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Herbivorous turtle ants obtain essential nutrients from a conserved nitrogen-recycling gut microbiome

Author

Listed:
  • Yi Hu

    (Drexel University)

  • Jon G. Sanders

    (Harvard University
    The University of California San Diego)

  • Piotr Łukasik

    (Drexel University)

  • Catherine L. D’Amelio

    (Drexel University)

  • John S. Millar

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • David R. Vann

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Yemin Lan

    (Drexel University)

  • Justin A. Newton

    (Drexel University)

  • Mark Schotanus

    (Calvin College)

  • Daniel J. C. Kronauer

    (The Rockefeller University)

  • Naomi E. Pierce

    (Harvard University)

  • Corrie S. Moreau

    (Field Museum of Natural History)

  • John T. Wertz

    (Calvin College)

  • Philipp Engel

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Jacob A. Russell

    (Drexel University)

Abstract

Nitrogen acquisition is a major challenge for herbivorous animals, and the repeated origins of herbivory across the ants have raised expectations that nutritional symbionts have shaped their diversification. Direct evidence for N provisioning by internally housed symbionts is rare in animals; among the ants, it has been documented for just one lineage. In this study we dissect functional contributions by bacteria from a conserved, multi-partite gut symbiosis in herbivorous Cephalotes ants through in vivo experiments, metagenomics, and in vitro assays. Gut bacteria recycle urea, and likely uric acid, using recycled N to synthesize essential amino acids that are acquired by hosts in substantial quantities. Specialized core symbionts of 17 studied Cephalotes species encode the pathways directing these activities, and several recycle N in vitro. These findings point to a highly efficient N economy, and a nutritional mutualism preserved for millions of years through the derived behaviors and gut anatomy of Cephalotes ants.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Hu & Jon G. Sanders & Piotr Łukasik & Catherine L. D’Amelio & John S. Millar & David R. Vann & Yemin Lan & Justin A. Newton & Mark Schotanus & Daniel J. C. Kronauer & Naomi E. Pierce & Corrie S. Mo, 2018. "Herbivorous turtle ants obtain essential nutrients from a conserved nitrogen-recycling gut microbiome," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03357-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03357-y
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