@article{MorisChristmannWirtgenetal.2021, author = {Moris, Victoria C. and Christmann, Katharina and Wirtgen, Aline and Belokobylskij, Sergey A. and Berg, Alexander and Liebig, Wolf-Harald and Soon, Villu and Baur, Hannes and Schmitt, Thomas and Niehuis, Oliver}, title = {Cuticular hydrocarbons on old museum specimens of the spiny mason wasp, Odynerus spinipes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), shed light on the distribution and on regional frequencies of distinct chemotypes}, series = {Chemoecology}, volume = {31}, journal = {Chemoecology}, number = {5}, issn = {0937-7409}, doi = {10.1007/s00049-021-00350-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-306999}, pages = {311-322}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The mason wasp Odynerus spinipes shows an exceptional case of intrasexual cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile dimorphism. Females of this species display one of two CHC profiles (chemotypes) that differ qualitatively and quantitatively from each other. The ratio of the two chemotypes was previously shown to be close to 1:1 at three sites in Southern Germany, which might not be representative given the Palearctic distribution of the species. To infer the frequency of the two chemotypes across the entire distributional range of the species, we analyzed with GC-MS the CHC profile of 1042 dry-mounted specimens stored in private and museum collections. We complemented our sampling by including 324 samples collected and preserved specifically for studying their CHCs. We were capable of reliably identifying the chemotypes in 91\% of dry-mounted samples, some of which collected almost 200 years ago. We found both chemotypes to occur in the Far East, the presumed glacial refuge of the species, and their frequency to differ considerably between sites and geographic regions. The geographic structure in the chemotype frequencies could be the result of differential selection regimes and/or different dispersal routes during the colonization of the Western Palearctic. The presented data pave the route for disentangling these factors by providing information where to geographically sample O. spinipes for population genetic analyses. They also form the much-needed basis for future studies aiming to understand the evolutionary and geographic origin as well as the genetics of the astounding CHC profile dimorphism that O. spinipes females exhibit.}, language = {en} } @article{HartkeSprengerSahmetal.2019, author = {Hartke, Juliane and Sprenger, Philipp P. and Sahm, Jacqueline and Winterberg, Helena and Orivel, J{\´e}r{\^o}me and Baur, Hannes and Beuerle, Till and Schmitt, Thomas and Feldmeyer, Barbara and Menzel, Florian}, title = {Cuticular hydrocarbons as potential mediators of cryptic species divergence in a mutualistic ant association}, series = {Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {9}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.5464}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227857}, pages = {9160-9176}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Upon advances in sequencing techniques, more and more morphologically identical organisms are identified as cryptic species. Often, mutualistic interactions are proposed as drivers of diversification. Species of the neotropical parabiotic ant association between Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus are known for highly diverse cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles, which in insects serve as desiccation barrier but also as communication cues. In the present study, we investigated the association of the ants' CHC profiles with genotypes and morphological traits, and discovered cryptic species pairs in both genera. To assess putative niche differentiation between the cryptic species, we conducted an environmental association study that included various climate variables, canopy cover, and mutualistic plant species. Although mostly sympatric, the two Camponotus species seem to prefer different climate niches. However in the two Crematogaster species, we could not detect any differences in niche preference. The strong differentiation in the CHC profiles may thus suggest a possible role during speciation itself either by inducing assortative mating or by reinforcing sexual selection after the speciation event. We did not detect any further niche differences in the environmental parameters tested. Thus, it remains open how the cryptic species avoid competitive exclusion, with scope for further investigations.}, language = {en} }