Queen–worker caste ratio depends on colony size in the pharaoh ant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Monomorium pharaonis</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | A M Schmidt T A Linksvayer J J Boomsma J S Pedersen |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Centre for Social Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Abstract: | The success of an ant colony depends on the simultaneous presence of reproducing queens and non-reproducing workers in a ratio
that will maximize colony growth and reproduction. Despite its presumably crucial role, queen–worker caste ratios (the ratio
of adult queens to workers) and the factors affecting this variable remain scarcely studied. Maintaining polygynous pharaoh
ant (Monomorium pharaonis) colonies in the laboratory has provided us with the opportunity to experimentally manipulate colony size, one of the key
factors that can be expected to affect colony level queen–worker caste ratios and body size of eclosing workers, gynes and
males. We found that smaller colonies produced more new queens relative to workers, and that these queens and workers both
tended to be larger. However, colony size had no effect on the size of males or on the sex ratio of the individuals reared.
Furthermore, for the first time in a social insect, we confirmed the general life history prediction by Smith and Fretwell
(Am Nat 108:499–506, 1974) that offspring number varies more than offspring size. Our findings document a high level of plasticity in energy allocation
toward female castes and suggest that polygynous species with budding colonies may adaptively adjust caste ratios to ensure
rapid growth. |
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