Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow
Abstract Background Intraspecific variation in chromosome structure may cause genetic incompatibilities and thus provides the first step in the formation of species. In ants, chromosome number varies tremendously from 2n = 2 to 2n = 120, and several studies have revealed considerable variation in ka...
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doaj-db6b0b7520304a49a9c11296ff40f5e22021-09-02T10:56:09ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482018-09-0118111010.1186/s12862-018-1247-5Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flowDanon Clemes Cardoso0Jürgen Heinze1Mariana Neves Moura2Maykon Passos Cristiano3Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do CruzeiroZoology/Evolutionary Biology, Universität RegensburgPrograma de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de ViçosaDepartamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do CruzeiroAbstract Background Intraspecific variation in chromosome structure may cause genetic incompatibilities and thus provides the first step in the formation of species. In ants, chromosome number varies tremendously from 2n = 2 to 2n = 120, and several studies have revealed considerable variation in karyotype within species. However, most previous studies were limited to the description of chromosome number and morphology, and more detailed karyomorphometric analyses may reveal additional, substantial variation. Here, we studied karyotype length, genome size, and phylogeography of five populations of the fungus-farming ant Trachymyrmex holmgreni in order to detect potential barriers to gene flow. Results Chromosome number and morphology did not vary among the five populations, but karyotype length and genome size were significantly higher in the southernmost populations than in the northern populations of this ant. Individuals or colonies with different karyotype lengths were not observed. Karyotype length variation appears to result from variation in centromere length. Conclusion T. holmgreni shows considerable variation in karyotype length and might provide a second example of centromere drive in ants, similar to what has previously been observed in Solenopsis fire ants. Whether this variation leads to genetic incompatibilities between the different populations remains to be studied.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-018-1247-5CentromereKaryotype lengthGene flowTrachymyrmex holmgreniFormicidae |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Danon Clemes Cardoso Jürgen Heinze Mariana Neves Moura Maykon Passos Cristiano |
spellingShingle |
Danon Clemes Cardoso Jürgen Heinze Mariana Neves Moura Maykon Passos Cristiano Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow BMC Evolutionary Biology Centromere Karyotype length Gene flow Trachymyrmex holmgreni Formicidae |
author_facet |
Danon Clemes Cardoso Jürgen Heinze Mariana Neves Moura Maykon Passos Cristiano |
author_sort |
Danon Clemes Cardoso |
title |
Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow |
title_short |
Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow |
title_full |
Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow |
title_fullStr |
Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow |
title_full_unstemmed |
Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow |
title_sort |
chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Evolutionary Biology |
issn |
1471-2148 |
publishDate |
2018-09-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Intraspecific variation in chromosome structure may cause genetic incompatibilities and thus provides the first step in the formation of species. In ants, chromosome number varies tremendously from 2n = 2 to 2n = 120, and several studies have revealed considerable variation in karyotype within species. However, most previous studies were limited to the description of chromosome number and morphology, and more detailed karyomorphometric analyses may reveal additional, substantial variation. Here, we studied karyotype length, genome size, and phylogeography of five populations of the fungus-farming ant Trachymyrmex holmgreni in order to detect potential barriers to gene flow. Results Chromosome number and morphology did not vary among the five populations, but karyotype length and genome size were significantly higher in the southernmost populations than in the northern populations of this ant. Individuals or colonies with different karyotype lengths were not observed. Karyotype length variation appears to result from variation in centromere length. Conclusion T. holmgreni shows considerable variation in karyotype length and might provide a second example of centromere drive in ants, similar to what has previously been observed in Solenopsis fire ants. Whether this variation leads to genetic incompatibilities between the different populations remains to be studied. |
topic |
Centromere Karyotype length Gene flow Trachymyrmex holmgreni Formicidae |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-018-1247-5 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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