Queen-worker caste ratio depends on colony size in the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
Queen-worker caste ratio depends on colony size in the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis). / Schmidt, Anna Mosegaard; Linksvayer, Timothy Arnold; Boomsma, Jacobus Jan; Pedersen, Jes Søe.
In: Insectes Sociaux, Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011, p. 139–144.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Queen-worker caste ratio depends on colony size in the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
AU - Schmidt, Anna Mosegaard
AU - Linksvayer, Timothy Arnold
AU - Boomsma, Jacobus Jan
AU - Pedersen, Jes Søe
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - The success of an ant colony depends on thesimultaneous presence of reproducing queens and nonreproducingworkers in a ratio that will maximize colonygrowth and reproduction. Despite its presumably crucialrole, queen–worker caste ratios (the ratio of adult queensto workers) and the factors affecting this variable remainscarcely studied. Maintaining polygynous pharaoh ant(Monomorium pharaonis) colonies in the laboratory hasprovided us with the opportunity to experimentally manipulatecolony size, one of the key factors that can be expectedto affect colony level queen–worker caste ratios and bodysize of eclosing workers, gynes and males. We found thatsmaller colonies produced more new queens relative toworkers, and that these queens and workers both tended tobe larger. However, colony size had no effect on the sizeof males or on the sex ratio of the individuals reared.Furthermore, for the first time in a social insect, we confirmedthe general life history prediction by Smith andFretwell (Am Nat 108:499–506, 1974) that offspring numbervaries more than offspring size. Our findings document ahigh level of plasticity in energy allocation toward femalecastes and suggest that polygynous species with buddingcolonies may adaptively adjust caste ratios to ensure rapidgrowth.
AB - The success of an ant colony depends on thesimultaneous presence of reproducing queens and nonreproducingworkers in a ratio that will maximize colonygrowth and reproduction. Despite its presumably crucialrole, queen–worker caste ratios (the ratio of adult queensto workers) and the factors affecting this variable remainscarcely studied. Maintaining polygynous pharaoh ant(Monomorium pharaonis) colonies in the laboratory hasprovided us with the opportunity to experimentally manipulatecolony size, one of the key factors that can be expectedto affect colony level queen–worker caste ratios and bodysize of eclosing workers, gynes and males. We found thatsmaller colonies produced more new queens relative toworkers, and that these queens and workers both tended tobe larger. However, colony size had no effect on the sizeof males or on the sex ratio of the individuals reared.Furthermore, for the first time in a social insect, we confirmedthe general life history prediction by Smith andFretwell (Am Nat 108:499–506, 1974) that offspring numbervaries more than offspring size. Our findings document ahigh level of plasticity in energy allocation toward femalecastes and suggest that polygynous species with buddingcolonies may adaptively adjust caste ratios to ensure rapidgrowth.
KW - Faculty of Science
KW - Caste
KW - COLONY SIZE
KW - Ergonomics
KW - Resource allocation
KW - Polygyny
U2 - 10.1007/s00040-010-0126-x
DO - 10.1007/s00040-010-0126-x
M3 - Journal article
VL - 58
SP - 139
EP - 144
JO - Insectes Sociaux
JF - Insectes Sociaux
SN - 0020-1812
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 33826745