Stress-dependent trade-off Between Immunological Condition and Reproductive Performance in the Polygynous Red Bishop (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Euplectes orix</Emphasis>)

According to life-history theory, a condition-dependent trade-off between reproductive performance and immune function might be expected, with only superior individuals being able to allocate many resources into reproduction without having detrimental effects on their immune system. However, little attention has been paid to the possibility that annual variations in environmentally and socially induced stress levels modify this trade-off. We analysed haematological parameters and investigated the relationship between male immunological condition and reproductive performance as measured by reproductive effort and success in a colony of the highly polygynous red bishop (Euplectes orix) for five consecutive breeding seasons. Haematological parameters can be used to assess an individuals’ stress level, and especially the heterophile/lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio) is known to increase in response to a wide variety of stressors. Relative basophile counts, heterophile counts, lymphocyte counts, absolute leukocyte counts and H/L ratios of territorial males varied significantly among seasons. Both relative heterophile counts and H/L ratios were significantly positive related to overall breeding activity within the colony as measured in terms of total number of nests accepted and total number of eggs laid in the study colony within a breeding season. The relationship between immunological condition (as assessed by relative lymphocyte and heterophil counts and the H/L ratio) and both male reproductive effort (as measured by the number of nests built by the territorial males) and reproductive success (as measured by the number of nests accepted) varied considerably among seasons, ranging from significant negative to significant positive correlations. Across seasons, we found a significant negative relationship between the within-season correlation coefficients of individual H/L ratios against reproductive performance and the average H/L ratio of all territorial males in that season. Thus, a positive association between the immunological condition of a male and his reproductive performance (indicated by a negative correlation between H/L ratio and reproductive performance) exists only in seasons with high average H/L ratios (i.e. high average stress levels). We conclude that the trade-off between immunological condition and male reproductive performance might be important only in seasons with an overall reduced level of male immunological condition due to environmentally and/or socially induced stress and immunosuppressive conditions.Co-ordinating editor: L.D. Hurst     

Melanin coloration has temperature‐dependent effects on breeding performance that may maintain phenotypic variation in a passerine bird

Fluctuating selection pressure may maintain phenotypic variation because of different types of individuals being adapted to different environmental conditions. We show that the extensive variation in the coloration of male pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) can be maintained through differences in the reproductive success of male phenotypes under different conditions. The effects of weather conditions on the relative success of different male phenotypes varied between different phases of breeding. The reproductive output of black males was the highest when it was cold during egg‐laying but warm during the nestling period, whereas the fledgling production of brown males was highest when it was continuously warm. In addition, male forehead and wing patch sizes had context‐dependent effects on timing of breeding and nestling mortality, respectively. These results indicate that environmental heterogeneity plays a role in maintaining phenotypic variation. As melanin‐based coloration is heritable, climate change may alter phenotype frequencies depending on the patterns of warming.     

Reproductive traits of the “ocellated killifish” Floridichthys polyommus Hubbs, 1936 (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae) inhabiting estuary of the Champotón River (Campeche,Mexico)

This study explores the reproductive biology and the influence of environmental factors on the reproductive traits of Floridichthys polyommus inhabiting the estuary of the Champoton River. The analysis included population structure, gonadal developmental stages, reproductive period, size at first sexual maturity, fecundity, sex ratio, and somatic indexes. A spatio‐temporal pattern in the distribution of the seven size classes was detected. The species showed a positive allometric growth. Sex ratio was 1.21:1 (females:males). Size at first maturity was 42.23 mm (females) and 47.8 mm (males). A higher absolute and relative fecundity was detected in Puente Champotón estuary (PCH) with lower salinities than those detected in the Delta (DE). The adaptive significance of this trait could be in response to the heavy osmotic constraint imposed by extreme salinities in the DE. Floridichthys polyommus prefers PCH for spawning, and as a result a higher number of ripe individuals was observed in this site, characterized by the highest nutrient levels, which can boost productivity and food availability for fish. Hepatosomatic index was negatively correlated with gonadosomatic index, suggesting energy transfer from the liver towards gamete production. Floridichthys polyommus exhibits an opportunistic strategy (early maturity, small oocytes, small clutches) suggesting that energy is allocated towards reproduction to compensate for the unpredictable hydrological conditions imposed by the estuary (particularly during the hurricane season). Floridichthys polyommus shows a reproductive strategy exhibited by fish living in unstable systems. A seasonal divergence was observed in the reproductive traits of F. polyommus, while differences between study sites were for fecundity.     

Changes in body condition in breeding kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla

We investigated the seasonal pattern of changes in body condition of breeding black‐legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla in Svalbard (79°N) to evaluate whether changes in body condition were a consequence of the energetic demands of breeding (the reproductive stress hypothesis) or of voluntary anorexia to attain lower flight costs during chick rearing (the programmed anorexia hypothesis). Adult body condition was recorded from early egg laying to fledging and was examined in relation to date (relative to hatching), sex, parental time‐budget, brood size and reproductive success. To distinguish between the two hypotheses we evaluate whether the reduction in body condition occurred during or ahead of the energetically most demanding part of the chick‐rearing period. We combine our results on changes in body condition and time‐budget with published information on field metabolic rate (FMR) and chick energy requirements from studies in the same colony.
Our calculations of adult energy requirements and energy intakes indicate that the first part of the chick‐rearing period was energetically the most demanding period, because adult energy requirement per hour spent off the nest was highest in this period, and adults were time constrained because of the need for 24‐h brooding of the chicks.
During the incubation period female body condition increased slightly, but significantly, while male body condition was stable. During the first part of the chick‐rearing period, female and male body condition decreased by 14.8% and 8.4%, respectively. During the second part of the chick‐rearing period, both male and female body condition remained stable. The reductions in body condition occurred during the phase which was suggested to be the energetically most demanding part of the chick‐rearing period, thus supporting the reproductive stress hypothesis. Parental body condition during the incubation period was positively related to the probability of successfully fledging young, providing additional support for the reproductive stress hypothesis.     

PATERNITY ANALYSIS IN A NATURAL POPULATION OF ASCLEPIAS EXALTATA: MULTIPLE PATERNITY,FUNCTIONAL GENDER,AND THE “POLLEN-DONATION HYPOTHESIS”

Recently, some evolutionary biologists have argued that selection on the male component of fitness shapes the evolution of reproductive characters in angiosperms. Floral features, such as inflorescence size, that lead to increased insect visitation without a concomitant increase in seed production are viewed as adaptations to enhance the probability of fathering seeds on other plants. In tests of this “pollen donation hypothesis,” male reproductive success has usually been measured indirectly by flower production, pollinator visitation, or pollen removal. We tested the pollen donation hypothesis directly by quantifying the number of seeds sired by individual genotypes in a natural population of poke milkweed, Asclepias exaltata, in southwestern Virginia. Multiple paternity was low within fruits, a fact which allowed us to use genotypes of progeny arrays to identify a unique pollen parent for 85% of the fruits produced in the population. Seeds sired (male success) and seeds produced (female success) were significantly correlated with flower number per plant (for male success, r = 0.32, P > 0.05; for female success, r = 0.66, P > 0.001). While the number of pollinaria removed, the usual estimator of male success in milkweeds, was highly correlated with numbers of seeds sired (r = 0.47; P > 0.001), it was even more highly correlated with numbers of seeds produced (r = 0.71, P > 0.001). Analysis of functional gender indicated that plants with many flowers did not behave primarily as males. In fact, individuals with the highest total reproductive success contributed equally as males and females. Furthermore, estimates of gender based on numbers of flowers produced or pollinaria removed overestimated the number of functional males in the population. In pollen-limited species, such as many milkweeds, proportional increases in both male and female reproductive success indicate the potential for selection to shape the evolution of large floral displays through both male and female functions.     

Male and Female Reproductive Success in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macaca sylvanus</Emphasis> in Gibraltar: No Evidence for Rank Dependence

The relationship between social rank and reproductive success is one of the key questions for understanding differences in primate social group structures. We determined the paternity of 18 infants in a social group of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) born over a period of 6 yr in the provisioned, free-ranging colony in Gibraltar. We successfully used 13 pairs of primers of variable microsatellite loci to amplify DNA from blood and hair samples and applied the computer programs CERVUS 2.0 and KINSHIP 1.3 to assign paternity to 13 candidate males. We collected data for 19 females that had given birth to 66 infants over a period of 7 yr. We used paternity analyses and female birth records to test the hypothesis that social rank is correlated with reproductive success. Results showed that numbers of paternities and maternities were equally distributed among all reproducing individuals in the social group regardless of rank. Subadult males reproduced as often as adult males. High-ranking females did not start to reproduce earlier than low-ranking females. Interestingly, there was a tendency toward a positive correlation between the ranks of mothers and the ranks of the corresponding fathers. It might be concluded either that a correlation between social rank and reproductive success is generally absent in Barbary macaques or that artificially favorable environmental conditions in Gibraltar preclude any correlation between social rank and reproductive success.     

Long- and short-term influence of environment on recruitment in a species with highly delayed maturity

Short-term effects of environmental perturbations on various life history traits are reasonably well documented in birds and mammals. But, in the present context of global climate change, there is a need to consider potential long-term effects of natal conditions to better understand and predict the consequences of these changes on population dynamics. The environmental conditions affecting offspring during their early development may determine their lifetime reproductive performance, and therefore the number of recruits produced by a cohort. In this study, we attempted to link recruitment to natal and recent (previous year) conditions in the long-lived black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) at Kerguelen Islands. The environmental variability was described using both climatic variables over breeding (sea surface temperature anomaly) and non-breeding grounds (Southern Oscillation index), and variables related to the colony (breeding success and colony size). Immature survival was linked to the breeding success of the colony in the year of birth, which was expected to reflect the average seasonal parental investment. At the cohort level, this initial mortality event may act as a selective filter shaping the number, and presumably the quality (breeding frequency, breeding success probability), of the individuals that recruit into the breeding population. The decision to start breeding was strongly structured by the age of the individuals and adjusted according to recent conditions. An effect of natal conditions was not detected on this parameter, supporting the selection hypothesis. Recruitment, as a whole, was thus influenced by a combination of long- and short-term environmental impacts. Our results highlight the complexity of the influence of environmental factors on such long-lived species, due to the time-lag (associated with a delayed maturity) between the impact of natal conditions on individuals and their repercussion on the breeding population.     

Group size,composition, and reproductive success in wild common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Data from published sources about size and composition of wild common marmoset groups (Callithrix jacchus) were analyzed to see if the number of juveniles in a group is closely related to the number of other group members. Mean group size was 8.7 members including 4.4 adults (1.8 females, 2.5 males), 2.9 subadults, and 1.4 juveniles. The number of juveniles was significantly positively correlated to the number of adult males. Groups with one or two adult males had significantly fewer juveniles (mean: 1:1 juveniles) than groups containing more than two adult males (mean: 2.0 juveniles). Apart from a different number of subadults, results showed obvious similarities between common marmosets and tamarins of the genus Saguinus in size and composition of subgroups of adults as well as the key role of adult males in mediating the reproductive success of a breeding female. Common marmoset females seem to gain direct fitness benefits in increased reproductive success from the presence of a larger number of adult males. Whether or not other group members get fitness benefits depends on the reproductive strategy of adult males (monogamy vs. polyandry), their kinship, and on the genetic relationship of nonbreeders to the offspring of the breeding female. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Flight performance in the altricial zebra finch: Developmental effects and reproductive consequences

The environmental conditions animals experience during development can have sustained effects on morphology, physiology, and behavior. Exposure to elevated levels of stress hormones (glucocorticoids, GCs) during development is one such condition that can have long‐term effects on animal phenotype. Many of the phenotypic effects of GC exposure during development (developmental stress) appear negative. However, there is increasing evidence that developmental stress can induce adaptive phenotypic changes. This hypothesis can be tested by examining the effect of developmental stress on fitness‐related traits. In birds, flight performance is an ideal metric to assess the fitness consequences of developmental stress. As fledglings, mastering takeoff is crucial to avoid bodily damage and escape predation. As adults, takeoff can contribute to mating and foraging success as well as escape and, thus, can affect both reproductive success and survival. We examined the effects of developmental stress on flight performance across life‐history stages in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Specifically, we examined the effects of oral administration of corticosterone (CORT, the dominant avian glucocorticoid) during development on ground‐reaction forces and velocity during takeoff. Additionally, we tested for associations between flight performance and reproductive success in adult male zebra finches. Developmental stress had no effect on flight performance at all ages. In contrast, brood size (an unmanipulated variable) had sustained, negative effects on takeoff performance across life‐history stages with birds from small broods performing better than birds from large broods. Flight performance at 100 days posthatching predicted future reproductive success in males; the best fliers had significantly higher reproductive success. Our results demonstrate that some environmental factors experienced during development (e.g. clutch size) have stronger, more sustained effects than others (e.g. GC exposure). Additionally, our data provide the first link between flight performance and a direct measure of reproductive success.     

Effect of mating frequency on fecundity and longevity of the predatory mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kampimodromus aberrans</Emphasis> (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The effect of single versus multiple mating on longevity and fecundity as well as the number of matings required to maximize a female’s reproductive success of the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans Oudemans were studied under laboratory conditions. Newly emerged adult females of the stock colony of K. aberrans were placed individually on a bean leaf disc, and maintained at 25°C and 16:8 LD. A young male remained with a female for limited periods or continuously. Mating was a requisite for oocyte maturation and oviposition. Females which mated three to four times during their life and females in continuous presence of males, laid significantly and considerably more eggs than single-mated females. Virgin females lived the longest, and those in continuous presence of males the shortest. In all cases and irrespective of the number of matings, the sex ratio of the offspring was male-biased in the first three to four days of oviposition period, and female-biased in later days.     

Effect of Approaching Boats on Nesting Black Skimmers: Using Response Distances to Establish Protective Buffer Zones

ABSTRACT Understanding how birds respond to the activities of people is an important component of conserving wildlife. We measured responses of nesting black skimmers (Rynchops niger) to an approaching boat in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, USA, by examining distance to first respond, distance to flush, and time to return to the colony. Our objective was to determine if response distances of skimmers changed as a function of year, reproductive stage, direction of approach (direct or tangential), or number of birds nesting in the colony. Generally, reproductive stage had the greatest effect on all responses, followed by direction of approach, number of adults present at the colony, number of nests, and year, which also explained variation in behavioral responses. The distance at which skimmers first flew when a boat approached decreased from the pre-egg-laying period to hatching, and then increased slightly later in the season. Time (x̄± SE) for skimmers to return to the nesting colony varied seasonally, with birds taking longer to return during the pre-egg period (9.5 ± min) than during hatching (0.7 ± 0.1 min). The decision process for determining set-back distances to protect nesting skimmers should involve selecting 1) behavioral response of highest concern, 2) reproductive stage of highest concern, and 3) an appropriate level of response at which to establish the buffer area. We recommend that managers use a set-back distance of ± 118 m from the perimeter of the colony for black skimmers, which is the 95% percentile of the distance that skimmers first flew in response to approaching boats. Managers can use these data to set buffer distances for skimmers and other colonial birds.     

Status,trends, and patterns of covariation of breeding seabirds at St Lazaria Island,Southeast Alaska, 1994–2006

Aim We examined patterns of covariation among piscivorous and planktivorous seabirds breeding at St Lazaria Island in order to evaluate their responses to interannual changes in sea surface temperature, a variable that affects marine food webs. In addition, we evaluated seabird population trends for responses to decadal‐scale changes in the marine ecosystem. Location St Lazaria Island, Sitka Sound, Alaska. Methods Established seabird monitoring protocols for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge were followed in estimating population trends, the timing of nesting events and the reproductive success of eight species of seabirds between 1994 and 2006. Results  Population increases were noted for storm‐petrels (Oceanodroma furcata and O. leucorhoa), rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) and glaucous‐winged gulls (Larus glaucescens). We found no population trend for pelagic cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), but it appeared that populations of common (Uria aalge) and thick‐billed (U. lomvia) murres and of tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) declined. We detected no linear trends in either breeding chronology or reproductive success over the study period for any seabird. All species of piscivorous seabirds apparently responded similarly to environmental cues as there was a positive covariation among species in the timing of nesting. Piscivores tended to nest earlier, and most species had higher rates of reproductive success in years with relatively warm spring sea temperatures. In contrast, planktivorous Leach’s storm‐petrels (O. leucorhoa) tended to nest earlier when spring and summer sea temperatures were relatively cool. Clearly, seabirds at St Lazaria were responding to interannual changes in sea temperatures near the breeding colony, probably as a result of effects on the food webs. Main conclusions Every seabird species we monitored at St Lazaria exhibited significant population trends between 1994 and 2006. For most species there appeared to be a relationship between both the timing of nesting and reproductive rates and spring or summer sea surface temperatures. Responses at both decadal (populations) and interannual (timing and reproductive success) scales make seabirds useful candidates for helping to monitor change in the marine environment.     

One stimulus—Two responses: Host and parasite life‐history variation in response to environmental stress

Climate change stressors will place different selective pressures on both parasites and their hosts, forcing individuals to modify their life‐history strategies and altering the distribution and prevalence of disease. Few studies have investigated whether parasites are able to respond to host stress and respond by varying their reproductive schedules. Additionally, multiple environmental stressors can limit the ability of a host to respond adaptively to parasite infection. This study compared both host and parasite life‐history parameters in unstressed and drought‐stressed environments using the human parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, in its freshwater snail intermediate host. Snail hosts infected with the parasite demonstrated a significant reproductive burst during the prepatent period (fecundity compensation), but that response was absent in a drought‐stressed environment. This is the first report of the elimination of host fecundity compensation to parasitism when exposed to additional environmental stress. More surprisingly, we found that infections in drought‐stressed snails had significantly higher parasite reproductive outputs than infections in unstressed snails. The finding suggests that climate change may alter the infection dynamics of this human parasite.     

Influence of density‐dependent competition on foraging and migratory behavior of a subtropical colonial seabird

Density‐dependent competition for food resources influences both foraging ecology and reproduction in a variety of animals. The relationship between colony size, local prey depletion, and reproductive output in colonial central‐place foragers has been extensively studied in seabirds; however, most studies have focused on effects of intraspecific competition during the breeding season, while little is known about whether density‐dependent resource depletion influences individual migratory behavior outside the breeding season. Using breeding colony size as a surrogate for intraspecific resource competition, we tested for effects of colony size on breeding home range, nestling health, and migratory patterns of a nearshore colonial seabird, the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), originating from seven breeding colonies of varying sizes in the subtropical northern Gulf of Mexico. We found evidence for density‐dependent effects on foraging behavior during the breeding season, as individual foraging areas increased linearly with the number of breeding pairs per colony. Contrary to our predictions, however, nestlings from more numerous colonies with larger foraging ranges did not experience either decreased condition or increased stress. During nonbreeding, individuals from larger colonies were more likely to migrate, and traveled longer distances, than individuals from smaller colonies, indicating that the influence of density‐dependent effects on distribution persists into the nonbreeding period. We also found significant effects of individual physical condition, particularly body size, on migratory behavior, which in combination with colony size suggesting that dominant individuals remain closer to breeding sites during winter. We conclude that density‐dependent competition may be an important driver of both the extent of foraging ranges and the degree of migration exhibited by brown pelicans. However, the effects of density‐dependent competition on breeding success and population regulation remain uncertain in this system.     

The Pair-Bond Formation and Its Role in the Stimulation of Reproductive Function in Female Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

The sociosexual relationship between male and female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) is characterized by pair-bond formation, which includes sexual and social interactions such as contact, huddling and allogrooming. The formation of heterosexual pairs in captivity sometimes is unsuccessful in terms of reproduction. We investigated the existence of a correlation between characteristics of sociosexual interaction of marmoset pairs and its role in stimulating reproductive function in females. We studied pair-bond formation during the first 10 weeks of pairing in eight unrelated heterosexual pairs of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) without prior sexual experience. In three of them, pregnancy occurred during the study period (group SR), and we compared the profile of their sociosexual interactions with that of the five other couples in which pregnancy was not registered (group NS) during that period. The results show differences between the two groups, related mainly to affiliative responses between male and female, with significantly higher levels of allogrooming and simultaneous piloerection in the SR group. Although we did not find significant differences in the frequency of mounting behavior between groups, their reproductive success was different, suggesting that some behavioral patterns related to cooperative interactions between the male and female could be expressing the pair-bond. These behaviors may be influencing the females' physiology and consequently successful reproduction in the species.     

Infant survival and number of helpers in captive groups of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

In a colony of captive marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus), the survival rate of infants up to the age of 90 days after birth was analyzed with special reference to the number of members in the group. The number of group members (newborns excluded) varied between two (parents only) and 18 (parents plus non-reproductive helpers); the number of adult group members varied between two and 15. Five hundred ninety-two live-born, parent-reared infants of 263 litters from 56 breeding females were included in the analysis. The greatest reproductive success was observed in groups of ten to 11 members or four to five adults, including the parents. However, the survival rate was fairly constant over group size at approximately 80% of an expected maximum value and no significant correlation was observed between the total number of group members and infant survival rate, or between the number of adult members and infant survival. While helpers may be necessary to increase the survival rate of infants in wild groups, help of non-reproductive animals is not required in captivity, where energetic demands are comparatively low and ecological constraints absent. Under laboratory conditions the parents' skill in infant handling and the mother's physical condition, i.e., the ability to provide enough milk for the infants, is likely to be the most important factor for infant survival. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Early‐breeding females experience greater telomere loss

Annual reproductive success is often highest in individuals that initiate breeding early, yet relatively few individuals start breeding during this apparently optimal time. This suggests that individuals, particularly females who ultimately dictate when offspring are born, incur costs by initiating reproduction early in the season. We hypothesized that increases in the ageing rate of somatic cells may be one such cost. Telomeres, the repetitive DNA sequences on the ends of chromosomes, may be good proxies of biological wear and tear as they shorten with age and in response to stress. Using historical data from a long‐term study population of dark‐eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), we found that telomere loss between years was greater in earlier breeding females, regardless of chronological age. There was no relationship between telomere loss and the annual number of eggs laid or chicks that reached independence. However, telomere loss was greater when temperatures were cooler, and cooler temperatures generally occur early in the season. This suggests that environmental conditions could be the primary cause of accelerated telomere loss in early breeders.     

Environmental Effects on Agonistic Interactions between Males of the Cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea

The effects of different environments on the agonistic behavior of males of the cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea were investigated. We compared the social interactions between pairs of males that had been reared during the period of sexual maturation, when social behavior develops, under one of four environmental treatments: (1) control (28°C with ad libitum food and water) (2) heat stress (35°C, ad libitum food and water) (3) water deprivation (28°C), or (4) food and water deprivation (28°C). Different environments affected the structure of the interactions between males and the behavior of both dominant and subordinate individuals. The mean number of agonistic acts per minute was similar for all treatment groups except the water-deprived group, which was significantly lower. Water-deprived, food- and water-deprived, and heat-stress rearing conditions reduced the stability of agonistic interactions relative to the control group. When reared under stressful conditions, dominant-scored males decreased the number of aggressive acts and increased the number of submissive acts, and subordinate-scored males decreased the number of submissive acts and increased the number of aggressive acts. Thus, stressful environmental conditions can disrupt agonistic interactions and cause both dominant and subordinate male N. cinerea to adopt different behavioral strategies during male-male competition.     

Social life-history response to individual immune challenge of workers of Bombus terrestris L.: a possible new cooperative phenomenon

Parasites typically reduce host survival or fecundity. To minimize fitness loss, hosts can make temporal adjustments of their reproductive effort. To date such plastic shifts of life‐history traits in response to parasitism are only known from solitary organisms where infected individuals can react by themselves. In the case of social insects, where brood care and reproductive effort is shared between reproductive individuals (typically the queen) and workers, adjustments of the reproductive effort would depend on collective decision‐making. We tested for this possibility by experimentally activating the immune response of individual workers in colonies of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris L. This induction resulted, in combination with environmental conditions, in a reduction of fitness of the social unity (i.e. colony success, measured by number and biomass of offspring) and a collective response towards earlier reproduction. As both phenomena are expressed at the level of the colony, the result suggests that key elements of the use of immune defence have been maintained through the evolutionary transition to sociality.     

Social organization of colony movement in the tropical ponerine ant,Diacamma rugosum (Le Guillou)

This work is part of a study on the social organization ofDiacamma rugosum, a large ponerine ant, which lacks a distinctive reproductive queen. This ant forms a small colony and frequently changes its nest site when the environmental conditions become unfavourable. Experiments in the laboratory showed that slight physical disturbances easily caused colony movement. The process of movement consisted of 3 successive phases: a) an exploration period, b) an movement period and c) a final movement period. The movement was organized by leader ants and 5 to 25% of all workers became leaders. These workers showed both tandem running and carrying behaviour during movement, tandem running being employed to recruit workers, whereas carrying behaviour was strictly limited to carrying eggs, larvae, pupae and males. During movement most of the tandem leader ants are those engaged in outdoor works in daily life. Potential of workers to become tandem leaders was correlated with outside works undertaken in daily life.