Dominance hierarchy and reproductive conflicts among subordinates in a monogynous queenless ant |
| |
Authors: | Monnin Thibaud; Peeters Christian |
| |
Institution: | CNRS URA 667, Laboratoire d'Ethologie
Expérimentale et
Comparée,
Université Paris Nord, 93430 Villetaneuse,
France |
| |
Abstract: | In insect societies lacking morphologically specialized breedersand
helpers, reproduction is often restricted to behaviorallydominant
individuals. Such societies occur in about 100 speciesof ants that have
secondarily lost the queen caste. All females,who are morphologically
workers, can potentially mate and layeggs but only a few do so, and we
demonstrate in Dinoponeraquadriceps that this is regulated by a
dominance hierarchy.Six types of agonistic interactions allowed the ranking
of 5-10workers in the hierarchy (n = 15 colonies). In particular,
alphaand beta had characteristic behavioral profiles and were easily
recognized.Only alpha mated, and workers ranking beta to delta sometimes
producedunfertilized, male-destined eggs. Natural replacements (n =
19)and experimental removals (n = 15) of alpha demonstrated that
betawas the individual most likely to replace alpha, although gammaand more
rarely delta sometimes did, and we discuss the conflictthat occurs among
high-ranking individuals over who should replacealpha. After such
replacements, the new alpha behaved more aggressivelythan the overthrown
alpha. Newly emerged workers tended to reachhigh ranks and displaced older
high-ranking individuals downthe hierarchy. Low-ranking subordinates often
prevented high-rankingindividuals from replacing alpha by biting and holding
theirappendages (worker policing), which is consistent with the patternof
relatedness associated with monogyny and monandry in D. quadriceps.
Weinvestigated the relative importance of chemical communicationand
dominance interactions to regulate reproduction. Alpha,beta, and sterile
workers have different signatures of cuticularhydrocarbons, and these may
provide honest information whichunderpins worker policing by low-ranking
individuals. |
| |
Keywords: | dominance gamergate hierarchy Ponerinae pheromone relatedness reproduction |
本文献已被 Oxford 等数据库收录! |
|