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Evolutionary transition from single to multiple mating in fungus-growing ants
P Villesen1, P J Gertsch, J Frydenberg
1Department of Ecology & Genetics, University of Aarhus, Denmark. Palle.Villesen@biology.au.dk
Molecular Ecology
|January 5, 2000
Summary
Basal leafcutter ant queens mate only once, unlike advanced leafcutter ants. This suggests that fungus cultivation alone did not drive multiple mating in ants.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Social insects
- Myrmecology
Background:
- Leafcutter ant queens exhibit high multiple mating frequencies, potentially for genetic diversity in large colonies facing pathogens.
- Advanced attine ants have large, long-lived colonies, while basal attines have smaller, shorter-lived colonies.
- This difference suggests basal attines may have lower queen mating frequencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate queen mating frequency and colony kin structure in three basal attine ant species.
- To test the hypothesis that fungus cultivation itself did not select for multiple mating.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of queen mating frequency in three basal attine species.
- Microsatellite marker analysis to determine colony kin structure.
- Comparison of relatedness values with theoretical expectations for single mating.
Main Results:
- Queens in all three studied basal attine species were single mated.
- Worker-to-worker relatedness was approximately 0.75, consistent with single mating.
- Fungus cultivation alone does not appear to drive multiple mating in ants.
Conclusions:
- Multiple mating in advanced leafcutter ants is likely driven by their complex social structure and high productivity.
- The need for high genetic diversity among nestmates in advanced attine ants may necessitate multiple mating.
- Basal attine ants, with simpler social structures, do not show this selective pressure for multiple mating.