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Published on: October 5, 2018
Reproductive conflicts in polyandrous and polygynous ant Formica sanguinea.
1Department of Biology, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
Molecular Ecology
|December 3, 2011
Summary
Polyandry (multiple mating) and polygyny (multiple queens) are alternative ant breeding strategies. Reproductive competition influences genetic contributions to offspring in Formica sanguinea colonies.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Genetics
Background:
- Multiple reproductives in ant colonies shift the balance between indirect fitness and reproductive competition.
- Understanding the interplay of polyandry and polygyny is crucial for ant reproductive strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between queen mating frequency (polyandry) and the number of reproductive queens (polygyny).
- To determine if patrilines and matrilines contribute differently to sexual and worker broods.
- To assess reproductive skew within Formica sanguinea colonies.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of worker and sexual offspring from Formica sanguinea colonies across three populations.
- Analysis of paternity and maternity skew, effective paternity, and effective number of matings.
- Comparison of reproductive strategies in monogynous versus polygynous colonies.
Main Results:
- Most colonies were monogynous, with most queens mating multiply. Polygynous colonies were less common but featured related queens.
- Effective paternity was lower than the actual number of mates, with significant paternity skew.
- Patrilines and matrilines showed differential representation in worker and sexual broods, particularly in polygynous colonies.
- Polygynous colonies had a significantly lower effective number of queen matings than monogynous colonies.
Conclusions:
- Polyandry and polygyny appear to be alternative breeding strategies in Formica sanguinea.
- Reproductive competition influences the differential representation of genetic lineages in sexual and worker broods.
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