Hierarchy length in orphaned colonies of the ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Temnothorax nylanderi</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | J Heinze |
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Institution: | (1) Biology I, Zoology, University Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany |
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Abstract: | Workers of the ant Temnothorax nylanderi form dominance orders in orphaned colonies in which only one or a few top-ranking workers begin to produce males from unfertilized
eggs. Between one and 11 individuals initiated 80% of all aggression in 14 queenless colonies. As predicted from inclusive
fitness models (Molet M, van Baalen M, Monnin T, Insectes Soc 52:247–256, 2005), hierarchy length was found to first increase with colony size and then to level off at larger worker numbers. The frequency
and skew of aggression decreased with increasing size, indicating that rank orders are less pronounced in larger colonies. |
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Keywords: | Kin conflict Worker reproduction Dominance Hierarchy length Formicidae |
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