts are able to escape the parasites’ mimicry by changing these cues. We addressed this question by analyzing cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of Cerceris and Philanthus wasps and their brood parasites, cuckoo wasps mimicking the CHC profiles of their hosts. Some of these hosts use hydrocarbons to preserve their prey against fungal infestation and thus, they cannot significantly change their CHC composition in response to chemical mimicry by Hedychrum brood parasites.
Results
We found that the CHC overlap between brood parasites and their hosts was lower in case of host wasps not preserving their prey than in case of prey-preserving host wasps, whose CHC evolution is constrained. Furthermore, the CHC profiles in non-preserving host wasps is more strongly diversified in females than in males, thus in the sex that is chemically mimicked by brood parasites.
Conclusion
Our results provide evidence for a chemical arms race between those hosts that are liberated from stabilizing selection on their chemical template and their parasites.
BMC Ecology and Evolution
10.1186/s12862-022-02093-8
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-301289
@articleCastillo.2022, author = Castillo, Ruth and Wurdack, Mareike and Pauli, Thomas and Keller, Alexander and Feldhaar, Heike and Polidori, Carlo and Niehuis, Oliver and Schmitt, Thomas, year = 2022, title = Evidence for a chemical arms race between cuckoo wasps of the genus Hedychrum and their distantly related host apoid wasps, pages = 138, volume = 22, number = 1, journal = BMC ecology and evolution, doi = 10.1186/s12862-022-02093-8,
md5:acd7873f25ab08ccfa732cacba38c542
2023-01-25T15:20:43+00:00
/tmp/phpK9qWsg
bibtex
63d148cb2152f3.61730211
BMC Ecology and Evolution 2022, 22(1):138. DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02093-8
false
true
CC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International
Ruth Castillo
Mareike Wurdack
Thomas Pauli
Alexander Keller
Heike Feldhaar
Carlo Polidori
Oliver Niehuis
Thomas Schmitt
eng
uncontrolled
chemical mimicry
eng
uncontrolled
philanthidae
eng
uncontrolled
hymenoptera
eng
uncontrolled
evolutionary arms race
eng
uncontrolled
cuticular hydrocarbons
eng
uncontrolled
chrysididae
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Förderzeitraum 2022
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/30128/BMC_Ecology_Castillo.pdf
23051
2020
eng
11
article
1
2021-03-11
--
--
Estimating retention benchmarks for salvage logging to protect biodiversity
Forests are increasingly affected by natural disturbances. Subsequent salvage logging, a widespread management practice conducted predominantly to recover economic capital, produces further disturbance and impacts biodiversity worldwide. Hence, naturally disturbed forests are among the most threatened habitats in the world, with consequences for their associated biodiversity. However, there are no evidence-based benchmarks for the proportion of area of naturally disturbed forests to be excluded from salvage logging to conserve biodiversity. We apply a mixed rarefaction/extrapolation approach to a global multi-taxa dataset from disturbed forests, including birds, plants, insects and fungi, to close this gap. We find that 757% (mean +/- SD) of a naturally disturbed area of a forest needs to be left unlogged to maintain 90% richness of its unique species, whereas retaining 50% of a naturally disturbed forest unlogged maintains 73 +/- 12% of its unique species richness. These values do not change with the time elapsed since disturbance but vary considerably among taxonomic groups. Salvage logging has become a common practice to gain economic returns from naturally disturbed forests, but it could have considerable negative effects on biodiversity. Here the authors use a recently developed statistical method to estimate that ca. 75% of the naturally disturbed forest should be left unlogged to maintain 90% of the species unique to the area.
Nature Communications
10.1038/s41467-020-18612-4
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-230512
publish
Nature Communications (2020) 11:4762. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18612-4 |
CC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International
Simon Thorn
Anne Chao
Konstadin B. Georgiev
Jörg Müller
Claus Bässler
John L. Campbell
Castro Jorge
Yan-Han Chen
Chang-Yong Choi
Tyler P. Cobb
Daniel C. Donato
Ewa Durska
Ellen Macdonald
Heike Feldhaar
Jospeh B. Fontaine
Paula J. Fornwalt
Raquel María Hernández Hernández
Richard L. Hutto
Matti Koivula
Eun-Jae Lee
David Lindenmayer
Grzegorz Mikusinski
Martin K. Obrist
Michal Perlík
Josep Rost
Kaysandra Waldron
Beat Wermelinger
Ingmar Weiß
Michal Zmihorski
Alexandro B. Leverkus
eng
uncontrolled
natural disturbance
eng
uncontrolled
bird communities
eng
uncontrolled
forest
eng
uncontrolled
management
eng
uncontrolled
beetle
eng
uncontrolled
conservation
eng
uncontrolled
windthrow
eng
uncontrolled
diversity
eng
uncontrolled
impact
eng
uncontrolled
fire
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Förderzeitraum 2020
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/23051/s41467-020-18612-4.pdf
18748
2016
eng
475-487
5
45
article
1
2019-09-18
--
--
Distribution of the obligate endosymbiont Blochmannia floridanus and expression analysis of putative immune genes in ovaries of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus
The bacterial endosymbiont Blochmannia floridanus of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus contributes to its hosts' ontogeny via nutritional upgrading during metamorphosis. This primary endosymbiosis is essential for both partners and vertical transmission of the endosymbionts is guaranteed by bacterial infestation of oocytes. Here we present a detailed analysis of the presence and localisation of B. floridanus in the ants' ovaries obtained by FISH and TEM analyses. The most apical part of the germarium harbouring germ-line stem cells (GSCs) is not infected by the bacteria. The bacteria are detectable for the first time in lower parts of the germarium when cystocytes undergo the 4th and 5th division and B. floridanus infects somatic cells lying under the basal lamina surrounding the ovarioles. With the beginning of cystocyte differentiation, the endosymbionts are exclusively transported from follicle cells into the growing oocytes. This infestation of the oocytes by bacteria very likely involves exocytosis endocytosis processes between follicle cells and the oocytes. Nurse cells were never found to harbour the endosymbionts. Furthermore we present first gene expression data in C floridanus ovaries. These data indicate a modulation of immune gene expression which may facilitate tolerance towards the endosymbionts and thus may contribute to their transovarial transmission.
Arthropod Structure & Development
10.1016/j.asd.2016.09.004
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-187482
Arthropod Structure & Development (2016) 45:5, 475-487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2016.09.004
false
true
CC BY-NC-ND: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung, Nicht kommerziell, Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International
Maria Kupper
Christian Stigloher
Heike Feldhaar
Roy Gross
eng
uncontrolled
Ecologically important traits
eng
uncontrolled
Bacterial symbionts
eng
uncontrolled
Arthropods
eng
uncontrolled
Peptidoglycan recognition
eng
uncontrolled
Transovarial transmission
eng
uncontrolled
Horizontal transfer
eng
uncontrolled
Insect hosts
eng
uncontrolled
Microorganisms
eng
uncontrolled
Reproduction
eng
uncontrolled
Hymenoptera
eng
uncontrolled
Primary endosymbiont
eng
uncontrolled
Oogenesis
eng
uncontrolled
Insects
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/18748/Kupper_ArthropodStructure&Development_2016.pdf
29084
2022
eng
210
report
1
2022-11-10
--
--
BETA-FOR: Erhöhung der strukturellen Diversität zwischen Waldbeständen zur Erhöhung der Multidiversität und Multifunktionalität in Produktionswäldern. Antragstext für die DFG Forschungsgruppe FOR 5375
BETA-FOR: Enhancing the structural diversity between patches for improving multidiversity and multifunctionality in production forests. Proposal for DFG Research Unit FOR 5375
Der in jüngster Zeit beobachtete kontinuierliche Verlust der β-Diversität in Ökosystemen deutet auf homogene Gemeinschaften auf Landschaftsebene hin, was hauptsächlich auf die steigende Landnutzungsintensität zurückgeführt wird. Biologische Vielfalt ist mit zahlreichen Funktionen und der Stabilität von Ökosystemen verknüpft. Es ist daher zu erwarten, dass eine abnehmende β-Diversität auch die Multifunktionalität verringert. Wir kombinieren hier Fachwissen aus der Forstwissenschaft, der Ökologie, der Fernerkundung, der chemischen Ökologie und der Statistik in einem gemeinschaftlichen und experimentellen β-Diversitätsdesign, um einerseits die Auswirkungen der Homogenisierung zu bewerten und andererseits Konzepte zu entwickeln, um negative Auswirkungen durch Homogenisierung in Wäldern rückgängig zu machen. Konkret werden wir uns mit der Frage beschäftigen, ob die Verbesserung der strukturellen β-Komplexität (ESBC) in Wäldern durch Waldbau oder natürliche Störungen die Biodiversität und Multifunktionalität in ehemals homogenen Produktionswäldern erhöhen kann. Unser Ansatz wird mögliche Mechanismen hinter den beobachteten Homogenisierungs-Diversitäts-Beziehungen identifizieren und zeigen, wie sich diese auf die Multifunktionalität auswirken. An elf Standorten in ganz Deutschland haben wir dazu zwei Waldbestände als zwei kleine "Waldlandschaften" ausgewählt. In einem dieser beiden Bestände haben wir ESBC (Enhancement of Structural Beta Complexity)-Behandlungen durchgeführt. Im zweiten, dem Kontrollbestand, werden wir die gleich Anzahl 50x50m Parzellen ohne ESBC einrichten. Auf allen Parzellen werden wir 18 taxonomische Artengruppen aller trophischer Ebenen und 21 Ökosystemfunktionen, einschließlich der wichtigsten Funktionen in Wäldern der gemäßigten Zonen, messen. Der statistische Rahmen wird eine umfassende Analyse der Biodiversität ermöglichen, indem verschiedenen Aspekte (taxonomische, funktionelle und phylogenetische Vielfalt) auf verschiedenen Skalenebenen (α-, β-, γ-Diversität) quantifiziert werden. Um die Gesamtdiversität zu kombinieren, werden wir das Konzept der Multidiversität auf die 18 Taxa anwenden. Wir werden neue Ansätze zur Quantifizierung und Aufteilung der Multifunktionalität auf α- und β-Skalen verwenden und entwickeln. Durch die experimentelle Beschreibung des Zusammenhangs zwischen β-Diversität und Multifunktionalität in einer Reallandschaft wird unsere Forschung einen neuen Weg einschlagen. Darüber hinaus werden wir dazu beitragen, verbesserte Leitlinien für waldbauliche Konzepte und für das Management natürlicher Störungen zu entwickeln, um Homogenisierungseffekte der Vergangenheit umzukehren.
The recently observed consistent loss of β-diversity across ecosystems indicates increasingly homogeneous communities in patches of landscapes, mainly caused by increasing land-use intensity. Biodiversity is related to numerous ecosystem functions and stability. Therefore, decreasing β-diversity is also expected to reduce multifunctionality. To assess the impact of homogenization and to develop guidelines to reverse its potentially negative effects, we combine expertise from forest science, ecology, remote sensing, chemical ecology and statistics in a collaborative and experimental β-diversity approach. Specifically, we will address the question whether the Enhancement of Structural Beta Complexity (ESBC) in forests by silviculture or natural disturbances will increase biodiversity and multifunctionality in formerly homogeneously structured production forests. Our approach will identify potential mechanisms behind observed homogenization-diversity-relationships and show how these translate into effects on multifunctionality. At eleven forest sites throughout Germany, we selected two districts as two types of small ‘forest landscapes’. In one of these two districts, we established ESBC treatments (nine differently treated 50x50 m patches with a focus on canopy cover and deadwood features). In the second, the control district, we will establish nine patches without ESBC. By a comprehensive sampling, we will monitor 18 taxonomic groups and measure 21 ecosystem functions, including key functions in temperate forests, on all patches. The statistical framework will allow a comprehensive biodiversity assessment by quantifying the different aspects of multitrophic biodiversity (taxonomical, functional and phylogenetic diversity) on different levels of biodiversity (α-, β-, γ-diversity). To combine overall diversity, we will apply the concept of multidiversity across the 18 taxa. We will use and develop new approaches for quantification and partitioning of multifunctionality at α- and β- scales. Overall, our study will herald a new research avenue, namely by experimentally describing the link between β-diversity and multifunctionality. Furthermore, we will help to develop guidelines for improved silvicultural concepts and concepts for management of natural disturbances in temperate forests reversing past homogenization effects.
β\(_4\) : Proposal for the 1st phase (2022-2026) of the DFG Research Unit FOR 5375/1 (DFG Forschergruppe FOR 5375/1 – BETA-FOR), Fabrikschleichach, October 2021
10.25972/OPUS-29084
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-290849
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Universität Göttingen
Universität Leipzig
Universität Bayreuth
iDiv
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Technische Universität Dresden
Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Technische Universität München
publish
true
true
Deutsches Urheberrecht
Jörg Müller
Michael Scherer-Lorenzen
Christian Ammer
Nico Eisenhauer
Dominik Seidel
Bernhard Schuldt
Peter Biedermann
Thomas Schmitt
Claudia Künzer
Martin Wegmann
Simone Cesarz
Marcell Peters
Heike Feldhaar
Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Alice Claßen
Claus Bässler
Goddert von Oheimb
Andreas Fichtner
Simon Thorn
Wolfgang Weisser
deu
swd
Waldökosystem
deu
swd
Biodiversität
deu
uncontrolled
BETA-Multifunktionalität
eng
uncontrolled
beta-multifunctionality
deu
uncontrolled
BETA-Diversität
eng
uncontrolled
beta diversity
deu
uncontrolled
Forschungsstation Fabrikschleichach
Ökologie
open_access
Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Institut für Geographie und Geologie
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/29084/BETA-FOR_proposal_20221122.pdf
5635
2010
eng
article
1
2012-03-02
--
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Bacteriocyte dynamics during development of a holometabolous insect, the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus
Background: The carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus harbors obligate intracellular mutualistic bacteria (Blochmannia floridanus) in specialized cells, the bacteriocytes, intercalated in their midgut tissue. The diffuse distribution of bacteriocytes over the midgut tissue is in contrast to many other insects carrying endosymbionts in specialized tissues which are often connected to the midgut but form a distinct organ, the bacteriome. C.floridanus is a holometabolous insect which undergoes a complete metamorphosis. During pupal stages a complete restructuring of the inner organs including the digestive tract takes place. So far, nothing was known about maintenance of endosymbionts during this life stage of a holometabolous insect. It was shown previously that the number of Blochmannia increases strongly during metamorphosis. This implicates an important function of Blochmannia in this developmental phase during which the animals are metabolically very active but do not have access to external food resources. Previous experiments have shown a nutritional contribution of the bacteria to host metabolism by production of essential amino acids and urease-mediated nitrogen recycling. In adult hosts the symbiosis appears to degenerate with increasing age of the animals. Results: We investigated the distribution and dynamics of endosymbiotic bacteria and bacteriocytes at different stages during development of the animals from larva to imago by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The number of bacteriocytes in relation to symbiont-free midgut cells varied strongly over different developmental stages. Especially during metamorphosis the relative number of bacteria-filled bacteriocytes increased strongly when the larval midgut epithelium is shed. During this developmental stage the midgut itself became a huge symbiotic organ consisting almost exclusively of cells harboring bacteria. In fact, during this phase some bacteria were also found in midgut cells other than bacteriocytes indicating a cell-invasive capacity of Blochmannia. In adult animals the number of bacteriocytes generally decreased. Conclusions: During the life cycle of the animals the distribution of bacteriocytes and of Blochmannia endosymbionts is remarkably dynamic. Our data show how the endosymbiont is retained within the midgut tissue during metamorphosis thereby ensuring the maintenance of the intracellular endosymbiosis despite a massive reorganization of the midgut tissue. The transformation of the entire midgut into a symbiotic organ during pupal stages underscores the important role of Blochmannia for its host in particular during metamorphosis.
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-67950
6795
BMC MICROBIOLOGY (2010) 10, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-308
Sascha Stoll
Heike Feldhaar
Martin J. Fraunholz
Roy Gross
deu
swd
Camponotus floridanus
eng
uncontrolled
carpenter ant
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/5635/Gross_1471_2180_10_308.pdf