D3150: Diversification of the ant genus Strumigenys and evolution of power-amplified trap-jaw mechanism

Monday, November 11, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

Wilfred Tang (he/him/his)

Graduate Student
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois

Co-Author(s)

DB

Douglas Booher

USDA-Forest Service
Athens, Georgia
PA

Philip Anderson

University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
AS

Andrew Suarez

University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Joshua Gibson

Beckman Institute, UIUC
Urbana, Illinois

Understanding the relationship between form and function requires knowledge of how adaptations are influenced by physics and phylogeny. The ant genus Strumigenys, with its rich diversity of mandible morphologies and presence/absence of a power-amplified trap-jaw mechanism, is an ideal model for the study of ecological diversification. Strumigenys primarily specialize in hunting Collembola and other small soil arthropods. It has been hypothesized that possessing trap-jaws allows species to hunt more efficiently. However, numerous species in the genus, including almost all native species in North America and most of the frequently introduced species around the globe, are non-trap jaw species. We combined taxonomic, phylogenetic and morphological approaches to examine relationships between form and function for North American Strumigenys. To elucidate the relationship among behavior, morphology and biomechanics, this includes observation of living workers, X-RAY micro-CT, high-speed videography, as well as an ongoing effort to build a phylogeny with higher resolution.