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Published on: February 9, 2021
Genetic royal cheats in leaf-cutting ant societies.
William O H Hughes1, Jacobus J Boomsma
1Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. w.o.h.hughes@leeds.ac.uk
Summary
In leaf-cutting ants, some genetic lines "cheat" by promoting their larvae to become queens, not workers. This rare "royal cheat" strategy is an evolutionary tactic to avoid suppression by cooperative members.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Social Insect Behavior
- Genetics
Background:
- Social groups face cheating due to conflicting reproductive interests.
- Cooperative systems typically contain both cooperative and cheating genotypes.
- In social insects, conflict arises over reproductive division of labor (queen vs. worker).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and mechanisms of cheating in leaf-cutting ant colonies.
- To test evolutionary predictions regarding the frequency and suppression of cheating genotypes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of leaf-cutting ant patrilines to identify biased larval development.
- Investigation of genetic mechanisms influencing caste determination (queen vs. worker).
Main Results:
- One-fifth of leaf-cutting ant patrilines exhibit cheating behavior.
- Two distinct genetic mechanisms contribute to this queen-biased development.
- Cheating genotypes are rare in populations and colonies, as predicted by theory.
Conclusions:
- Cheating can be prevalent even in highly cooperative societies.
- The rarity of cheating genotypes is an evolutionary strategy to evade suppression.
- Principles of social evolution apply across diverse social systems.
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