CNRS, UMR Ecologie des forêts de Guyane - EcoFoG (AgroParisTech, CIRAD, INRAE, Université de Guyane, Université des Antilles), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, Kourou Cedex 97379, France.
Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Proc Biol Sci. 2024 Nov;291(2035):20242184. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2184. Epub 2024 Nov 20.
Stinging ants have diversified into various ecological niches, and selective pressures may have contributed to shape the composition of their venom. To explore the drivers underlying venom variation in ants, we sampled 15 South American rainforest species and recorded a range of traits, including ecology, morphology and venom bioactivities. Principal component analysis of both morphological and venom bioactivity traits reveals that stinging ants display two functional strategies where species have evolved towards either an exclusively offensive venom or a multi-functional venom. Additionally, phylogenetic comparative analysis indicates that venom function (predatory, defensive or both) and mandible morphology correlate with venom bioactivity and volume. Further analysis of the venom biochemistry of the 15 species revealed switches between cytotoxic and neurotoxic venom compositions among species. Our study supports an evolutionary trade-off between the ability of venom to deter vertebrate predators and to paralyse insect prey which are correlated with different venom compositions and life-history strategies among Formicidae.
蛰蚁已经多样化为各种生态位，选择压力可能有助于塑造它们毒液的组成。为了探索蚂蚁毒液变异的驱动因素，我们对 15 种南美洲雨林物种进行了采样，并记录了一系列特征，包括生态学、形态学和毒液生物活性。形态学和毒液生物活性特征的主成分分析表明，蛰蚁表现出两种功能策略，其中物种已经进化为专门的攻击性毒液或多功能毒液。此外，系统发育比较分析表明，毒液功能（捕食性、防御性或两者兼有）和下颚形态与毒液生物活性和体积相关。对这 15 种物种的毒液生物化学进一步分析表明，物种之间的细胞毒性和神经毒性毒液组成之间存在转换。我们的研究支持毒液在阻止脊椎动物捕食者和麻痹昆虫猎物方面的能力之间存在进化权衡，这与 Formicidae 之间不同的毒液组成和生活史策略相关。
