The effects of ant attendance on evolution and phylogeny of symbionts in aphids

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K07210
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Yao Izumi 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 農学研究院研究員 (70374204)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 微生物 / アリ / アブラムシ / カシワ / 遺伝子 / アミノ酸代謝 / 自然選択

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aphids have Buchnera, a symbiont provisioning indispensable amino acids to the host aphid through conversion of amino acid in the phloem sap. Besides Buchnera, Wolbachia has been found in various animals and its role displays wide aspects. Wolbachia has been found in several species of aphids, but its role in the host remains unclear. Tuberculatus macrotuberculatus, which feeds on Quercus dentata, daimyo oak, has Buchnera and Wolbachia. This study examines seasonal trends of densities of Buchnera and Wolbachia to reveal their roles in the host aphids. While Buchnera density changed seasonally, Wolbachia density showed no seasonal trends, indicating that while Buchnera could be influenced by seasonal nutritional changes in host plant, Wolbachia could be independent from aphid nutritional status.

Free Research Field

進化生態学