Patterns of split sex ratio in ants have multiple evolutionary causes based on different within-colony conflicts |
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Authors: | Rolf Kümmerli Laurent Keller |
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Institution: | 1.Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK;2.Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland |
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Abstract: | Split sex ratio—a pattern where colonies within a population specialize in either male or queen production—is a widespread phenomenon in ants and other social Hymenoptera. It has often been attributed to variation in colony kin structure, which affects the degree of queen–worker conflict over optimal sex allocation. However, recent findings suggest that split sex ratio is a more diverse phenomenon, which can evolve for multiple reasons. Here, we provide an overview of the main conditions favouring split sex ratio. We show that each split sex-ratio type arises due to a different combination of factors determining colony kin structure, queen or worker control over sex ratio and the type of conflict between colony members. |
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Keywords: | sex allocation colony kin structure control over sex ratio reproductive conflict social insects |
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