Sociogenetic organization of the red ant Myrmica rubra |
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Authors: | P Seppä Laura Walin |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biosciences, Division of Genetics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland, FI;(2) Department of Ecology and Systematics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland, FI |
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Abstract: | Knowledge of the sociogenetic organization determining the kin structure of social insect colonies is the basis for understanding
the evolution of insect sociality. Kin structure is determined by the number and relatedness of queens and males reproducing
in the colonies, and partitioning of reproduction among them. This study shows extreme flexibility in these traits in the
facultatively polygynous red ant Myrmica rubra. Relatedness among worker nestmates varied from 0 to 0.82. The most important reason for this variation was the extensive
variation in the queen number among populations. Most populations were moderately or highly polygynous resulting in low relatedness
among worker nestmates, but effectively monogynous populations were also found. Polygynous populations also often tend to
be polydomous, which is another reason for low relatedness. Coexisting queens were positively related in two populations out
of five and relatedness was usually similar among workers in the same colonies. Due to the polydomous colony organization
and short life span of queens, it was not possible to conclusively determine the importance of unequal reproduction among
coexisting queens, but it did not seem to be important in determining the relatedness among worker nestmates. The estimates
of the mating frequency by queens remained ambiguous, which may be due to variation among populations. In some populations
relatedness among worker nestmates was high, suggesting monogyny and single mating by queens, but in single-queen laboratory
nests relatedness among the worker offspring was lower, suggesting that multiple mating was common. The data on males were
sparse, but indicated sperm precedence and no relatedness among males breeding in the same colony. A comparison of social
organizations and habitat requirements of M. rubra and closely related M. ruginodis suggested that habitat longevity and patchiness may be important ecological factors promoting polygyny in Myrmica.
Received: 15 May 1995/Accepted after revision: 17 October 1995 |
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Keywords: | Myrmica Polygyny Polyandry Genetic relatedness Social evolution |
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