Cuticular microstructure of Australian ant mandibles confirms common appendage construction

Title
Cuticular microstructure of Australian ant mandibles confirms common appendage construction
Publication Date
2020-07
Author(s)
Barlow, Molly M
Bicknell, Russell D C
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8541-9035
Email: rbickne2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:rbickne2
Andrew, Nigel R
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2850-2307
Email: nandrew@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nandrew
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1111/azo.12291
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/27441
Abstract
Exoskeletons characterise Arthropoda and have allowed the morphological and taxonomic diversity of the phylum. Exoskeletal sclerotisation occurs in genetically designated regions, and mandibles represent one such area of high sclerotisation. Mandible morphology reflects dietary preferences and niche partitioning and has therefore been well documented. However, mandibular cuticular microstructure has been under‐documented. Here we use scanning electron microscopy to explore mandible microstructure in four disparate Australian Formicidae taxa (ants) with different life modes and diets: Camponotus nigriceps, Iridomyrmex purpureus, Odontomachus simillimus and Rhytidoponera aciculata. We test the hypothesis that mandible construction is highly conserved across these species, as would be expected for arthropod cuticle. We show broadly similar mandible microstructure but report that pore canals and cuticular indentations are not ubiquitous among all studied taxa. Our preliminary results demonstrate that ant taxa have morphologically plastic mandibles with a highly conserved construction, potentially reflecting an interesting record of evolutionary stasis.
Link
Citation
Acta Zoologica, 101(3), p. 260-270
ISSN
1463-6395
0001-7272
Start page
260
End page
270

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink