Csata, E. and Billen, J. and Bernadou, A. and Heinze, J. and Marko, B. (2018) Infection-related variation in cuticle thickness in the ant Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). INSECTES SOCIAUX, 65 (3). pp. 503-506. ISSN 0020-1812, 1420-9098
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Cuticle quality is of vital importance in insects. It prevents desiccation, provides mechanical strength and protects against pathogens. The within-species variation of cuticular structure is affected by many factors. We investigated the relationship of the presence/absence of the ectoparasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii and cuticle thickness of its ant host Myrmica scabrinodis. Infected ants had thinner cuticle than uninfected ones, while there were also differences among populations. It is unclear whether reduced thickness is the host's response, or whether the fungus infects preferentially colonies with ants that have a thin cuticle. Either way, within-species variation is linked to the presence of an epicuticular parasite.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | FUNGUS RICKIA WASMANNII; ASCOMYCOTA LABOULBENIALES; MYRMECONEMA-NEOTROPICUM; HOST; EVOLUTION; WORKERS; Anatomy; Exoskeleton; Laboulbeniales; Myrmica scabrinodis; Rickia wasmannii |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 570 Life sciences |
| Divisions: | Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinze) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Feb 2020 14:14 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Feb 2020 14:14 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/14187 |
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