DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Unraveling the Origin of Social Parasitism in Megalomyrmex Ants: A Phylogenetic Study Using Morphological and Molecular Characters

University Of Texas At Austin, Austin TX

Investigators

Abstract

Social parasitism, the exploitation of a society by other social organisms, is a widespread phenomenon that has evolved independently numerous times within many social systems. The monophyletic Megalomyrmex genus is an excellent system to investigate how parasitism evolves in a social society. Using an integrative approach, phylogenic analysis will reveal the origins of social parasitism, while behavioral, ecological, and venom alkaloid information will help distinguish the characteristics necessary for social parasitism to evolve and be maintained. The following questions will be investigated: 1) Did social parasitism evolve once in the Megalomyrmex genus? 2) Did social parasitism arise from behaviors related to a primarily predatory lifestyle? Merit: By gathering these data the Megalomyrmex system will be comparable with other parasite systems, and will thus broaden our understanding of the evolutionary processes associated with the onset and maintenance of host-parasite associations. Impacts: This project will continue to incorporate undergraduate mentorship and training. Ongoing collaborations will strengthen ties between Brazilian and American institutions while expediting and developing this research. In addition, voucher specimens have and will be deposited at one domestic and five foreign museums. These collaborations and associations will not only make the proposed research feasible but will effectively disseminate scientific knowledge.