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Kin composition effects on reproductive competition among queenless honeybee workers
Shani Inbar1, Tamar Katzav-Gozansky, Abraham Hefetz
1Department of Zoology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. shaniinbar@gmail.com
In queenless honeybee workers, reproductive competition among different family groups (patrilines) is influenced by the number of competing subfamilies. This social structure impacts fertility signals and reproduction shares within the colony.
Area of Science:
- Social Insect Behavior
- Kin Selection Theory
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Kin selection and inclusive fitness predict competition or cooperation over reproduction in queenless (QL) honeybee worker groups.
- Competition in QL groups is expected to involve reproductive inhibition and affect fertility signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the kin effect on reproductive competition and fertility advertisement in honeybee worker groups.
- To examine how different kin structures (single vs. mixed patrilines) influence worker reproduction and signaling.
Main Methods:
- Studied QL honeybee worker groups with three kin structures: pure single patrilines, three mixed patrilines, and control groups.
- Assessed global ovarian development and analyzed fertility signals from Dufour's gland.
- Compared patriline performance in competitive (mixed) and non-competitive (single) situations.
Main Results:
- No global differences in ovarian development were found among group types.
- In mixed patriline groups, some patrilines showed reproductive suppression compared to pure groups, leading to unequal reproduction.
- Fertility signal analysis revealed kin composition effects, suggesting competitive efforts.
Conclusions:
- Reproductive and pheromonal competition in QL honeybee groups are affected by the number of subfamilies (patrilines) present.
- Within-colony heterogeneity (multiple patrilines) significantly impacts social evolution dynamics.
- Results support the hypothesis that patriline coalitions influence reproductive outcomes in queenless honeybee societies.
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