BUGS

Biology of UnderGround Symbioses (BUGS): studies of a subterranean ant-aphid-microbe cooperative network

Coordinatore	STICHTING VU-VUMC    more  Organization address address: DE BOELELAAN 1105 city: AMSTERDAM postcode: 1081 HV contact info Titolo: Dr. Nome: Yvonne Cognome: Kops Email: send email Telefono: +31 20 5987008 Fax: +31 20 5989950
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Netherlands [NL]
Totale costo	270˙312 €
EC contributo	270˙312 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF
Funding Scheme	MC-IOF
Anno di inizio	2015
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2015-01-01   -   2017-12-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	STICHTING VU-VUMC  Organization address address: DE BOELELAAN 1105 city: AMSTERDAM postcode: 1081 HV contact info Titolo: Dr. Nome: Yvonne Cognome: Kops Email: send email Telefono: +31 20 5987008 Fax: +31 20 5989950	NL (AMSTERDAM)	coordinator	270˙312.90

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Mutualism, cooperative interaction between different species, is widespread in nature. Despite its ubiquity and recognised importance for ecological communities, how mutualism evolves and persists remain major unresolved questions in evolutionary biology. The reason for this is that mutualistic interactions can often be exploited by parasites, and high degrees of species interdependence can increase extinction risk. Applying established network theory to interpret biological details of mutualistic interaction networks has great potential to reveal crucial system properties such as enhanced network resilience through species interdependence. I propose an interdisciplinary study combining network theory with detailed empirical analyses of a so far uncharacterised mutualistic network of subterranean ants, aphids and microbes. The ants protect aphids from predators, and in turn harvest honeydew, processed plant sap excreted by the aphids. In addition, symbiotic gut bacteria in both ants and aphids synthesise essential amino acids and assimilate nitrogen. These bacteria are crucial for upgrading the sugar rich but otherwise nutritionally poor plant sap and honeydew. My project will improve our understanding of mutualisms by unravelling the metabolic and behavioural mechanisms underlying species interdependence in this specialised symbiotic network. To this end, I will (i) assess covariance between bacterial communities of associated ants and aphids, (ii) determine the functional roles of bacterial communities in honeydew composition, and (iii) assess ant behavioural specificity in choice of aphid partners. I will then (iv) further interpret my findings in a broader context by applying network theory to this focal network and other comparable mutualistic networks, thereby adding to our general understanding of the evolution and stability of mutualism.'