Abstract
Upon advances in sequencing techniques, more and more morphologically identical organisms are identified as cryptic species. Often, mutualistic interactions are proposed as drivers of diversification. Species of the neotropical parabiotic ant association between Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus are known for highly diverse cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles, which in insects serve as desiccation barrier but also as communication cues. In the present study, we investigated the association of the ants’ CHC profiles with genotypes and morphological traits, and discovered cryptic species pairs in both genera. To assess putative niche differentiation between the cryptic species, we conducted an environmental association study that included various climate variables, canopy cover, and mutualistic plant species. Although mostly sympatric, the two Camponotus species seem to prefer different climate niches. However in the two Crematogaster species, we could not detect any differences in niche preference. The strong differentiation in the CHC profiles may thus suggest a possible role during speciation itself either by inducing assortative mating or by reinforcing sexual selection after the speciation event. We did not detect any further niche differences in the environmental parameters tested. Thus, it remains open how the cryptic species avoid competitive exclusion, with scope for further investigations.
Highlights
| INTRODUCTIONDiversity on earth is reflected in the ongoing discovery of a large num‐ ber of species every year
Species of the neotropical parabiotic ant association be‐ tween Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus are known for highly diverse cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles, which in insects serve as desiccation barrier and as communication cues
We could conclusively show that both Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus split into two morphologically nearly in‐ distinguishable cryptic species
Summary
Diversity on earth is reflected in the ongoing discovery of a large num‐ ber of species every year. Finding new species can be chal‐ lenging due to remote and undiscovered habitats or a high morpho‐ logical similarity to closely related species The latter, so‐called cryptic species, are defined as distinct, but morphologically similar species (Bickford et al, 2007). For mu‐ tualisms, adaptive dynamics models predict that if in a population of a mutualistic species certain groups of one species become more attractive and are chosen as partners more often, evolutionary branching should occur (i.e., the split into two distinct phenotypic clusters; Doebeli & Dieckmann, 2000). This dimorphism in one mu‐ tualistic partner can lead to disruptive selection in the other partner.
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