JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
JoVE Visualize
Contact Us

The transcriptome of the ant Temnothorax nylanderi is not affected by urbanisation but by rearing conditions

  • 0Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), EPHE-PSL, Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université des Antilles, Paris, France.
Insect Molecular Biology +

|

June 28, 2025

|

June 28, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Urbanization impacts ant gene expression, but habitat type (city vs. forest) had no effect on workers or queens of Temnothorax nylanderi. Rearing conditions significantly altered gene activity, especially in workers.

Area Of Science

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Environmental science
  • Genomics

Background

  • Urbanization presents novel environmental pressures for organisms.
  • Ants exhibit increased resistance to temperature and pollutants in urban settings.
  • Gene expression changes are a key mechanism for adaptation to environmental shifts.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the impact of urbanization on gene expression in ant workers and queens.
  • To compare gene expression between field and laboratory-reared conditions.
  • To identify differential gene expression (DEG) between castes and habitats in Temnothorax nylanderi.

Main Methods

  • Collected Temnothorax nylanderi ants from city and forest habitats.
  • Analyzed gene expression in workers and queens under field and laboratory conditions.
  • Quantified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between castes, habitats, and rearing conditions.

Main Results

  • A large number of DEGs (2830) were observed between workers and queens.
  • Habitat (city vs. forest) did not significantly influence gene expression in either caste.
  • 661 DEGs were found between field and laboratory-reared ants, with greater effects in workers.

Conclusions

  • Rearing conditions, not habitat, significantly altered gene expression in Temnothorax nylanderi.
  • Ant queens appear more resilient to environmental changes than workers.
  • The lack of habitat-specific gene expression contrasts with observed life-history differences, warranting further investigation.

Keywords: