Mechanisms of mutualism maintenance by behavioral manipulation

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H02512
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45040:Ecology and environment-related
• Research Institution: Kwansei Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Hojo Masaru 関西学院大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (70722122)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 相利共生 / 社会性昆虫 / 行動操作

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to understand the maintenance mechanisms of mutualistic associations through selfish behavioral manipulation, we investigated the mechanism of behavioral manipulation and the effect of mutualism on an ant fitness using a mutualistic system between a lycaenid butterfly and an ant. We found that the nectar of the lycaenid butterfly contains some chemicals that manipulate the behavior of ants, the nectar decreases the expression of genes involved in the dopamine pathway and signal transduction in the brain of ants. We also found that the benefits of mutualism to the ants vary depending on the nutritional status of the ants, but the ants maintain the associations with the lycaenid butterfly regardless of short-term fitness losses.

Free Research Field

動物行動

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

相利共生の維持機構を理解することは、生物間の協力的な関係がどのように進化し維持されているのかを理解することにつながり、学術的な意義がある。協力的な関係とその崩壊はヒトの社会にも広くみられることから、ヒトの社会組織にも適応できる知見を提供しうる点で社会的意義がある。