Queen recruitment in a highly polygynous supercolony of formica-lugubris (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_A0EDDD66C5BE
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Queen recruitment in a highly polygynous supercolony of formica-lugubris (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
Journal
Oikos
Author(s)
Fortelius W., Rosengren R., Cherix D., Chautems D.
ISSN
0030-1299
Publication state
Published
Issued date
1993
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
67
Number
2
Pages
193-200
Language
english
Notes
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3545463
Abstract
This work examines behavioural relationships between young females (potential queens) and workers, in a multi-nest population (supercolony), of Formica lugubris. Each nest contains hundreds of functional queens but the colony is initiated by a single foundress (secondary polygyny). Thus, recruitment of new queens into the nests is part of the population dynamics. Substantial variation in worker response towards introduced female sexuals, ranging from execution to complete acceptance, is demonstrated. The mating status of the introduced females has a clear effect on the worker response: virgin females are accepted with about twice the probability of inseminated females. When native alates are present in a nest, all introduced females are accepted with higher probability than when the native alates are absent, later in the season. No effect of distance (between donor and recipient nests) on the worker reaction was found, within the supercolony borders. Proximate mechanisms and selective forces regulating the recruitment process are discussed in light of these findings.
Keywords
ANTS HYMENOPTERA, STRATEGIES, EVOLUTION, EXSECTA, NUMBER
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2008 19:18
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:07
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