serval:BIB_F77092762254
Asymmetric assortative mating and queen polyandry are linked to a supergene controlling ant social organization.
10.1111/mec.14793
000465219200016
30003603
Avril
A.
author
Purcell
J.
author
Brelsford
A.
author
Chapuisat
M.
author
article
2019-03
Molecular ecology
1365-294X
0962-1083
journal
28
6
1428-1438
Nonrecombining genomic variants underlie spectacular social polymorphisms, from bird mating systems to ant social organization. Because these "social supergenes" affect multiple phenotypic traits linked to survival and reproduction, explaining their persistence remains a substantial challenge. Here, we investigate how large nonrecombining genomic variants relate to colony social organization, mating system and dispersal in the Alpine silver ant, Formica selysi. The species has colonies headed by a single queen (monogynous) and colonies headed by multiple queens (polygynous). We confirmed that a supergene with alternate haplotypes-Sm and Sp-underlies this polymorphism in social structure: Females from mature monogynous colonies had the Sm/Sm genotype, while those from polygynous colonies were Sm/Sp and Sp/Sp. Queens heading monogynous colonies were exclusively mated with Sm males. In contrast, queens heading polygynous colonies were mated with Sp males and Sm males. Sm males, which are only produced by monogynous colonies, accounted for 22.9% of the matings with queens from mature polygynous colonies. This asymmetry between social forms in the degree of assortative mating generates unidirectional male-mediated gene flow from the monogynous to the polygynous social form. Biased gene flow was confirmed by a significantly higher number of private alleles in the polygynous social form. Moreover, heterozygous queens were three times as likely as homozygous queens to be multiply mated. This study reveals that the supergene variants jointly affect social organization and multiple components of the mating system that alter the transmission of the variants and thus influence the dynamics of the system.
Alleles
Animals
Ants/genetics
Female
Gene Flow
Genetics, Population
Genomic Structural Variation/genetics
Genotype
Heterozygote
Male
Marriage
Microsatellite Repeats/genetics
Reproduction/genetics
Sexual Behavior, Animal
ants
mating system
polymorphism
social organization
supergene
eng
60_published
peer-reviewed
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
University of Lausanne
mailto:serval_help@unil.ch
http://www.unil.ch/serval
http://serval.unil.ch/disclaimer
https://serval.unil.ch/notice/serval:BIB_F77092762254