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Increased genetic diversity from colony merging in termites does not improve survival against a fungal pathogen

Carlos M Aguero1, Pierre-André Eyer2, Edward L Vargo2

  • 1Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843-2143, USA. cague001@tamu.edu.

Scientific Reports
|March 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Termite colony fusion increases genetic diversity but does not improve survival against fungal pathogens. Merged colonies

Area of Science:

  • Social insect behavior
  • Insect immunology
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • Social insects often rely on genetic diversity for pathogen resistance.
  • Termites (Reticulitermes flavipes) typically have single-mated pairs, limiting initial diversity.
  • Colony merging offers a potential mechanism to increase genetic diversity in termites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if increased genetic diversity from colony fusion benefits social immunity in Reticulitermes flavipes.
  • To determine if merged termite colonies exhibit improved survival rates after pathogen exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Observed colony merging behavior in Reticulitermes flavipes.
  • Assessed grooming behavior between nestmates and non-nestmates post-merging.
  • Exposed merged colonies to a fungal pathogen and monitored survival rates.

Main Results:

  • Reticulitermes flavipes colonies readily merge, with workers grooming both nestmates and non-nestmates.
  • Merged colony survival after fungal pathogen exposure did not improve.
  • Survival rates after pathogen exposure were determined by the susceptibility or resistance of the individual colonies involved in the fusion.

Conclusions:

  • Colony fusion in Reticulitermes flavipes does not enhance social immunity against fungal pathogens.
  • The hypothesis that increased genetic diversity through fusion improves immunity is not supported in this species.
  • The survival of merged colonies is heavily influenced by the pathogen resistance of one of the constituent colonies.

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