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Chen GY, Huang SY, Lin MD, Chouvenc T, Ching YH, Li HF. Hybrids of two destructive subterranean termites established in the field, revealing a potential for gene flow between species. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 132:257-266. [PMID: 38509263 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00679-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Hybridization between invasive pest species may lead to significant genetic and economic impacts that require close monitoring. The two most invasive and destructive termite species worldwide, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), have the potential for hybridization in the field. A three-year field survey conducted during the dispersal flight season of Coptotermes in Taiwan identified alates with atypical morphology, which were confirmed as hybrids of the two Coptotermes species using microsatellite and mitochondrial analyses. Out of 27,601 alates collected over three years, 4.4% were confirmed as hybrid alates, and some advanced hybrids (>F1 generations) were identified. The hybrid alates had a dispersal flight season that overlapped with the two parental species 13 out of 15 times. Most of the hybrid alates were females, implying that mating opportunities beyond F1 may primarily be possible through female hybrids. However, the incipient colony growth results from all potential mating combinations suggest that only backcross colonies with hybrid males could sometimes lead to brood development. The observed asymmetrical viability and fertility of hybrid alates may critically reduce the probability of advanced-hybrid colonies being established in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Yu Chen
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ying Huang
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Der Lin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Thomas Chouvenc
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Yung-Hao Ching
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
| | - Hou-Feng Li
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- i- Center for Advanced Science and Technology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Liu Y, Zhang F, Hassan A, Zhou X, Huang Q. Accessory gland protein regulates pairing process and oviposition in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis after swarming. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38576063 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Swarming and pairing behaviors are significant to population dispersal of termites. Tandem running is a key process in pairing behavior of dealates to find a mate. Succinylation can lead to significant changes in protein structure and function, which is widely involved in metabolism and behavior regulation in many organisms. However, whether succinylation modification regulates termites' tandem running is currently unknown. In this research, we performed quantitative modified proteomics of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder before and after alate swarming. The succinylation levels of accessory gland protein (ACP) were significantly altered after alate swarming. We found that ACP is enriched in male accessory gland and female oocytes of termites. The acetylation and succinylation sites of ACP affected tandem running of dealates. The transcriptome and metabolome analyses of alates injected with ACP and its mutant proteins showed that β-alanine metabolism pathway was the major downstream pathway of ACP. Silencing the significantly differentially expressed genes in the β-alanine metabolic pathway (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase, methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase) suppressed tandem running and altered oviposition of paired dealates. These findings demonstrate that protein translation modification is an important regulator of tandem running behavior of termites, which implies that the succinylation and acetylation modification sites of ACP could be potential targets for insecticide action. Our research offers a potential approach for developing novel dispersal inhibitors against social insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Liu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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3
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Wu J, Wang J, Wang Y, Hassan A. Same-sex Pairs Retain Their Reproductive Capacity as a Potential Opportunity for Individual Reproductive Success in Termites. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:9. [PMID: 36757064 PMCID: PMC9909647 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In eusocial termites, successful pairing is an essential element of dispersal and distribution after the departure of alates from natal colonies. Two situations could arise during the pairing process: mixed-sex pairs and same-sex pairs. However, most previous studies focused on mixed-sex pairs, overlooking groups formed by same-sex pairings, especially potential fecundity (the total number of oocytes or ovarioles), oogenesis and the development stage of oocytes of females in female-female pairs, and spermatogenesis and testis development of males in male-male pairs. In this study, through experimentation, we investigated the reproductive ability of virgin dealates based on various pairing types as mentioned above. We found that the life spans of virgin dealates can cover 1 yr or even more when they establish a nest with a partner, which is more than 10-fold longer than the life span of individuals establishing a colony alone. After 1 yr of pairing, the potential fecundity of virgin same sex dealates did not degenerate significantly compared with newly emerged dealates, including the number of ovarioles, size of testis, oogenesis, and the development stage of the oocytes. Moreover, when individuals of same-sex pairings experimentally changed into mixed-sex pairs after 1 yr, the eggs produced in the colony hatched into larvae. These findings suggest that dealates which through same-sex pairs retain fecundity after 1 yr have more reproductive potential than dealates that failed to pair with heterosexuals, shedding light on the ecological significance of homosexual behaviors in terms of the successful extension and fecundity of eusocial termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wu
- Applied Research Center for Life Science, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710077, China
- College of Medicine, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710077, China
| | | | - Yonghui Wang
- College of Engineering, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710077, China
| | - Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
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4
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Chouvenc T. Eusociality and the transition from biparental to alloparental care in termites. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Chouvenc
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft Lauderdale Research and Education Center University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 3205 College Ave, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314 USA
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5
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Khan Z, Khan MS, Bawazeer S, Bawazeer N, Suleman, Irfan M, Rauf A, Su XH, Xing LX. A comprehensive review on the documented characteristics of four Reticulitermes termites (Rhinotermitidae, Blattodea) of China. BRAZ J BIOL 2022; 84:e256354. [PMID: 35319619 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.256354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Termites are known as social insects worldwide. Presently in China 473 species, 44 genera and 4 families of termites have been reported. Of them, 111 Reticulitermes species are widely spread in different zones of China. The dispersion flight season of these Chinese Reticulitermes species are usually started from February to June, but in some regions different species are distributed, sharing their boundaries and having overlapping flight seasons. These reasons become important sources of hybridization between two different heterospecific populations of termites. It was confirmed that the fertilized eggs and unfertilized eggs of some Reticulitermes termites have the capacity of cleavage. While the unfertilized eggs of R. aculabialis, R. chinensis and R. labralis cleaved normally and the only R. aculabialis unfertilized eggs develop in embryos. While, the R. flaviceps and R. chinensis were observed with their abnormal embryonic development, and not hatching of eggs parthenogenetically. They were reported more threatening to Chinese resources as they propagate with parthenogenesis, hybridization and sexual reproduction. Eggshell and macrophiles of eggs play important roles in species identification and control. Although, they are severe pests and cause a wide range of damages to wooden structures and products in homes, buildings, building materials, trees, crops, and forests in China's Mainland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Khan
- Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,University of Swabi, Zoology Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - M S Khan
- University of Swabi, Zoology Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - S Bawazeer
- Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - N Bawazeer
- Minister of Interior General Directorate of Prison's Health, Pharmacy Department, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Suleman
- University of Swabi, Zoology Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - M Irfan
- Abdul Wali Khan University, Department of Botany, Mardan, Pakistan.,University of Swabi, Department of Botany, Swabi, Pakistan.,Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A
| | - A Rauf
- University of Swabi, Department of Chemistry, Anbar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - X-H Su
- Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology, Xi'an, China
| | - L-X Xing
- Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology, Xi'an, China
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6
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Séité S, Harrison MC, Sillam-Dussès D, Lupoli R, Van Dooren TJM, Robert A, Poissonnier LA, Lemainque A, Renault D, Acket S, Andrieu M, Viscarra J, Sul HS, de Beer ZW, Bornberg-Bauer E, Vasseur-Cognet M. Lifespan prolonging mechanisms and insulin upregulation without fat accumulation in long-lived reproductives of a higher termite. Commun Biol 2022; 5:44. [PMID: 35027667 PMCID: PMC8758687 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02974-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Kings and queens of eusocial termites can live for decades, while queens sustain a nearly maximal fertility. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying their long lifespan, we carried out transcriptomics, lipidomics and metabolomics in Macrotermes natalensis on sterile short-lived workers, long-lived kings and five stages spanning twenty years of adult queen maturation. Reproductives share gene expression differences from workers in agreement with a reduction of several aging-related processes, involving upregulation of DNA damage repair and mitochondrial functions. Anti-oxidant gene expression is downregulated, while peroxidability of membranes in queens decreases. Against expectations, we observed an upregulated gene expression in fat bodies of reproductives of several components of the IIS pathway, including an insulin-like peptide, Ilp9. This pattern does not lead to deleterious fat storage in physogastric queens, while simple sugars dominate in their hemolymph and large amounts of resources are allocated towards oogenesis. Our findings support the notion that all processes causing aging need to be addressed simultaneously in order to prevent it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Séité
- UMR IRD 242, UPEC, CNRS 7618, UPMC 113, INRAe 1392, Paris 7 113, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, Bondy, France
- University of Paris-Est, Créteil, France
| | - Mark C Harrison
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - David Sillam-Dussès
- University Sorbonne Paris Nord, Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, UR4443, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Roland Lupoli
- UMR IRD 242, UPEC, CNRS 7618, UPMC 113, INRAe 1392, Paris 7 113, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, Bondy, France
- University of Paris-Est, Créteil, France
| | - Tom J M Van Dooren
- UMR UPMC 113, IRD 242, UPEC, CNRS 7618, INRA 1392, PARIS 7 113, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, Paris, France
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alain Robert
- University Sorbonne Paris Nord, Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, UR4443, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Laure-Anne Poissonnier
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Arnaud Lemainque
- Genoscope, François-Jacob Institute of Biology, Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, University of Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - David Renault
- University of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystems, biodiversity, evolution) - UMR, 6553, Rennes, France
- University Institute of France, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Acket
- University of Technology of Compiègne, UPJV, UMR CNRS 7025, Enzyme and Cell Engineering, Royallieu research Center, Compiègne, France
| | - Muriel Andrieu
- Cochin Institute, UMR INSERM U1016, CNRS 8104, University of Paris Descartes, CYBIO Platform, Paris, France
| | - José Viscarra
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hei Sook Sul
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Z Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Erich Bornberg-Bauer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mireille Vasseur-Cognet
- UMR IRD 242, UPEC, CNRS 7618, UPMC 113, INRAe 1392, Paris 7 113, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, Bondy, France.
- University of Paris-Est, Créteil, France.
- INSERM, Paris, France.
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7
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Dahan RA, Grove NK, Bollazzi M, Gerstner BP, Rabeling C. Decoupled evolution of mating biology and social structure in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03113-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Insect societies vary greatly in their social structure, mating biology, and life history. Polygyny, the presence of multiple reproductive queens in a single colony, and polyandry, multiple mating by females, both increase the genetic variability in colonies of eusocial organisms, resulting in potential reproductive conflicts. The co-occurrence of polygyny and polyandry in a single species is rarely observed across eusocial insects, and these traits have been found to be negatively correlated in ants. Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants are well-suited for investigating the evolution of complex mating strategies because both polygyny and polyandry co-occur in this genus. We used microsatellite markers and parentage inference in five South American Acromyrmex species to study how different selective pressures influence the evolution of polygyny and polyandry. We show that Acromyrmex species exhibit independent variation in mating biology and social structure, and polygyny and polyandry are not necessarily negatively correlated within genera. One species, Acromyrmex lobicornis, displays a significantly lower mating frequency compared to others, while another species, A. lundii, appears to have reverted to obligate monogyny. These variations appear to have a small impact on average intra-colonial relatedness, although the biological significance of such a small effect size is unclear. All species show significant reproductive skew between patrilines, but there was no significant difference in reproductive skew between any of the sampled species. We find that the evolution of social structure and mating biology appear to follow independent evolutionary trajectories in different species. Finally, we discuss the evolutionary implications that mating biology and social structure have on life history evolution in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants.
Significance statement
Many species of eusocial insects have colonies with multiple queens (polygyny), or queens mating with multiple males (polyandry). Both behaviors generate potentially beneficial genetic diversity in ant colonies as well as reproductive conflict. The co-occurrence of both polygyny and polyandry in a single species is only known from few ant species. Leaf-cutting ants have both multi-queen colonies and multiply mated queens, providing a well-suited system for studying the co-evolutionary dynamics between mating behavior and genetic diversity in colonies of eusocial insects. We used microsatellite markers to infer the socio-reproductive behavior in five South American leaf-cutter ant species. We found that variation in genetic diversity in colonies was directly associated with the mating frequencies of queens, but not with the number of queens in a colony. We suggest that multi-queen nesting and mating frequency evolve independently of one another, indicating that behavioral and ecological factors other than genetic diversity contribute to the evolution of complex mating behaviors in leaf-cutting ants.
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Bales KL, Ardekani CS, Baxter A, Karaskiewicz CL, Kuske JX, Lau AR, Savidge LE, Sayler KR, Witczak LR. What is a pair bond? Horm Behav 2021; 136:105062. [PMID: 34601430 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pair bonding is a psychological construct that we attempt to operationalize via behavioral and physiological measurements. Yet, pair bonding has been both defined differently in various taxonomic groups as well as used loosely to describe not just a psychological and affective phenomenon, but also a social structure or mating system (either social monogamy or just pair living). In this review, we ask the questions: What has been the historical definition of a pair bond? Has this definition differed across taxonomic groups? What behavioral evidence do we see of pair bonding in these groups? Does this observed evidence alter the definition of pair bonding? Does the observed neurobiology underlying these behaviors affect this definition as well? And finally, what are the upcoming directions in which the study of pair bonding needs to head?
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America; Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, United States of America.
| | - Cory S Ardekani
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Alexander Baxter
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, United States of America
| | - Chloe L Karaskiewicz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, United States of America
| | - Jace X Kuske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Allison R Lau
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, United States of America
| | - Logan E Savidge
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, United States of America
| | - Kristina R Sayler
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Lynea R Witczak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, United States of America
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9
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O'Donnell S, Bulova S, Barrett M. Experience-expectant brain plasticity corresponds to caste-specific abiotic challenges in dampwood termites (Zootermopsis angusticollis and Z. nevadensis). Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:57. [PMID: 34665344 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01763-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Hypotheses for adaptive brain investment predict associations between the relative sizes of functionally distinct brain regions and the sensory/cognitive demands animals confront. We measured developmental differences in the relative sizes of visual processing brain regions (optic lobes) among dampwood termite castes to test whether optic lobe investment matches caste differences in exposure to visually complex environments. The winged primary reproductives (Kings/Queens) on mating flights are the only caste to leave the dark nest cavities and as predicted, Kings/Queens showed greater relative investment in optic lobe tissue than nestbound (neotenic) reproductives and soldiers in two dampwood termite species (Zootermopsis angusticollis and Z. nevadensis). Relative optic lobe size spanned more than an order of magnitude among the castes we studied, suggesting the growth of the optic lobes incurs substantial tissue costs. Optic lobe growth was experience-expectant: the optic lobes of Z. angusticollis brachypterous nymphs, which typically develop into Kings/Queens, were relatively larger than the optic lobes of apterous nymphs, which precede neotenics and soldiers, and relative optic lobe size of nestbound brachypterous nymphs was statistically similar to that of Kings/Queens. Experience-expectant brain tissue growth is rarely documented in insects, likely because it entails high potential costs of tissue production and maintenance and relatively low immediate sensory/cognitive benefits. We develop hypotheses for the conditions under which experience-expectant growth in brain regions could be favored by natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean O'Donnell
- Departments of Biodiversity Earth & Environmental Science and Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19081, USA.
| | - Susan Bulova
- Departments of Biodiversity Earth & Environmental Science and Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19081, USA
| | - Meghan Barrett
- Departments of Biodiversity Earth & Environmental Science and Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19081, USA
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10
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Lignin from termite frass: a sustainable source for anticorrosive applications. J APPL ELECTROCHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10800-021-01592-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe present study reports a sustainable source of lignin, from termite frass. Lignin was extracted using Klason’s method and subjected to polarization studies to check the inhibition efficiency and measured the electrochemical performance of the coated sample on the carbon steel using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The anticorrosive property was determined in a simulated corrosive environment (0.1 M NaOH and 0.5 M NaOH). The morphological analysis of the surface of both bare metal and the lignin-coated ones, before and after exposure to the corrosive environment, was recorded using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX). The lignin showed maximum inhibition efficiency at 600 ppm in 0.5 M NaOH solution. Moreover, the lignin coated on carbon steel exhibited about 70% corrosion inhibition efficiency as recorded by potentiodynamic polarization studies and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The AFM and SEM analyses further corroborated the protection of the metal surface from corrosion when coated with lignin. Hence, the study suggests lignin from termite frass as a sustainable biological source suitable for anticorrosive applications.
Graphic abstract
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11
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Castillo P, Le N, Sun Q. Comparative Antennal Morphometry and Sensilla Organization in the Reproductive and Non-Reproductive Castes of the Formosan Subterranean Termite. INSECTS 2021; 12:576. [PMID: 34202744 PMCID: PMC8307099 DOI: 10.3390/insects12070576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Antennae are the primary sensory organs in insects, where a variety of sensilla are distributed for the perception of the chemical environment. In eusocial insects, colony function is maintained by a division of labor between reproductive and non-reproductive castes, and chemosensation is essential for regulating their specialized social activities. Several social species in Hymenoptera display caste-specific characteristics in antennal morphology and diversity of sensilla, reflecting their differential tasks. In termites, however, little is known about how the division of labor is associated with chemosensory morphology among castes. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, we performed antennal morphometry and characterized the organization of sensilla in reproductive (female and male alates) and non-reproductive (worker and soldier) castes in the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Here, we show that the antennal sensilla in alates are twice as abundant as in workers and soldiers, along with the greater number of antennal segments and antennal length in alates. However, all castes exhibit the same types of antennal sensilla, including basiconicum, campaniformium, capitulum, chaeticum I, chaeticum II, chaeticum III, marginal, trichodeum I, and trichodeum I. The quantitative composition of sensilla diverges between reproductive and non-reproductive castes, but not between female and male alates or between worker and soldier castes. The sensilla display spatial-specific distribution, with basiconicum exclusively and capitulum predominantly found on the ventral side of antennae. In addition, the abundance of chemosensilla increases toward the distal end of antennae in each caste. This research provides morphological signatures of chemosensation and their implications for the division of labor, and suggests future neurophysiological and molecular studies to address the mechanisms of chemical communication in termites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qian Sun
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (P.C.); (N.L.)
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12
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Nozaki T, Matsuura K. Oocyte resorption in termite queens: Seasonal dynamics and controlling factors. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 131:104242. [PMID: 33845091 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Female insects can resorb their oocytes that could not be oviposited. Oocyte resorption is proposed to be an adaptive mechanism to optimize fitness in hostile environments, recouping resources that might otherwise be lost. Social insects have developed reproductive division of labor, wherein a small number of queens are devoted to egg production. Matured queens are highly specialized in reproduction and are largely dependent on nestmate workers for their nourishment. Therefore, oocyte resorption in the queens should be influenced by social factors such as the amount of available workforce, as well as external and abiotic factors. In this study, we investigated the seasonal dynamics and regulation factors of oocyte resorption in actively reproducing termite queens. We continuously collected the field-nests of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus and demonstrated that queens frequently resorbed their oocytes in late summer, even though it is one of the most productive seasons in this species. On the other hand, our laboratory experiment showed that oocyte resorption itself was strongly induced regardless of the season. We also found that the rate of oocyte resorption was influenced by colony size (the number of attending workers). These results suggest that termite queens seasonally resorb their oocytes, yet oocyte resorption itself is regulated by social factors rather than by seasonal factors. Our study provides a unique insight into the regulation of reproduction in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonari Nozaki
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Tasaki E, Takata M, Matsuura K. Why and how do termite kings and queens live so long? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20190740. [PMID: 33678028 PMCID: PMC7938161 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lifespan varies greatly across the tree of life. Of the various explanations for this phenomenon, those that involve trade-offs between reproduction and longevity have gained considerable support. There is an important exception: social insect reproductives (queens and in termites, also kings) exhibit both high reproductive outputs and extraordinarily long lives. As both the ultimate and proximate mechanisms underlying the absence of the fecundity/longevity trade-off could shed light on the unexpected dynamics and molecular mechanisms of extended longevity, reproductives of social insects have attracted much attention in the field of ageing research. Here, we highlight current ecological and physiological studies on ageing and discuss the various possible evolutionary and molecular explanations of the extended lifespans of termite reproductives. We integrate these findings into a coherent framework revealing the evolution of longevity in these reproductives. Studies on termites may explain why and how ageing is shaped by natural selection. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Eisuke Tasaki
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Mamoru Takata
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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14
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Zhang ZY, Ren J, Chu F, Guan JX, Yang GY, Liu YT, Zhang XY, Ge SQ, Huang QY. Biochemical, molecular, and morphological variations of flight muscles before and after dispersal flight in a eusocial termite, Reticulitermes chinensis. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:77-92. [PMID: 32039551 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Swarming behavior facilitates pair formation, and therefore mating, in many eusocial termites. However, the physiological adjustments and morphological transformations of the flight muscles involved in flying and flightless insect forms are still unclear. Here, we found that the dispersal flight of the eusocial termite Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder led to a gradual decrease in adenosine triphosphate supply from oxidative phosphorylation, as well as a reduction in the activities of critical mitochondrial respiratory enzymes from preflight to dealation. Correspondingly, using three-dimensional reconstruction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the flight muscles were found to be gradually deteriorated during this process. In particular, two tergo-pleural muscles (IItpm5 and III-tpm5) necessary to adjust the rotation of wings for wing shedding behavior were present only in flying alates. These findings suggest that flight muscle systems vary in function and morphology to facilitate the swarming flight procedure, which sheds light on the important role of swarming in successful extension and fecundity of eusocial termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Yu Zhang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Ren
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Chu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Xia Guan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guang-Yu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Tong Liu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin-Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Qin Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiu-Ying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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15
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Mizumoto N, Rizo A, Pratt SC, Chouvenc T. Termite males enhance mating encounters by changing speed according to density. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2542-2552. [PMID: 32799344 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Search theory predicts that animals evolve efficient movement patterns to enhance encounter rates with specific targets. The optimal movements vary with the surrounding environments, which may explain the observation that animals often switch their movement patterns depending on conditions. However, the effectiveness of behavioural change during search is rarely evaluated because it is difficult to examine the actual encounter dynamics. Here we studied how partner-seeking termites update their search strategies depending on the local densities of potential mates. After a dispersal flight, termites drop their wings and walk to search for a mate; when a female and a male meet, they form a female-led tandem pair and search for a favourable nesting site. If a pair is separated, they have two search options-reunite with their stray partner, or seek a new partner. We hypothesized that the density of individuals affects separation-reunion dynamics and thus the optimal search strategy. We observed the searching process across different densities and found that termite pairs were often separated but obtained a new partner quickly at high mate density. After separation, while females consistently slowed down, males increased their speed according to the density. Under high mate density, separated males obtained a partner earlier than females, who do not change movement with density. Our data-based simulations confirmed that the observed behavioural change by males contributes to enhancing encounters. Males at very low mate densities did best to move slowly and thereby reduce the risk of missing their stray partner, who is the only available mate. On the other hand, males that experienced high mate densities did better in mating encounters by moving fast because the risk of isolation is low, and they must compete with other males to find a partner. These results demonstrate that termite males adaptively update their search strategy depending on conditions. Understanding the encounter dynamics experienced by animals is key to connecting the empirical work to the idealized search processes of theoretical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuaki Mizumoto
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Arturo Rizo
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Stephen C Pratt
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Thomas Chouvenc
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
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16
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Blumenfeld AJ, Vargo EL. Geography, opportunity and bridgeheads facilitate termite invasions to the United States. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02322-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Wu J, Xu H, Hassan A, Huang Q. Interspecific Hybridization between the Two Sympatric Termite Reticulitermes Species under Laboratory Conditions. INSECTS 2019; 11:insects11010014. [PMID: 31877914 PMCID: PMC7022586 DOI: 10.3390/insects11010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Closely related species have similar reproductive behaviors and recognition systems, which contribute to interspecific interactions. However, few studies have explored interspecific reproduction choice and mating in termites. We investigated whether hybridization between two sympatric termites, Reticulitermes flaviceps and R. chinensis, occurs under laboratory conditions. We found that frequencies of acceptance were significantly higher than those of agonism between interspecific partners. There were no significant differences in frequencies of tandem and mating behaviors between intraspecific and interspecific partners. However, the allogrooming frequencies of interspecific partners were significantly higher than intraspecific partners. There were no significant differences in the duration of tandem, allogrooming, or mating behavior at each time between conspecific partners and heterospecfic partners. Genotyping analyses further showed that both intraspecific and interspecific mating were able to produce offspring. We conclude that interspecific hybridization does occur between two termite Reticulitermes species under laboratory conditions.
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18
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Laranjo LT, Haifig I, Costa-Leonardo AM. A Glycoproteinaceous Secretion in the Seminal Vesicles of the Termite Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). INSECTS 2019; 10:E428. [PMID: 31779163 PMCID: PMC6955734 DOI: 10.3390/insects10120428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Coptotermes gestroi is a subterranean termite with colonies generally headed by a pair of primary reproductives, although neotenics may occur. In this study, the male reproductive system was compared during different life stages of nymphs, alates, neotenic reproductives, and kings of C. gestroi, focusing on the modifications of this system along the maturation of these individuals. The structure of the male reproductive system follows the pattern described for insects, although C. gestroi males do not exhibit conspicuous penises and differentiated accessory glands. In kings, each testis consisted of about seven lobes, significantly increased in size as compared to younger males. The spermatogenesis begins in third-instar nymphs, which already presented spermatozoa in the testes. The seminal vesicles are individualized in C. gestroi and have a secretory distal portion and a proximal portion with a role in spermatozoa storage. The secretion of the seminal vesicles is strongly periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive, whereas the xylidine Ponceau test revealed proteins that increase in quantity while the males become older. This is the first record of glycoproteins in the lumen of seminal vesicles in termites. Further studies will clarify how they are produced and interact in the physiology and nutrition of the non-flagellate spermatozoa of C. gestroi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara T. Laranjo
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Termites, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, 24A Avenue, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil;
| | - Ives Haifig
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC—UFABC, Building Delta, room 241, 03 Arcturus Street, Jardim Antares, São Bernardo do Campo, SP 09606-070, Brazil;
| | - Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Termites, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, 24A Avenue, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil;
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19
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Oguchi K, Miura T. Unique Morphogenesis in the Damp-Wood Termite: Abscission of the Stylus during Female Reproductive Caste Differentiation. Zoolog Sci 2019; 36:380-386. [DOI: 10.2108/zs190056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Oguchi
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa 238-0225, Japan
| | - Toru Miura
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa 238-0225, Japan
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20
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A novel beta-1,4 glucanase produced by symbiotic Bacillus sp. CF96 isolated from termite (Anacanthotermes). Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 131:752-759. [PMID: 30904535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.03.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A novel beta-1,4-glucanase was purified and characterized from symbiotic Bacillus sp. CF96 of termite. The SDS-PAGE and zymogram analyses revealed a molecular mass of 35.6 kDa. Optimal activity was at 50 °C and pH 5.5, while the enzyme was active over a wide range of temperature 20-80 °C and pH 4-10 and interestingly more than 60% of the maximum activity remained up to pH 9. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of hexane, chloroform and methanol (20% v/v). while, the enzyme activity was inhibited by metal ions such as Mn2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Fe2+. The isolated enzyme was able to degrade carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), avicel and cellulose. Cellobiose was the hydrolytic product of enzymatic reaction based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. Regarding beta-1,4 endo/exoglucanase activity and high temperature, pH and solvent stability, the enzyme has potential for various industrial applications especially in designing pesticide for termite.
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21
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Brossette L, Meunier J, Dupont S, Bagnères A, Lucas C. Unbalanced biparental care during colony foundation in two subterranean termites. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:192-200. [PMID: 30680106 PMCID: PMC6342128 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Parental care is a major component of reproduction in social organisms, particularly during the foundation steps. Because investment into parental care is often costly, each parent is predicted to maximize its fitness by providing less care than its partner. However, this sexual conflict is expected to be low in species with lifelong monogamy, because the fitness of each parent is typically tied to the other's input. Somewhat surprisingly, the outcomes of this tug-of-war between maternal and paternal investments have received important attention in vertebrate species, but remain less known in invertebrates. In this study, we investigated how queens and kings share their investment into parental care and other social interactions during colony foundation in two termites with lifelong monogamy: the invasive species Reticulitermes flavipes and the native species R. grassei. Behaviors of royal pairs were recorded during six months using a non-invasive approach. Our results showed that queens and kings exhibit unbalanced investment in terms of grooming, antennation, trophallaxis, and vibration behavior. Moreover, both parents show behavioral differences toward their partner or their descendants. Our results also revealed differences among species, with R. flavipes exhibiting shorter periods of grooming and antennation toward eggs or partners. They also did more stomodeal trophallaxis and less vibration behavior. Overall, this study emphasizes that despite lifelong monogamy, the two parents are not equally involved in the measured forms of parental care and suggests that kings might be specialized in other tasks. It also indicates that males could play a central, yet poorly studied role in the evolution and maintenance of the eusocial organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lou Brossette
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (UMR7261)CNRS – University of ToursToursFrance
| | - Joël Meunier
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (UMR7261)CNRS – University of ToursToursFrance
| | - Simon Dupont
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (UMR7261)CNRS – University of ToursToursFrance
| | - Anne‐Geneviève Bagnères
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (UMR7261)CNRS – University of ToursToursFrance
- CEFE, CNRS UMR5175, Univ. Montpellier, Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - Christophe Lucas
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (UMR7261)CNRS – University of ToursToursFrance
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22
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Zhou J, Duan J, Gao M, Wang Y, Wang X, Zhao K. Diversity, Roles, and Biotechnological Applications of Symbiotic Microorganisms in the Gut of Termite. Curr Microbiol 2018; 76:755-761. [PMID: 29754180 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-018-1502-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Termites are global pests and can cause serious damage to buildings, crops, and plantation forests. The symbiotic intestinal flora plays an important role in the digestion of cellulose and nitrogen in the life of termites. Termites and their symbiotic microbes in the gut form a synergistic system. These organism work together to digest lignocellulose to make the termites grow on nitrogen deficient food. In this paper, the diversity of symbiotic microorganisms in the gut of termites, including protozoan, spirochetes, actinomycetes, fungus and bacteria, and their role in the digestion of lignocellulose and also the biotechnological applications of these symbiotic microorganisms are discussed. The high efficiency lignocellulose degradation systems of symbiotic microbes in termite gut not only provided a new way of biological energy development, but also has immense prospect in the application of cellulase enzymes. In addition, the study on the symbiotic microorganisms in the gut of termites will also provide a new method for the biological control of termites by the endophytic bacteria in the gut of termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Jiwei Duan
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Mingkun Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China. .,Heilongjiang University Library, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China.
| | - Kai Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China.
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23
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Laranjo LT, Haifig I, Costa-Leonardo AM. Morphology of the male reproductive system during post-embryonic development of the termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae). ZOOL ANZ 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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24
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Colony-founding success of pleometrosis in a fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2429-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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25
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Termite Species Distribution and Flight Periods on Oahu, Hawaii. INSECTS 2017; 8:insects8020058. [PMID: 28587241 PMCID: PMC5492072 DOI: 10.3390/insects8020058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Termites are economically-important structural pests, costing residents of Hawaii over $100 million annually. On Oahu, the last published termite swarming survey occurred from 1969 to 1971, and the last termite hand-collection survey occurred from 1998 to 2000. To contribute data on termite occurrences on Oahu, a light-trap survey took place from February 2011 to September 2012, and a hand-collection survey occurred from September to November 2012. Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, swarming was compared over the duration of the study, finding peak swarming in May 2011. C. formosanus alate activity density was regressed with environmental factors, finding a negative correlation with average wind speed and a positive correlation with average rainfall. Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) alates were observed in April, June, and July 2011 and in June 2012. Four species of termites were found in the hand-collection survey of 44 sites: Incisitermes immigrans (Snyder) (n = 8/44), C. formosanus (n = 2/44), Cryptotermes cynocephalus Light (n = 1/44), and Neotermes sp. (n = 1/44). This study contributes to distribution data for termite species on Oahu and records alate activity for two important termite pests.
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Metzler S, Heinze J, Schrempf A. Mating and longevity in ant males. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8903-8906. [PMID: 28035278 PMCID: PMC5192810 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Across multicellular organisms, the costs of reproduction and self‐maintenance result in a life history trade‐off between fecundity and longevity. Queens of perennial social Hymenoptera are both highly fertile and long‐lived, and thus, this fundamental trade‐off is lacking. Whether social insect males similarly evade the fecundity/longevity trade‐off remains largely unstudied. Wingless males of the ant genus Cardiocondyla stay in their natal colonies throughout their relatively long lives and mate with multiple female sexuals. Here, we show that Cardiocondyla obscurior males that were allowed to mate with large numbers of female sexuals had a shortened life span compared to males that mated at a low frequency or virgin males. Although frequent mating negatively affects longevity, males clearly benefit from a “live fast, die young strategy” by inseminating as many female sexuals as possible at a cost to their own survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Metzler
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology University of Regensburg Regensburg Germany; IST Austria (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) Klosterneuburg Austria
| | - Jürgen Heinze
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology University of Regensburg Regensburg Germany
| | - Alexandra Schrempf
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology University of Regensburg Regensburg Germany
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27
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Negroni MA, Jongepier E, Feldmeyer B, Kramer BH, Foitzik S. Life history evolution in social insects: a female perspective. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 16:51-57. [PMID: 27720050 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Social insects are known for their unusual life histories with fecund, long-lived queens and sterile, short-lived workers. We review ultimate factors underlying variation in life history strategies in female social insects, whose social life reshapes common trade-offs, such as the one between fecundity and longevity. Interspecific life history variation is associated with colony size, mediated by changes in division of labour and extrinsic mortality. In addition to the ratio of juvenile to adult mortality, social factors such as queen number influence life history trajectories. We discuss two hypotheses explaining why queen fecundity and lifespan is higher in single-queen societies and suggest further research directions on the evolution of life history variation in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Antoine Negroni
- Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Evelien Jongepier
- Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Molecular Ecology, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main 60325, Germany
| | - Boris H Kramer
- Theoretical Research in Evolutionary Life Sciences (TRES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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28
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Resource availability influences aggression and response to chemical cues in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2134-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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29
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Chak STC, Duffy JE, Rubenstein DR. Reproductive skew drives patterns of sexual dimorphism in sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20150342. [PMID: 26041357 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is typically a result of strong sexual selection on male traits used in male-male competition and subsequent female choice. However, in social species where reproduction is monopolized by one or a few individuals in a group, selection on secondary sexual characteristics may be strong in both sexes. Indeed, sexual dimorphism is reduced in many cooperatively breeding vertebrates and eusocial insects with totipotent workers, presumably because of increased selection on female traits. Here, we examined the relationship between sexual dimorphism and sociality in eight species of Synalpheus snapping shrimps that vary in social structure and degree of reproductive skew. In species where reproduction was shared more equitably, most members of both sexes were physiologically capable of breeding. However, in species where reproduction was monopolized by a single individual, a large proportion of females--but not males--were reproductively inactive, suggesting stronger reproductive suppression and conflict among females. Moreover, as skew increased across species, proportional size of the major chela--the primary antagonistic weapon in snapping shrimps--increased among females and sexual dimorphism in major chela size declined. Thus, as reproductive skew increases among Synalpheus, female-female competition over reproduction appears to increase, resulting in decreased sexual dimorphism in weapon size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon Tin Chi Chak
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
| | - J Emmett Duffy
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
| | - Dustin R Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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30
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Unrelated secondary reproductives in the neotropical termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae). Naturwissenschaften 2016; 103:9. [PMID: 26781111 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-015-1325-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A termite colony is usually founded by a pair of alates, the primary reproductives, which produce all the nestmates. In some species, secondary reproductives appear to either replace the primaries or supplement colony reproduction. In termites, secondary reproductives are generally ergatoids derived from workers or nymphoids derived from nymphs. Silvestritermes euamignathus is a termite species that forms multiple nymphoid reproductives, and to date it was hypothesized that these secondary reproductives were the progeny of the primary founding reproductives. We developed markers for 12 microsatellite loci and used COI mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to genotype 59 nymphoid neotenics found in a colony of S. euamignathus to test this hypothesis. Our results showed that nymphoids of S. euamignathus are not all siblings. The microsatellite analysis suggests that the secondary reproductives derived from a minimum of four different pairs of reproductives belonging to at least two different matrilines. This is the first record of non-sibling secondary reproductives occupying the same nest in a higher termite. These unrelated reproductives might be the result of either pleometrotic colony foundation or colony fusion.
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Su XH, Chen JL, Zhang XJ, Xue W, Liu H, Xing LX. Testicular development and modes of apoptosis during spermatogenesis in various castes of the termite Reticulitermes labralis (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae). ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2015; 44:630-638. [PMID: 26344723 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2015.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The separation of reproductive and non-reproductive roles based on caste differentiation is the most prominent characteristic of termites. However, little is known about the mechanism of male reproductive division that underlies caste differentiation. In the present study, testicular development and stage-specific apoptotic patterns were investigated and compared during spermatogenesis in reproductives, workers and soldiers of the termite Reticulitermes labralis. The results showed that male workers were divided into two types, the workers with spermatozoa (WS) and the workers without spermatozoa (WN). Spermatogenesis in WN and soldiers arrested at the spermatocyte stage. Moreover, there were significant differences in testicular size and spermatogenesis among the various castes. The mode of apoptosis in late instar WS was similar to the reproductives, as demonstrated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) analysis. First, the majority of apoptotic cells were spermatogonia, and the spermatogonia of both late instar WS and reproductives exhibited lower apoptotic rates compared with late instar WN and soldiers. Second, the spermatocytes and spermatids showed very little apoptosis in the late instar WS and reproductives, and no TUNEL signal was detected in any of the examined spermatozoa. Our findings suggest that the male workers undergo a basal developmental schema comprising two undifferentiated larval instars, followed by a bifurcated development into either (i) the sexual lineage, in which the workers are able to provide normal spermatozoa to queens, or (ii) the neuter lineage, in which the male workers lose reproductive options. The level of testicular development may explain the significant discrepancies in reproductive capacity among the reproductives, workers and soldiers and reveal the reproductive division in male workers. These differences are controlled by apoptosis during early spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hong Su
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Jiao Ling Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao Jing Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Xue
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - He Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lian Xi Xing
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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Chak STC, Rubenstein DR, Duffy JE. Social Control of Reproduction and Breeding Monopolization in the Eusocial Snapping ShrimpSynalpheus elizabethae. Am Nat 2015; 186:660-8. [DOI: 10.1086/683132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Li GH, Liu L, Lei CL, Huang QY. A trade-off between antipredatory behavior and pairing competition produced by male-male tandem running in three Reticulitermes species. INSECT SCIENCE 2015; 22:560-568. [PMID: 24963824 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Due to the omnipresent risk of predation, termites have evolved many antipredatory behaviors. The two related species Reticulitermes speratus and R. chinensis have been demonstrated to use homosexual tandem running to decrease individual predation risk after shedding their wings. In this study, we tested risk of predation in the termite R. flaviceps, which is distantly related to the above two species. We determined that homosexual tandem running also led to low individual predation risk in dealates of R. flaviceps. Moreover, by combining a predation model with a competition model, we observed a typical trade-off phenomenon between antipredatory behavior and pairing competition produced by male-male tandem running in the above three Reticulitermes species. Our results indicated that male-male tandem running could effectively protect disadvantaged individuals from being caught, but disadvantaged individuals would be easily eliminated in pairing competition after male-male tandem running, suggesting that male-male tandem running can promote population evolution in termites by repeatedly removing the relatively inferior male individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chao-Liang Lei
- Hubei Insect Resource Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiu-Ying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resource Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Lima TDA, Pontual EV, Dornelles LP, Amorim PK, Sá RA, Coelho LCBB, Napoleão TH, Paiva PMG. Digestive enzymes from workers and soldiers of termite Nasutitermes corniger. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 176:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2014.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2014] [Revised: 06/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Boomsma JJ. Beyond promiscuity: mate-choice commitments in social breeding. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20120050. [PMID: 23339241 PMCID: PMC3576584 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Obligate eusociality with distinct caste phenotypes has evolved from strictly monogamous sub-social ancestors in ants, some bees, some wasps and some termites. This implies that no lineage reached the most advanced form of social breeding, unless helpers at the nest gained indirect fitness values via siblings that were identical to direct fitness via offspring. The complete lack of re-mating promiscuity equalizes sex-specific variances in reproductive success. Later, evolutionary developments towards multiple queen-mating retained lifetime commitment between sexual partners, but reduced male variance in reproductive success relative to female's, similar to the most advanced vertebrate cooperative breeders. Here, I (i) discuss some of the unique and highly peculiar mating system adaptations of eusocial insects; (ii) address ambiguities that remained after earlier reviews and extend the monogamy logic to the evolution of soldier castes; (iii) evaluate the evidence for indirect fitness benefits driving the dynamics of (in)vertebrate cooperative breeding, while emphasizing the fundamental differences between obligate eusociality and cooperative breeding; (iv) infer that lifetime commitment is a major driver towards higher levels of organization in bodies, colonies and mutualisms. I argue that evolutionary informative definitions of social systems that separate direct and indirect fitness benefits facilitate transparency when testing inclusive fitness theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus J Boomsma
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Abstract
Costs and benefits of pleometrosis, as understood from social Hymenoptera, have never been tested in the independently evolved termites. To understand the extent to which such co-founding may be advantageous for colony survival and growth, we tracked the survival and reproduction of 5000 laboratory-established incipient colonies of the facultatively polygamous neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger. Significantly more pleometrotic groups than monogamous queen-king pairs failed within the first 90 days of establishment, and 99 per cent of pleometrotic groups lost at least one founding member. Oviposition commenced earlier in larger groups, but colony growth was slower and production of workers and soldiers was delayed compared with pairs. Thus, pleometrosis does not increase colony fitness and is in fact highly disadvantageous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara R Hartke
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Hoffmann K, Foster KR, Korb J. Nest value mediates reproductive decision making within termite societies. Behav Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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Rosengaus RB, James LT, Hartke TR, Brent CS. Mate preference and disease risk in Zootermopsis angusticollis (Isoptera: Termopsidae). ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2011; 40:1554-1565. [PMID: 22217773 DOI: 10.1603/en11055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Termites face significant and chronic intranidal selection pressures from parasites and pathogens that colonize their nests. They also encounter microbes outside their nest while foraging and during dispersal of winged primary reproductives to establish new colonies. The latter run the additional risk of becoming infected by a mating partner. Indeed, death of reproductives because of disease is a major cause of incipient colony failure and may favor prescreening prospective mates for signs of illness. To determine the role of disease on mate preference in termites, female primary reproductives of the Pacific dampwood termite Zootermopsis angusticollis (Hagen) simultaneously were presented with reproductive males that were either healthy or exhibiting a progression of symptoms associated with infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff Sorokin). We compared duration and frequency of female visits to healthy and infected males. In addition, we determined the physiological consequences for females exposed to fungal conidia, either directly or indirectly through their mate. Females showed no preference for healthy rather than infected males. Moreover, only directly-exposed females experienced negative physiological effects, having a reduced chance of survival, gaining less weight, developing fewer functional ovarioles, and producing significantly fewer vitellogenic oocytes than controls. Although there are important fitness-related costs of direct exposure, the lack of mate selection based on disease risk suggests that more imminent ecological pressures (e.g., predators, desiccation) override the need for a careful and time-consuming assessment of a potential mate's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca B Rosengaus
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 134 Mugar Life Sciences Bldg., 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA.
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