Bacterial Communities Associated With Odontomachus chelifer and O. hastatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Evaluating Species-Specific and Interhabitat Effects

Ants are known for their relationship with other taxa, including microorganisms. Recently, many different ant species have had their bacterial communities' composition and function studied. These communities are affected by host interactions and environmental factors that influence their assembly and structure, like immune defenses, diet, microhabitat. The ant subfamily Ponerinae has been overlooked despite its size and interesting plesiomorphic traits. We used the V4 region of the 16S rRNA to characterize the bacterial community of two ponerine trap-jaws commonly found in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna and Atlantic rainforest, Odontomachus chelifer and O. hastatus. Beyond characterization, we compared the influence of species and habitat on the structure of the bacterial communities from two different body parts, the cuticle and the gaster. Our study is important by revealing the diversity and origin of the bacterial communities associated with these two common species of ants in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, two biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, we hope this study will stimulate future investigations on the microbiota associated with ants in neotropical environments. We add knowledge to the natural history of Odontomachus ants, building a bridge between the bacterial communities that are found in their colonies in different populations in the context of their ecological role in their communities.