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  • Phylogeny and evolution of the cryptic fungus‐farming ant genus Myrmicocrypta F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) inferred from multilocus data
Title: Phylogeny and evolution of the cryptic fungus‐farming ant genus Myrmicocrypta F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) inferred from multilocus data
Abstract Fungus‐farming ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have become model systems for exploring questions regarding the evolution of symbiosis. However, robust phylogenetic studies of both the ant agriculturalists and their fungal cultivars are necessary for addressing whether or not observed ant–fungus associations are the result of coevolution and, if so, whether that coevolution has been strict or diffuse. Here we focus on the evolutionary relationships of the species within the ant genusMyrmicocryptaand of their fungal cultivars. The fungus‐farming ant genusMyrmicocryptawas created by Fr. Smith in 1860 based on a single alate queen. Since then, 31 species and subspecies have been described. Until now, the genus has not received any taxonomic treatment and the relationships of the species within the genus have not been tested. Our molecular analyses, using ∼40 putative species and six protein‐coding (nuclear and mitochondrial) gene fragments, recoverMyrmicocryptaas monophyletic and as the sister group of the genusMycocepurusForel. The speciesM. tuberculataWeber is recovered as the sister to the rest ofMyrmicocrypta. The time‐calibrated phylogeny recovers the age of stem groupMyrmicocryptaplus its sister group as 45 Ma, whereas the inferred age for the crown groupMyrmicocryptais recovered as 27 Ma. Ancestral character‐state analyses suggest that the ancestor ofMyrmicocryptahad scale‐like or squamate hairs and that, although such hairs were once considered diagnostic for the genus, the alternative state of erect simple hairs has evolved at least seven independent times. Ancestral‐state analyses of observed fungal cultivar associations suggest that the most recent common ancestor ofMyrmicocryptacultivated clade 2 fungal species and that switches to clade 1 fungi have occurred at least five times. It is our hope that these results will encourage additional species‐level phylogenies of fungus‐farming ants and their fungal cultivars, which are necessary for understanding the evolutionary processes that gave rise to agriculture in ants and that produced the current diversity of mutualistic ant–fungus interactions.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1654829 1456964
PAR ID:
10064044
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Systematic Entomology
Volume:
44
Issue:
1
ISSN:
0307-6970
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: p. 139-162
Size(s):
p. 139-162
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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