Dynamics and drivers of fungal communities in a multipartite ant-plant association

Autor(en)
Veronica Barrajon-Santos, Maximilian Nepel, Bela Hausmann, Hermann Voglmayr, Dagmar Woebken, Veronika E Mayer
Abstrakt

Fungi and ants belong to the most important organisms in terrestrial ecosystems on Earth. In nutrient-poor niches of tropical rainforests, they have developed steady ecological relationships as a successful survival strategy. In tropical ant-plant mutualisms worldwide, where resident ants provide the host plants with defense and nutrients in exchange for shelter and food, fungi are regularly found in the ant nesting space, inhabiting ant-made dark-colored piles (“patches”). Unlike the extensively investigated fungus-growing insects, where the fungi serve as the primary food source, the purpose of this ant-fungi association is less clear. To decipher the roles of fungi in these structures within ant nests, it is crucial to first understand the dynamics and drivers that influence fungal patch communities during ant colony development.

Organisation(en)
Department für Botanik und Biodiversitätsforschung, Department für Mikrobiologie und Ökosystemforschung
Externe Organisation(en)
Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, Joint Microbiome Facility, Medizinische Universität Wien
Journal
BMC Biology
Band
22
Anzahl der Seiten
15
ISSN
1741-7007
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-024-01897-y
Publikationsdatum
2024
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
106026 Ökosystemforschung, 106022 Mikrobiologie
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Allgemeine Agrar- und Biowissenschaften, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Allgemeine Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie, Structural Biology, Physiology, Biotechnology, Plant Science, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 15 – Leben an Land
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/df8de00d-0901-42c6-9148-dbbb4b2dad14