Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269211
Title: Near-infrared imaging spectroscopy as a tool to discriminate two cryptic Tetramorium ant species

Author
item KLARICA, JASMIN - University Of Innsbruck
item BITTNER, LUKAS - University Of Innsbruck
item PALLUA, JOHANNES - University Of Innsbruck
item PEZZEI, CHRISTINE - University Of Innsbruck
item HUCK-PEZZEI, VERENA - University Of Innsbruck
item Dowell, Floyd
item SCHIED, JOHANNES - University Of Innsbruck
item BONN, GUNTHER - University Of Innsbruck
item HUCK, CHRISTIAN - University Of Innsbruck
item SCHLICK-STEINER, BIRGIT - University Of Innsbruck
item STEINER, FLORIAN - University Of Innsbruck

Submitted to: Journal of Chemical Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2011
Publication Date: 5/3/2011
Citation: Klarica, J., Bittner, L., Pallua, J., Pezzei, C., Huck-Pezzei, V., Dowell, F.E., Schied, J., Bonn, G.K., Huck, C., Schlick-Steiner, B.C., Steiner, F.M. 2011. Near-infrared imaging spectroscopy as a tool to discriminate two cryptic Tetramorium ant species. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 37:549-522. Online Journal of Chemical Ecology DOI: 10.1007/s10886-011-9956-x.

Interpretive Summary: Correctly identifying insect species is essential for many ecological studies. Some species are very similar but are particularly difficult to discriminate and thus understudied ecologically. The chemical structure differs between species, and we used imaging near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to detect this difference in ants (Tetramorium caespitum and T. impurum). NIRS is a rapid and non-destructive technique. We conclude that discrimination of T. caespitum and T. impurum using imaging NIRS is possible, promising that imaging NIRS could become a time- and cost-efficient tool for the reliable discrimination of similar species.

Technical Abstract: Correct species identification is a precondition for many ecological studies. Morphologically highly similar, i.e. cryptic, species are an important component of biodiversity but particularly difficult to discriminate and therefore understudied ecologically. To find new methods for their rapid identification would thus be important. The cuticle’s chemical signature of insects often is unique for species. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can capture such signatures. Imaging NIRS facilitates precise positioning of the measurement area on biological objects and high-resolution spatial capturing. Here, we tested the applicability of imaging NIRS to the discrimination of cryptic species, using the ants Tetramorium caespitum and T. impurum. The classification success of Partial Least Squares Regression was 98.8%. Principal Component Analysis grouped spectra of some T. impurum individuals with T. caespitum. Combined with molecular-genetic and morphological evidence, this result enabled us to pose testable hypotheses about the biology of these species. We conclude that discrimination of T. caespitum and T. impurum using imaging NIRS is possible, promising that imaging NIRS could become a time- and cost-efficient tool for the reliable discrimination of cryptic species. This and the direct facilitation of potential biological insight beyond species identification underscore the value of imaging NIRS to ecology.