Tools
ToolsDebout, Gabriel D. G., Frederickson, Megan E., Aron, Serge and Yu, Douglas W. (2010) Unexplained split sex ratios in the neotropical plant-ant, Allomerus octoarticulatus var. demerarae (Myrmicinae): a test of hypotheses. Evolution, 64 (1). pp. 126-141. ISSN 1558-5646
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
We investigated sex allocation in the Neotropical ant Allomerus octoarticulatus var. demerarae. Because Allomerus is a plant symbiont, we could make geographically extensive collections of complete colonies and of foundresses in saplings, allowing us to estimate not only population- and colony-level sex allocation but also colony resource levels and the relatednesses of competing ant foundresses. This species exhibits a strongly split sex ratio, with 80% of mature colonies producing ≥90% of one sex or the other. Our genetic analyses (DNA microsatellites) reveal that Allomerus has a breeding system characterized by almost complete monogyny and a low frequency of polyandry. Contrary to theoretical explanations, we find no difference in worker relatedness asymmetries between female- and male-specialist colonies. Furthermore, no clear link was found between colony sex allocation and life history traits such as the number of mates per queen, or colony size, resource level, or fecundity. We also failed to find significant support for male production by workers, infection by Wolbachia, local resource competition, or local mate competition. We are left with the possibility that Allomerus exhibits split sex ratios because of the evolution of alternative biasing strategies in queens or workers, as recently proposed in the literature.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Organisms and the Environment |
| Depositing User: | Users 2731 not found. |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Mar 2011 09:26 |
| Last Modified: | 16 May 2023 00:01 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/25713 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00824.x |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |