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Van Meyel S, Devers S, Meunier J. Love them all: mothers provide care to foreign eggs in the European earwig Forficula auricularia. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Van Meyel
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR, CNRS, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Séverine Devers
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR, CNRS, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Joël Meunier
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR, CNRS, University of Tours, Tours, France
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Schultner E, Saramäki J, Helanterä H. Genetic structure of native ant supercolonies varies in space and time. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:6196-6213. [PMID: 27859791 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ant supercolonies are the largest cooperative units known in nature. They consist of networks of interconnected nests with hundreds of reproductive queens, where individuals move freely between nests, cooperate across nest boundaries and show little aggression towards non-nestmates. The combination of high queen numbers and free mixing of workers, queens and brood between nests results in extremely low nestmate relatedness. In such low-relatedness societies, cooperative worker behaviour appears maladaptive because it may aid random individuals instead of relatives. Here, we provide a comprehensive picture of genetic substructure in supercolonies of the native wood ant Formica aquilonia using traditional population genetic as well as network analysis methods. Specifically, we test for spatial and temporal variation in genetic structure of different classes of individuals within supercolonies and analyse the role of worker movement in determining supercolony genetic networks. We find that relatedness within supercolonies is low but positive when viewed on a population level, which may be due to limited dispersal of individuals and/or ecological factors such as nest site limitation and competition against conspecifics. Genetic structure of supercolonies varied with both sample class and sampling time point, which indicates that mobility of individuals varies according to both caste and season and suggests that generalizing has to be carried out with caution in studies of supercolonial species. Overall, our analysis provides novel evidence that native wood ant supercolonies exhibit fine-scale genetic substructure, which may explain the maintenance of cooperation in these low-relatedness societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Schultner
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, J.A. Palménin tie 260, Hanko, 10900, Finland
| | - Jari Saramäki
- Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, PO Box 15400, Aalto, 00076, Finland
| | - Heikki Helanterä
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.,Tvärminne Zoological Station, J.A. Palménin tie 260, Hanko, 10900, Finland
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Trettin J, Seyferth T, Heinze J. Behavioral plasticity in ant queens: environmental manipulation induces aggression among normally peaceful queens in the socially polymorphic ant Leptothorax acervorum. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95153. [PMID: 24743352 PMCID: PMC3990625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavioral traits that shape the structure of animal societies vary considerably among species but appear to be less flexible within species or at least within populations. Populations of the ant Leptothorax acervorum differ in how queens interact with other queens. Nestmate queens from extended, homogeneous habitats tolerate each other and contribute quite equally to the offspring of the colony (polygyny: low reproductive skew). In contrast, nestmate queens from patchy habitats establish social hierarchies by biting and antennal boxing, and eventually only the top-ranking queen of the colony lays eggs (functional monogyny: high reproductive skew). Here we investigate whether queen-queen behavior is fixed within populations or whether aggression and high skew can be elicited by manipulation of socio-environmental factors in colonies from low skew populations. An increase of queen/worker ratio and to a lesser extent food limitation elicited queen-queen antagonism in polygynous colonies from Nürnberger Reichswald similar to that underlying social and reproductive hierarchies in high-skew populations from Spain, Japan, and Alaska. In manipulated colonies, queens differed more in ovarian status than in control colonies. This indicates that queens are in principle capable of adapting the magnitude of reproductive skew to environmental changes in behavioral rather than evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Trettin
- Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Jürgen Heinze
- Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Friend LA, Bourke AFG. Absence of Within-Colony Kin Discrimination in a Multiple-Queen Ant,Leptothorax acervorum. Ethology 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucy A. Friend
- School of Biological Sciences; University of East Anglia; Norwich Research Park, Norwich; Norfolk; NR4 7TJ; UK
| | - Andrew F. G. Bourke
- School of Biological Sciences; University of East Anglia; Norwich Research Park, Norwich; Norfolk; NR4 7TJ; UK
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Trettin J, Haubner M, Buschinger A, Heinze J. Queen dominance and worker policing control reproduction in a threatened ant. BMC Ecol 2011; 11:21. [PMID: 21961560 PMCID: PMC3210084 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 09/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Efficient division of reproductive labor is a crucial characteristic of social insects and underlies their ecological and evolutionary success. Despite of the harmonious appearance of insect societies, nestmates may have different interests concerning the partitioning of reproduction among group members. This may lead to conflict about reproductive rights. As yet, few studies have investigated the allocation of reproduction among queens in multi - queen societies ("reproductive skew"). In the ant Leptothorax acervorum, reproductive skew varies considerably among populations. While reproduction is quite equally shared among nestmate queens in most populations from boreal Eurasia (low skew), colonies from populations at the edge of the species' range are characterized by "functional monogyny," i.e., high skew. The proximate mechanisms underlying high skew, in particular how workers influence which queen lays eggs, are not well understood. We investigated the behavior of queens and workers in functionally monogynous colonies of L. acervorum from two mountain ranges in central Spain. Results We provide evidence for both queen and worker influence on the outcome of conflict over reproduction in colonies of L. acervorum from Spain. The patterns of queen - queen aggression and worker - queen grooming and feeding after hibernation allowed predicting, which queen later began to lay eggs. In contrast, worker aggression towards queens was not clearly associated with a queen's future reproductive success. Queen - queen and worker - queen aggression differed in quality: queens typically engaged in ritualized dominance behavior, such as antennal boxing, while workers also attacked queens by biting and prolonged pulling on their legs and antennae. In several cases, overt worker aggression led to the expulsion of queens from the nest or their death. Conclusion We conclude that queens of L. acervorum from Spain establish rank orders by ritualized dominance interactions, such as antennal boxing. Workers may reinforce these hierarchies by preferentially feeding and grooming high ranking queens and attacking lower ranking queens. Aggressive worker policing may thus stabilize functional monogyny. Optimal skew models predict that high skew in ants is associated with high dispersal costs. In central Spain, L. acervorum is restricted to small patches at higher elevations, which presumably makes dispersal and colony founding difficult. Because of the ecological requirements of L. acervorum and the predicted large impact of global change on central Spain, the functionally monogynous populations of this ant must be considered as threatened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Trettin
- Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, Regensburg, 93053, Germany.
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6
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Bourke AFG. Further Evidence of Lack of Pheromonal Inhibition among Queens of the Ant Leptothorax acervorum. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1995.tb00344.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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SEPPÄ PERTTU, SUNDSTRÖM LISELOTTE, PUNTTILA PEKKA. Facultative polygyny and habitat succession in boreal ants. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1995.tb01109.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Hora RR, Poteaux C, Doums C, Fresneau D, Fénéron R. Egg Cannibalism in a Facultative Polygynous Ant: Conflict for Reproduction or Strategy to Survive? Ethology 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01391.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Lion S, van Baalen M. From Infanticide to Parental Care: Why Spatial Structure Can Help Adults Be Good Parents. Am Nat 2007; 170:E26-46. [PMID: 17874366 DOI: 10.1086/519462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2006] [Accepted: 05/03/2007] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
We investigate the evolution of parental care and cannibalism in a spatially structured population where adults can either help or kill juveniles in their neighborhood. We show that spatial structure can reverse the selective pressures on adult behavior, leading to the evolution of parental care, whereas the nonspatial model predicts that cannibalism is the sole evolutionary outcome. Our analysis emphasizes that evolution of such spatially structured populations is best understood at the level of the cluster of invading mutants, and we define invasion fitness as the growth rate of that cluster. We derive an analytical expression for the selective pressures on the trait and show that relatedness and Hamilton's rule are recovered as emergent properties of the spatial ecological dynamics. When adults can also help other adults, the benefits to each class of recipients are weighted by the class reproductive value, a result consistent with that of other models of kin selection. Finally, we advocate a different approach to moment equations and argue that even though the development of moment closure approximations is a necessary line of research, much-needed ecological and evolutionary insight can be gained by studying the unclosed moment equations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien Lion
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7625 Fonctionnement et Evolution des Systèmes Ecologiques, Paris F-75005, France.
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11
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van Baalen M, Beekman M. The costs and benefits of genetic heterogeneity in resistance against parasites in social insects. Am Nat 2006; 167:568-77. [PMID: 16670998 DOI: 10.1086/501169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2005] [Accepted: 11/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of polygyny and polyandry in social insects has long puzzled evolutionary biologists. If cooperation requires genetic relatedness, how do we explain the occurrence and maintenance of mechanisms that reduce the degree of relatedness among colony members? A much-discussed hypothesis states that genetically diverse colonies are more resistant to parasitism than homogenous colonies because genetic diversity reduces the spread of a disease within a colony. However, as we will argue in this note, a necessary condition for the parasite hypothesis is that genetically heterogeneous colonies have a larger suite of parasites that are capable of infecting them. This implicit relationship is important because it implies that even if the cost per infection is reduced, this may not be sufficient to offset the increased rate of acquiring infections. The advantages of genetic heterogeneity as a defense against parasites thus may not be as big as commonly thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minus van Baalen
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Unité Mixte de Recherche 7625, Fonctionnement et Evolution des Systèmes Ecologiques, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France.
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12
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Johnson CA, Topoff H, Vander Meer RK, Lavine B. Do these eggs smell funny to you?: an experimental study of egg discrimination by hosts of the social parasite Polyergus breviceps (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2004. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-004-0851-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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13
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Beekman M, Ratnieks FLW. Power over reproduction in social hymenoptera. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2004; 358:1741-53. [PMID: 14561330 PMCID: PMC1693269 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2002.1262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inclusive fitness theory has been very successful in predicting and explaining much of the observed variation in the reproductive characteristics of insect societies. For example, the theory correctly predicts sex-ratio biasing by workers in relation to the queen's mating frequency. However, within an insect society there are typically multiple reproductive optima, each corresponding to the interest of different individual(s) or parties of interest. When multiple optima occur, which party's interests prevail? Presumably, the interests of the party with the greatest 'power'; the ability to do or act. This article focuses on factors that influence power over colony reproduction. In particular, we seek to identify the principles that may cause different parties of interest to have greater or lesser power. In doing this, we discuss power from two different angles. On the one hand, we discuss general factors based upon non-idiosyncratic biological features (e.g. information, access to and ability to process food) that are likely to be important to all social Hymenoptera. On the other hand, we discuss idiosyncratic factors that depend upon the biology of a taxon at any hierarchical level. We propose that a better understanding of the diversity of reproductive characteristics of insect societies will come from combining inclusive fitness theory with a wide range of other factors that affect relative power in a conflict situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Beekman
- Schools of Biological Sciences & Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, A12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Hannonen M, Sundstrom L. Proximate Determinants of Reproductive Skew in Polygyne Colonies of the Ant Formica fusca. Ethology 2002. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0310.2002.00829.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
Most recent models of the partitioning of reproduction attempt to explain patterns of skew on the assumption that dominant individuals have complete control over breeding opportunities within the group, but may nevertheless concede a share of direct reproduction to subordinates as an incentive to remain peacefully in the association. Although these models may be applicable to some animal societies, we argue that they fail to provide a comprehensive theory of skew. Instead, we suggest that subordinates may often be able to claim unsanctioned reproduction for themselves, but will be forced to exercise a degree of reproductive restraint lest they incite ejection by the dominant. Reproductive skew, in other words, may reflect the threat of ejection (inducing subordinate restraint) rather than the threat of subordinate departure (inducing reproductive concessions by dominants). We present a simple ESS model of reproductive skew under these circumstances, which demonstrates that a shift in emphasis from reproductive concessions by dominants to reproductive restraint on the part of subordinates, radically alters the predictions of skew models. High group productivity, high relatedness and (when group members are related) strong ecological constraints are all expected to lead to reduced skew (the opposite conclusions to those of previous, concession-based analyses). The reason is that these factors reduce the benefits (or increase the costs) of ejection to the dominant, who therefore does best to tolerate more subordinate reproduction.
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Bernascon G, Krieger MJB, Keller L. Unequal partitioning of reproduction and investment between cooperating queens in the fire ant,Solenopsis invicta, as revealed by microsatellites. Proc Biol Sci 1997. [DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1997.0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgina Bernascon
- University of Berne, Institute of Zoology, Ethologische Station Hasli, CH‐3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- University of Lausanne, Institute of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Bâtiment de Biologie, CH‐1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael J. B. Krieger
- University of Lausanne, Institute of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Bâtiment de Biologie, CH‐1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Keller
- University of Berne, Institute of Zoology, Ethologische Station Hasli, CH‐3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- University of Lausanne, Institute of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Bâtiment de Biologie, CH‐1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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The ecology of communal breeding: the case of multiple-queen leptothoracine ants. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 1997. [DOI: 10.1098/rstb.1994.0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple-queen societies of ants are key subjects in the study of communal breeding. Societies of leptothoracine ants may be obligately monogynous (contain a single reproductive queen), functionally monogynous (only one of several mated queens lays eggs), or facultatively polygynous (some colonies contain more than one egg-laying, mated queen). This paper presents a framework for understanding these diverse social systems as a function of leptothoracine ecology. The framework is derived from a synthesis of empirical information - in particular, a link between the social system and the degree of habitat patchiness - with three bodies of theory. These are ecological constraints theory, ESS (evolutionarily stable strategy) models of dispersal, and kin selection models predicting the stable reproductive skew (allocation of reproduction). In contrast to several previous ecological hypotheses, multiplequeening in leptothoracines almost certainly results from high costs to single queens of dispersal and colony foundation (high ecological constraints), which select for queens to seek adoption in their natal colony. Factors raising these costs include nest-site limitation, cold climate, and habitat patchiness. ESS models suggest that high dispersal costs lead to a larger stable fraction of non-dispersers and hence to higher relatedness between queens. Skew models predict that high ecological constraints and high relatedness promote high skew (one or a few individuals dominate reproduction) and high within-colony aggression. Therefore, (i) extensive habitats with moderate costs of solitary colony foundation should promote multiple-queening with high dispersal levels, moderate queen relatedness, low reproductive skew, and low queen aggression. By contrast, (ii) patchy habitats should induce multiple-queening with less dispersal, higher queen relatedness, higher skew, and higher aggression. In addition, (iii) habitats with small or widely spaced nest-sites, or with low costs of founding colonies alone, should lead to universal dispersal without multiple-queening. These associations of traits occur in facultatively polygynous, functionally monogynous and obligately monogynous leptothoracines respectively. Therefore, the framework in this paper explains a substantial amount of the social and ecological diversity of leptothoracine ants.
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Reproductive conflicts in cooperative associations of fire ant queens (Solenopsis invicta). Proc Biol Sci 1997. [DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1996.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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