Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Myrmarachne formicaria(Salticidae), anant-mimicking spider,is originally native to Eurasia; however, it has been sighted in parts of North America since 2001. Many arthropod species, including spiders, carry maternally inherited endosymbiont bacteria, some of which have reproductive effects on their hosts.While endosymbionts have been associated with some arachnids, we are unsure ifM. formicariahosts any of these bacteria. Other studies have shown that some arthropods have experienced a loss of associated endosymbiont bacteria upon colonization of new regions.Previous genetic work in our lab to learn aboutM. formicaria’sintroduction history found less mitochondrial DNA genetic diversity in samples from New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, suggesting their arrival in North America may have involved a single colonization event.The aim of this study was to survey North AmericanM. formicariafor the presence of endosymbionts.This study involves extracting DNA from collected spiders and amplifying it with endosymbiont-specific primers to test for their presence. Our study also includes comparison of endosymbiont incidence between North American spiders and a limited sample of spiders collected in Europe. We focused onWolbachia, CardiniumandRickettsia,whichare the most common endosymbionts found in related spiders.Our data suggest thatM. formicariacarriesWolbachiaandCardiniumendosymbionts. However, the presence ofRickettsiahas not been confirmed. Understanding which endosymbionts are present will give further insight as to the effects they could have on the reproduction ofM. formicariaas well as whether range expansion has consequences for endosymbiont incidence.
Recommended Citation
Dunn, Brenna, "175-Incidence of Bacterial Symbionts in the Ant-Mimicking Spider, Myrmarachne formicaria" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 46.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/46
175-Incidence of Bacterial Symbionts in the Ant-Mimicking Spider, Myrmarachne formicaria
Myrmarachne formicaria(Salticidae), anant-mimicking spider,is originally native to Eurasia; however, it has been sighted in parts of North America since 2001. Many arthropod species, including spiders, carry maternally inherited endosymbiont bacteria, some of which have reproductive effects on their hosts.While endosymbionts have been associated with some arachnids, we are unsure ifM. formicariahosts any of these bacteria. Other studies have shown that some arthropods have experienced a loss of associated endosymbiont bacteria upon colonization of new regions.Previous genetic work in our lab to learn aboutM. formicaria’sintroduction history found less mitochondrial DNA genetic diversity in samples from New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, suggesting their arrival in North America may have involved a single colonization event.The aim of this study was to survey North AmericanM. formicariafor the presence of endosymbionts.This study involves extracting DNA from collected spiders and amplifying it with endosymbiont-specific primers to test for their presence. Our study also includes comparison of endosymbiont incidence between North American spiders and a limited sample of spiders collected in Europe. We focused onWolbachia, CardiniumandRickettsia,whichare the most common endosymbionts found in related spiders.Our data suggest thatM. formicariacarriesWolbachiaandCardiniumendosymbionts. However, the presence ofRickettsiahas not been confirmed. Understanding which endosymbionts are present will give further insight as to the effects they could have on the reproduction ofM. formicariaas well as whether range expansion has consequences for endosymbiont incidence.