CO EVOL ANTS AND FUNGI · The Perplexity of Parasitism; Co-evolution between Cordyceps fungi and Carpenter ants

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Project objective

The social insects are among the great achievements of organic evolution and their societies represent a major evolutionary transition in lifes move towards complexity. Consequently, insect societies have historically held a considerable interest for both biologists and lay people. One particularly interesting and rapidly developing field for evolutionary biologists is the interaction between social insects and their parasites. My proposal will be set within this field. I will use the parasite fungus, Cordyceps, as a tool to examine host-parasite relationships within social insects (Carpenter ants; Camponotus genus, from Thailand). This interesting fungus manipulates the behaviour of ants to achieve transmission. I will focus on two key areas that I consider vital to understanding the fundamental evolutionary biology of this relationship: the evolutionary history and the manipulation of host behaviour. For key area 1 I will reconstruct a host-parasite phylogeny, examine prevalence among nests and compare group I intron load with published findings form other insects. For key area 2 I will test two hypotheses relating to the behaviour of infected ants using chemical ecology and population genetic approaches (ant graveyard and Trojan ant respectively). The work has a number of important interdisciplinary aspects between me, the proposed host (Prof. Boomsma, Copenhagen), his collaborators and two prominent Cordyceps biologists. All of which increases the potential of me successfully carrying out the stated objectives within the time frame laid down. This proposal is coherent with my research profile but, importantly, will give me advanced training in core scientific skills (phylogenetics, chemical ecology and population genetics). I will also gain important complementary skills training such as budgeting, grant writing and conference organising. This fellowship will enhance my potential for achieving a position of professional maturity and independence.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN · KOEPENHAGENCoordinatorDenmark

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