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Molecular Profile of the Brazilian Weaver Ant Camponotus textor Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

  • Ecology, Behavior and Bionomics
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Abstract

Camponotus textor Forel is, to date, the only weaver ant recorded from Brazil, and all existing studies on the species are restricted to describing its weaving and nesting behaviors. The aim of this work is to establish the molecular profile of the species. We sampled eight different colonies by sequencing mitochondrial genes (COI, transfer DNA (tRNA), and an intergenic spacer) and the nuclear gene 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA). We then assessed haplotype diversity and also analyzed distribution patterns of this species based on the correlation between genetic and geographic distances. Our results provide an additional tool for species identification by identifying new regions that can be used as molecular markers for barcoding (such as the intergenic spacer (IGS) and tRNA-Leu). In addition, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that C. textor has features that could be associated with deep population divergences. We identified a wide range of mitotypes and three distinct groups, suggesting a possible reduction of gene flow between colonies.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all our colleagues for their assistance: Dr. Corrie S. Moreau, Rodolfo Probst, Dr. Kleber Del-Claro, Dr. Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie, Dr. Alexsandro Santana Vieira, Dr. Viviane Cristina Tofolo Chaud, Dr. Maria Santina de Castro Morini, Dr. Cynara de Melo Rodovalho, and Marilia de Oliveira Ramalho and reviewers and editors who provided valuable suggestions for elaboration in this study. Benjamin Blanchard and Matthew Boot assisted with English editing. This work was developed in CEIS, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP–Campus Rio Claro, and supported by the CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília DF 70.040-020, Brazil.

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  1. Univ Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brasil

    M O Ramalho, L M R Silva, V G Martins & O C Bueno

  2. Univ Federal do Piauí, Parnaíba, PI, Brasil

    C Martins

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  1. M O Ramalho
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  4. V G Martins
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Correspondence to M O Ramalho.

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Edited by Andrew Michel – OSU

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Ramalho, M.O., Martins, C., Silva, L.M.R. et al. Molecular Profile of the Brazilian Weaver Ant Camponotus textor Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Neotrop Entomol 45, 463–470 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-016-0392-z

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