Abstract
We investigated the bacterial composition in the gut of Formosan subterranean termites (FST), Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, collected from southern China (native range) vs. Louisiana, U. S. (introduced range) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Overall, we identified 213 bacteria ribotypes from thirteen phyla. The enemy release hypothesis could not be invoked to explain invasion success of FST since no pathogens were found among the bacterial gut community regardless of geographic origin. Invasion of new habitats did not significantly change the bacteria composition. Apparently, the tight co-evolutionary link between termites and their gut flora maintains a certain association of species and functional groups. Ribotype richness, bacteria diversity, and proportions of detected phyla were not influenced by geographic origin of FST samples; however, these parameters were affected by storage of the samples. Ethanol storage of termite samples (5 yrs) increased the relative proportions of gram-positive bacteria versus gram-negative bacteria.
Highlights
Intestinal symbionts have contributed to the evolutionary success of various insects [1, 2]
Diversity and proportions of bacteria phyla showed a wide range among samples (Table 1), so we investigated whether this variation could be explained by geographical origin or storage of the Formosan subterranean termites (FST) sample
We identified a total of 213 different ribotypes from eight FST colonies across the native and the introduced range (Louisiana, U.S.A.), while the previous study by Shinzato et al [14] found 49 ribotypes and 9 phyla in one colony from Japan
Summary
Intestinal symbionts have contributed to the evolutionary success of various insects [1, 2]. Gut symbionts enable a variety of insects to utilize refractory and nutrient-deficient diets by supplying digestive and detoxifying enzymes and serving as sources of nitrogen, vitamins and energy. Because there are so many benefits conferred by symbiosis, questions have been raised about whether symbionts could facilitate the establishment and success of invasive insects by enabling their hosts to tolerate rapid changes in habitat and diet. It has been shown that the intestinal symbiont flora of insects adapts quickly to changes in environmental conditions and diet by the induction of enzymes or a shift in the species composition [1, 3,4,5,6,7]. Investigating both, the composition of beneficial symbionts and pathogens in the native and introduced range of an invasive species might reveal cues to its invasion success
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