Mating structure and genetic relatedness among gynes in the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes snelleni (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) |
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| Authors: | Katsuhiko SAYAMA Jun-ichi TAKAHASHI |
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| Institution: | Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Sapporo and; Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Mating structure and genetic relatedness among gynes (potential reproductive females) of the paper wasp Polistes snelleni were investigated using DNA microsatellite markers. All colonies had one foundress inseminated by a single male, and no sign of inbreeding was detected. The mean genetic relatedness among gynes was 0.734 ± 0.028 (SE), which is not significantly different from the expected value of 0.75 for full sisters. |
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| Keywords: | DNA microsatellite kin selection kin structure paper wasp paternity frequency |
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