Sex allocation conflict in insect societies: who wins? |
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| Authors: | Heikki Helanter? Francis L. W. Ratnieks |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK;2.Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, PO Box 65, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland |
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| Abstract: | Sex allocation in colonies of eusocial Hymenoptera is one of the best studied social conflicts. We outline a framework for analysing conflict outcome through power and the costs of manipulation and suggest that the conflict will often be unresolved because both major parties of interest, the queen and the workers, should manipulate allocation even at considerable costs to the colony. We suggest future work for analysing power in the conflict between queen and workers over sex allocation and discuss the extent of male power. |
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| Keywords: | social insects kin selection sex allocation conflict sexual conflict power |
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