Associate Professor University of Texas Tyler, Texas
Pogonomyrmex comanche, also known as the Comanche Harvester Ant, is a harvester ant found in deep sandy soils in prairies surrounded by oak forest in the western Gulf Coastal Plain of North America. They are ecological engineers, which are organisms that structure the environment to suit their needs. As a result, they influence the spatial distribution of other species. P. comanche also play an important role in plant communities by dispersing seeds away from the parent plant. Pogonomyrmex species form monogynous colonies, signifying that they are founded by a single queen. Colonies are typically composed of siblings from the same queen, however, due to multiple mating, half-siblings may also be present within the colony. Due to climate change and anthropogenic effects, there is an increasing awareness of the need for species conservation. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2019), two Pogonomyrmex species are classified as vulnerable, meaning they are nearing endangerment if adjustments are not made to improve their reproduction and survival. In Texas, P. comanche has a state rank of ‘imperiled’ and a global rank of ‘imperiled/endangered’ (TXNDD 2017). The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of P. comanche genetic diversity, which is necessary for conservation efforts. By increasing our knowledge of population genetics within and among various colonies of P. comanche, conservation strategies can be constructed and implemented that will help ensure the survival of this imperiled species.
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