Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants
Ants in the tribe Attini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) comprise about 230 described species that share the same characteristic: all coevolved in an ancient mutualism with basidiomycetous fungi cultivated for food. In this paper we focused on fungi other than the mutualistic cultivar and their roles in t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/905109 |
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| author | Fernando C. Pagnocca Virginia E. Masiulionis Andre Rodrigues |
| author_facet | Fernando C. Pagnocca Virginia E. Masiulionis Andre Rodrigues |
| author_sort | Fernando C. Pagnocca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ants in the tribe Attini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) comprise about 230 described species that share the same characteristic: all coevolved in an ancient mutualism with basidiomycetous fungi cultivated for food. In this paper we focused on fungi other than the mutualistic cultivar and their roles in the attine ant symbiosis. Specialized fungal parasites in the genus Escovopsis negatively impact the fungus gardens. Many fungal parasites may have small impacts on the ants' fungal colony when the colony is balanced, but then may opportunistically shift to having large impacts if the ants' colony becomes unbalanced. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4dcc69caf0c54e3eb742cc25738e1977 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0033-2615 1687-7438 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj-art-4dcc69caf0c54e3eb742cc25738e19772025-02-03T06:14:18ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382012-01-01201210.1155/2012/905109905109Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine AntsFernando C. Pagnocca0Virginia E. Masiulionis1Andre Rodrigues2Centre for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilCentre for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilCentre for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilAnts in the tribe Attini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) comprise about 230 described species that share the same characteristic: all coevolved in an ancient mutualism with basidiomycetous fungi cultivated for food. In this paper we focused on fungi other than the mutualistic cultivar and their roles in the attine ant symbiosis. Specialized fungal parasites in the genus Escovopsis negatively impact the fungus gardens. Many fungal parasites may have small impacts on the ants' fungal colony when the colony is balanced, but then may opportunistically shift to having large impacts if the ants' colony becomes unbalanced.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/905109 |
| spellingShingle | Fernando C. Pagnocca Virginia E. Masiulionis Andre Rodrigues Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| title | Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants |
| title_full | Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants |
| title_fullStr | Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants |
| title_short | Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants |
| title_sort | specialized fungal parasites and opportunistic fungi in gardens of attine ants |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/905109 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fernandocpagnocca specializedfungalparasitesandopportunisticfungiingardensofattineants AT virginiaemasiulionis specializedfungalparasitesandopportunisticfungiingardensofattineants AT andrerodrigues specializedfungalparasitesandopportunisticfungiingardensofattineants |