Wolbachia induced sympatric speciation in the genus Doronomyrmex?

本研究的目的是描述在社会寄生的Doronomyrmex Kutter（D. kutteri，Buschinger;黑腹叶蝉D. pacis，Kutter和D. goesswaldi，Kutter）。这组蚂蚁被认为形成了一个单系群（Baur et al. 1995），物种组合在其分布范围的广泛区域内发生，但在同一宿主种群内也存在同域（syntope）（见图1）。同域物种形成长期以来一直被假设为inquiline（无工作者）的社会寄生虫，如Doronomyrmex属的物种。在不同类群的同域物种形成的数据积累最近和沃尔巴克氏体已被检测到在这个过程中的主要调解人。由于在Doronomyrmex物种中发现了不同Wolbachia菌株的过度感染，初步的杂交实验表明配子分离发生，该属是首次在蚂蚁中通过同域物种形成测试辐射的主要候选者。观察交配行为和人口普查的后代产生的所有可能的物种之间的交叉和Wolbachia感染和未感染的合作伙伴之间应澄清，如果Doronomyrmex辐射同域物种形成，如果Wolbachia等可能作为一个物种形成剂，通过诱导细胞质的不相容性。

The aim of this study is to characterize the means by which reproductive isolation was achieved and is maintained between the three inquiline species within the socially parasitic genus Doronomyrmex Kutter (D. kutteri, Buschinger; D. pacis, Kutter and D. goesswaldi, Kutter). This group of ants is thought to form a monophyletic group (Baur et al. 1995) and species combinations occur in sympatry over a wide area of their distribution range, but also syntope within the same host population (see Fig. 1). Sympatric speciation has long been hypothesized for inquiline (workerless) social parasites like the species of the genus Doronomyrmex. Data on sympatric speciation in diverse taxa accumulate recently and Wolbachia has been detected as a prime mediator in this process. As hyperinfections of different Wolbachia strains have been detected in Doronomyrmex-species and preliminary crossing experiments have shown that gametic isolation takes place, this genus is a prime candidate to test radiation via sympatric speciation for the first time in ants. Observations of mating behaviour and censuses of the offspring resulting from all possible crossings between species and between Wolbachia-infected and uninfected partners should clarify if Doronomyrmex radiated by sympatric speciation and if Wolbachia among others might act as a speciation agent, by inducing cytoplasmatic incompatability.