Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : The bacterial microbiota of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is known to have a defensive role in social insects, particularly for leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae: Attini) due to the use of antimicrobial molecules produced by cuticular actinobacteria. In this thesis, we studied the bacterial microbiota of ants in French Guyana using different approaches based on natural products chemistry and molecular ecology. The first chapter describes the isolation, identification, culture and biological evaluations of 43 cuticular actinobacteria. Antagonism bioassays of isolated strains and antibiotic activities of the culture extracts against human pathogens are presented as well as the identification of an antimicrobial cyclic dipeptide (Cyclo (LPro-LPhe)) isolated from a strain close to Streptomyces thioluteus. Moreover, the implementation of molecular networks applied to UPLC/MS/MS analysis of actinobacterial cocultures allowed us to explore the diversity of metabolites produced under these conditions. The second chapter presents a methodological study to evaluate the capacity of four DNA extraction methods, in terms of richness and composition of the cuticular bacterial microbiota, in high-throughput sequencing from Atta cephalotes and Pseudomyrmex penetrator. The results of metabarcoding highlight two methods of extraction and reveal inter- and intraspecific differences in the composition of cuticular bacterial communities. Finally, chapter three describes the composition of the cuticular bacterial microbiota of Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior in ant garden and the results reveal the acquisition in the environment of a part of the microbiota. In parallel, metabolomic analyses of ant’s cuticle show, on the contrary, a greater specificity related to the ant species. Future researches focusing on statistical analysis strategies combining metabarcoding and metabolomics data are discussed.
Le microbiote bactérien cuticulaire des fourmis (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) est connu pour avoir un rôle défensif chez ces insectes sociaux, notamment chez les fourmis attines (Formicidae : Attini) grâce l’utilisation de molécules antimicrobiennes produites par des actinobactéries cuticulaires. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons étudié le microbiote bactérien des fourmis de Guyane en utilisant différentes approches en chimie des produits naturels et en écologie moléculaire. Le premier chapitre décrit l’isolement, l’identification, la culture et l’évaluation biologique de 43 actinobactéries cuticulaires de fourmis de Guyane. Les tests d’antagonismes des souches isolées et l’activité antibiotique des extraits de culture contre des micro-organismes pathogènes humains sont présentés ainsi que l’identification d’un dipeptide cyclique (Cyclo(LPro-LPhe)) antimicrobien qui a été isolé à partir d’une souche proche de Streptomyces thioluteus. Par ailleurs, la mise en œuvre de réseaux moléculaires appliqués à une analyse par UPLC/MS/MS de cocultures d’actinobactéries a permis d’explorer la diversité des métabolites produits dans ces conditions. Le deuxième chapitre présente une étude méthodologique pour comparer quatre méthodes d’extraction d’ADN, en termes de richesse et de composition du microbiote bactérien cuticulaire, par séquençage haut débit à partir des espèces Atta cephalotes et Pseudomyrmex penetrator. Les résultats du métabarcoding ADN mettent en lumière deux méthodes d’extraction et révèlent des différences inter- et intraspécifiques dans la composition des communautés bactériennes cuticulaires. Enfin, le chapitre trois décrit la composition du microbiote bactérien cuticulaire des espèces Camponotus femoratus et Crematogaster levior dans les jardins de fourmis. Les résultats soulignent l’acquisition d’une partie du microbiote dans l’environnement. En parallèle l’analyse métabolomique des cuticules montre à contrario une plus grande spécificité liée à l’espèce de fourmi. Les recherches futures axées sur les stratégies d’analyses statistiques combinant le métabarcoding et la métabolomique sont discutées.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01537793

NNT : 2017YANE0003
tel-01537793
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01537793
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01537793/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01537793/file/thesecarolinebirer.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé : International audience
1. Our understanding of the contribution of interspecific interactions to functional diversity in nature lags behind our knowledge of spatial and temporal patterns. Although two-species mutualisms are found in all types of ecosystems, the study of their ecological influences on other community members has mostly been limited to third species, while their influence on entire communities remains largely unexplored. 2. We hypothesized that mutualistic interactions between two respective ant species and an epiphyte mediate the biological traits composition of entire invertebrate communities that use the same host plant, thereby affecting food webs and functional diversity at the community level. 3. Aechmea mertensii (Bromeliaceae) is both a phytotelm ('plant-held water') and an ant-garden epiphyte. We sampled 111 bromeliads (111 aquatic invertebrate communities) associated with either the ant Pachycondyla goeldii or Camponotus femoratus. The relationships between ants, bromeliads and invertebrate abundance data were examined using a redundancy analysis. Biological traits information for invertebrates was structured using a fuzzy-coding technique, and a co-inertia analysis between traits and abundance data was used to interpret functional differences in bromeliad ecosystems. 4. The vegetative traits of A. mertensii depended on seed dispersion by C. femoratus and P. goeldii along a gradient of local conditions. The ant partner selected sets of invertebrates with traits that were best adapted to the bromeliads' morphology, and so the composition of the biological traits of invertebrate phytotelm communities depends on the identity of the ant partner. Biological traits suggest a bottom-up control of community structure in C. fenaoratus-associated phytotelmata and a greater structuring role for predatory invertebrates in P. goeldii-associated plants. 5. This study presents new information showing that two-species mutualisms affect the functional diversity of a much wider range of organisms. Most biological systems form complex networks where nodes (e.g. species) are more or less closely linked to each other, either directly or indirectly, through intermediate nodes. Our observations provide community-level information about biological interactions and functional diversity, and perspectives for further observations intended to examine whether large-scale changes in interacting species/community structure over broad geographical and anthropogenic gradients affect ecosystem functions.
Functional Ecology

hal-01096909
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01096909
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-2435-2011.01863.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Trophobiotic associations between Caternaultiella rugosa (Heteroptera; Plataspidae) and two ant species, Camponotus brutus (Formicidae) and Myrmicaria opaciventris (Myrmicinae), were recorded at the base of the trunks of Bridelia micrantha (Euphorbiaceae). The bug colonies were generally sheltered in pavilions built by the ants, but during periods of proliferation, part of the colonies developed outside the pavilions. We examined the protective activity of the two associated ant species against an encyrtid parasitoid wasp that parasitized egg masses of the bug. Egg masses situated outside the pavilions were significantly less parasitized on trees occupied by either ant species than on experimental trees where ants were excluded by a sticky barrier. Egg masses were significantly less parasitized on trees occupied by C. brutus than on those occupied by M. opaciventris, both inside and outside the pavilions. Moreover, they were less parasitized inside than outside the pavilions when protected by C. brutus. Inside the pavilions, parental care of the egg masses and first-instar nymphs was abandoned to the ants. In contrast, outside the pavilions, the females of C. rugosa guarded egg masses and clusters of first-instar nymphs. Furthermore, adults and last-instar nymphs grouped around and above first-instar nymphs, forming a protective shield. These groups formed and disintegrated daily, according to the attending ant's rhythm of activity
ISSN: 0029-8549

hal-01202757
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01202757
DOI : 10.1007/s004420000479

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Czech Entomological Society
Résumé : International audience
ISSN: 1210-5759

hal-01091213
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01091213

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : The diversity and functional identity of organisms are known to be relevant to the maintenance of ecosystem processes but can be variable in different environments. Particularly, it is uncertain whether ecosystem processes are driven by complementary effects or by dominant groups of species. We investigated how community structure (i.e., the diversity and relative abundance of biological entities) explains the community-level contribution of Neotropical ant communities to different ecosystem processes in different environments. Ants were attracted with food resources representing six ant-mediated ecosystem processes in four environments: ground and vegetation strata in cropland and forest habitats. The exploitation frequencies of the baits were used to calculate the taxonomic and trophic structures of ant communities and their contribution to ecosystem processes considered individually or in combination (i.e., multifunctionality). We then investigated whether community structure variables could predict ecosystem processes and whether such relationships were affected by the environment. We found that forests presented a greater biodiversity and trophic complementarity and lower dominance than croplands, but this did not affect ecosystem processes. In contrast, trophic complementarity was greater on the ground than on vegetation and was followed by greater resource exploitation levels. Although ant participation in ecosystem processes can be predicted by means of trophic-based indices, we found that variations in community structure and performance in ecosystem processes were best explained by environment. We conclude that determining the extent to which the dominance and complementarity of communities affect ecosystem processes in different environments requires a better understanding of resource availability to different species.
ISSN: 0029-8549

hal-01606497
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01606497
DOI : 10.1007/s00442-016-3741-z
PRODINRA : 407457

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Wasp nests range from simple to complex structures made of paper or mud. Here, we show that a Neotropical wasp of the genus Nitela builds its nest entirely by weaving endophytic fungal hyphae and spider silk harvested from the leaves growing in the understory of the rain forest in French Guiana.
ISSN: 0006-3606

hal-01095857
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01095857
DOI : 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00645.x