The determinants of queen size in a socially polymorphic ant.
Details
State: Public
Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_C11F071D04AF
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The determinants of queen size in a socially polymorphic ant.
Journal
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
ISSN
1420-9101[electronic], 1010-061X[linking]
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
22
Number
9
Pages
1906-1913
Language
english
Abstract
In social animals, body size can be shaped by multiple factors, such as direct genetic effects, maternal effects, or the social environment. In ants, the body size of queens correlates with the social structure of the colony: colonies headed by a single queen (monogyne) generally produce larger queens that are able to found colonies independently, whereas colonies headed by multiple queens (polygyne) tend to produce smaller queens that stay in their natal colony or disperse with workers. We performed a cross-fostering experiment to investigate the proximate causes of queen size variation in the socially polymorphic ant Formica selysi. As expected if genetic or maternal effects influence queen size, eggs originating from monogyne colonies developed into larger queens than eggs collected from polygyne colonies, be they raised by monogyne or polygyne workers. In contrast, eggs sampled in monogyne colonies were smaller than eggs sampled in polygyne colonies. Hence, eggs from monogyne colonies are smaller but develop into larger queens than eggs from polygyne colonies, independently of the social structure of the workers caring for the brood. These results demonstrate that a genetic polymorphism or maternal effect transmitted to the eggs influences queen size, which probably affects the social structure of new colonies.
Keywords
Animals, Ants/genetics, Ants/growth & development, Body Size, Female, Male, Ovum, Polymorphism, Genetic, Social Behavior
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
10/06/2009 14:55
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:35