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Genetic polyethism in the polyandrous desert ant Cataglyphis cursor

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  • Pierre-André Eyer
  • Julien Freyer
  • Serge Aron

Abstract

Several genetic and nongenetic hypotheses have been formulated to account for the evolution and maintenance of multiple mating by females (polyandry) in social Hymenoptera. A major hypothesis argues that polyandry allows production of genetically diverse workers varying in their inclination to perform different tasks, thereby enhancing division of labor and colony task efficiency. We tested the relationship between patriline, worker size, and task specialization in the ant Cataglyphis cursor, a species showing natural variation in queen mating frequency. Our results reveal a significant association between patriline and task preference: workers belonging to different patrilines differ in their propensity to perform a given task (foraging, nest construction, waste management, or food storage). Furthermore, we found that worker size is closely associated with task specialization but not with paternal origin. Overall, these results show that task performance is at least partly genetically influenced in the ant C. cursor, which is a key prerequisite for polyandry to improve division of labor in social insects.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre-André Eyer & Julien Freyer & Serge Aron, 2013. "Genetic polyethism in the polyandrous desert ant Cataglyphis cursor," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 24(1), pages 144-151.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:24:y:2013:i:1:p:144-151.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/ars146
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah J. Waddington & Lorenzo A. Santorelli & Fiona R. Ryan & William O.H. Hughes, 2010. "Genetic polyethism in leaf-cutting ants," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 21(6), pages 1165-1169.
    2. Adam G. Hart & Francis L. W. Ratnieks, 2002. "Waste management in the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 13(2), pages 224-231, March.
    3. Eric Bonabeau & Guy Theraulaz & Jean-Louis Deneubourg, 1998. "Fixed Response Thresholds and the Regulation of Division of Labor in Insect Societies," Working Papers 98-01-009, Santa Fe Institute.
    4. Morgan Pearcy & Serge Aron, 2006. "Local resource competition and sex ratio in the ant Cataglyphis cursor," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 17(4), pages 569-574, July.
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