Le nombre de reines chez les fourmis et sa conséquence sur l'organisations sociale

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_0C492D24A009
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Le nombre de reines chez les fourmis et sa conséquence sur l'organisations sociale
Journal
L'Année Biologique
Author(s)
Passera L., Vargo E.L., Keller L.
ISSN
0003-5017
Publication state
Published
Issued date
1991
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
30
Number
3
Pages
137-173
Language
french
Notes
Série 4, Tome 30. Revue?
Abstract
Nearly half of all ant species form polygyne societies (cohabitation of more than a single egg-laying queen). These queens are generally smaller and store fewer fat reserves than queens from monogyne colonies. Most queens in polygyne colonies (70-100 pour 100) are inseminated, although this proportion varies among species, and even among populations of the same species. They exhibit mutual tolerance and they all contribute to the reproductive effort of the colony. Nevertheless, their individual fecundity is considerably reduced compared with that of queens from monogyne colonies. This reduction in fecundity seems to be due to some form of mutual inhibition, in some cases the secretion by each female of a substance suppressing egg production in other queens has been implicated. In a few species, queens are organized into a hierarchy such that certain queens lay more eggs than others or even monopolize egg-laying (functional monogyny). Polygyny is linked to a particular life history. It rarely results from the association of several foundresses (primary polygyny). Usually, it is due to the adoption of young queens by an established nest just after a nuptial flight. This secondary polygyny means that the dispersal of the species is limited and is achieved by the budding of a mother nest. Thus colony founding is dependent; with workers accompanying young queens in establishing new colonies. Observation of closely related species exhibiting different social organizations, some monogyne and others polygyne, shows a possible link between queen number and ecological conditions: polygyne forms are more frequent in unstable habitats susceptible to rapid change, such as that caused by human activity. The existence of polygyne societies is an intriguing evolutionary mystery. Research into the origin and maintenance of polygyny focuses on patterns of speciation in relation to queen number and the different theories put forth for the evolution of eusociality, mainly kin selection and mutualism.
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2008 18:40
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:33
Usage data