Supporting data for: Limited genetic differentiation of Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos in Parc National Soberanía, Panama: Implications for queen dispersal

The coevolutionary relationship between fungus-growing ants (Formicidae:
Attini: Attina) and their symbionts has been well-studied in the
Panamanian rainforests. To further understand the ecological context of
these evolutionary relationships, we have examined the population genetic
structure of the fungus-growing ant species
Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos Cardenas, Schultz, & Adams
2021, in the Panama Canal Zone. We specifically investigated the presence
of population structure, the significance of geographic features (i.e.,
creeks) limiting gene flow, and relatedness between ant colonies. To
accomplish this, we genotyped 85 ant colonies from nine creeks across an
approximately 30 km transect in Parque National Soberanía, Panama using
double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing. We did not find
distinct population structures using two genetic clustering methods;
however, we did detect an effect of isolation by distance. Furthermore,
related colonies were frequently detected on the same creek or neighboring
creeks, and some at further geographic distances. Collectively, these
findings demonstrate that new colonies tend to establish on natal creeks
and occasionally on distant creeks following long-distance dispersal
events. We discuss how population genetic patterns reveal the natural
history of M. mikromelanos in Parque National Soberanía and how these
results fit into the context of fungus-growing ant mutualisms.

培菌蚁（fungus-growing ants，隶属于膜翅目蚁科切叶蚁族切叶蚁亚族Formicidae: Attini: Attina）与其共生体之间的共演化关系，已在巴拿马雨林中得到充分研究。为进一步阐明这类共生演化关系的生态背景，我们于巴拿马运河区对培菌蚁物种小霉培菌蚁（Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos Cardenas, Schultz, & Adams 2021）的种群遗传结构开展了系统性调查。我们重点探究了该种群是否存在遗传分化结构、地理屏障（即溪流）对基因流的限制作用，以及蚁群间的亲缘关系。为完成上述研究目标，我们采用双酶切限制性位点相关DNA测序（double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing）技术，对巴拿马索伯拉尼拉国家公园内约30公里样带的9条溪流中的85个蚁群进行了基因分型。通过两种遗传聚类方法分析，我们未发现显著的种群遗传分化结构，但检测到了距离隔离（isolation by distance）效应。此外，亲缘关系较近的蚁群常分布于同一条溪流或相邻溪流中，部分亲缘蚁群甚至分布于较远的地理区域。综合上述研究结果可知，新生蚁群多定植于其诞生的溪流生境中，仅在发生长距离扩散事件后，才会偶尔定植于遥远的溪流。我们进一步讨论了种群遗传模式如何揭示索伯拉尼拉国家公园内小霉培菌蚁（Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos）的自然历史，以及本研究结果如何融入培菌蚁共生关系的研究框架之中。