Co-diversification of Camponotus and its Primary Endosymbiont Blochmannia in the USA

Abstract

Blochmannia is a primary intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria found within the ant tribe Camponotini (Family Formicidae: subfamily Formicinae). Blochmannia is transmitted vertically through maternal host lineages and synthesizes essential amino acids for its host species. The high fidelity of vertical transmission observed means that close co-diversification is expected between Camponotini and their Blochannia hosts. This study expands on past data on USA Camponotini-Blochmannia associations and adds 23 new species to the host COI mitochondrial phylogeny and the 16S ribosomal DNA bacterial phylogeny. Using statistical analyses I found evidence of Blochmannia co-diversification with the host with enhanced species coverage, and one clear host shift is documented.