A multidisciplinary approach to discriminating different taxa in the species complex Pachycondyla villosa (Formicidae)

Lucas, Christophe; Fresneau, Dominique; Kolmer, Kerstin; Heınze, Jürgen; DELABIE, JACQUES H. C.; Pho, Dang Ba

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2002.tb01425.x

Cited by 49 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 44 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our chemical analyses revealed that monogyne and polygyne origins of eggs and workers could be discriminated on the basis of their chemical profile, a keystone in insects' communication system [3]. In social insects, divergences in chemical profiles generally result from specific genetic background or life-history traits between colonies [19], [46], [47]. In F. selysi , the genetic background of monogyne and polygyne colonies is unlikely to produce specific chemical signatures, as no sign of genetic differentiation or mating incompatibilities have been found between social forms in the studied populations [23], [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognition in Ants: Social Origin Matters

2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ability of group members to discriminate against foreigners is a keystone in the evolution of sociality. In social insects, colony social structure (number of queens) is generally thought to influence abilities of resident workers to discriminate between nestmates and non-nestmates. However, whether social origin of introduced individuals has an effect on their acceptance in conspecific colonies remains poorly explored. Using egg-acceptance bioassays, we tested the influence of social origin of queen-laid eggs on their acceptance by foreign workers in the ant Formica selysi. We showed that workers from both single- and multiple-queen colonies discriminated against foreign eggs from single-queen colonies, whereas they surprisingly accepted foreign eggs from multiple-queen colonies. Chemical analyses then demonstrated that social origins of eggs and workers could be discriminated on the basis of their chemical profiles, a signal generally involved in nestmate discrimination. These findings provide the first evidence in social insects that social origins of eggs interfere with nestmate discrimination and are encoded by chemical signatures.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognition in Ants: Social Origin Matters

2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Despite these general patterns, some exceptions do occur, especially when closely related or cryptic species differ considerably in their CHC profiles (Akino et al. , 2002; Lucas et al. , 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, some closely related or cryptic species were found to differ considerably in their CHC profiles (Akino et al. , 2002; Lucas et al. , 2002), which is at odds with any phylogenetic reconstruction or taxonomic classification with the underlying assumption that more closely related species resemble each other to a greater extent than do distantly related species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Strong differences in chemical recognition cues between two closely related species of ants from the genus Lasius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Morrison

Witte

2011

J of Evolutionary Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are increasingly recognized as important to insects and are used for constructing taxonomies. However, multiple parameters affect the expression of CHCs besides a genetic component. We propose that selection may act differently on the expression of CHCs, depending on the evolutionary context. To explore the influence of selection, the CHCs of two closely related ant species, Lasius niger and Lasius platythorax, were studied in a multidisciplinary approach. We characterized (i) CHCs and (ii) niches (through baiting, activity observations and foraging analysis). The species were distinct in both measures, although to a varying degree. Although they showed moderate niche partitioning along diet and environmental preferences, chemical differences were unexpectedly pronounced. This may be explained by divergent selection on mate recognition cues or by other influences on CHCs. Such striking chemical differences among closely related species may not be the rule and suggest that taxonomies based on CHCs should be interpreted cautiously; though, they remain useful tools for differentiating among cryptic species.

show abstract

“…Colonies of Pachycondyla inversa (Formicidae: Ponerinae) [47] were collected in November of two consecutive years from a cocoa plantation near Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. In 2004, four polygynous (2–3 queens, 38±17 workers (mean±SD)) and four queenless colonies (24±7 workers) were brought to Regensburg, Germany (“lab colonies”).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ant Queen Egg-Marking Signals: Matching Deceptive Laboratory Simplicity with Natural Complexity

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundExperiments under controlled laboratory conditions can produce decisive evidence for testing biological hypotheses, provided they are representative of the more complex natural conditions. However, whether this requirement is fulfilled is seldom tested explicitly. Here we provide a lab/field comparison to investigate the identity of an egg-marking signal of ant queens. Our study was based on ant workers resolving conflict over male production by destroying each other's eggs, but leaving queen eggs unharmed. For this, the workers need a proximate cue to discriminate between the two egg types. Earlier correlative evidence indicated that, in the ant Pachycondyla inversa, the hydrocarbon 3,11-dimethylheptacosane (3,11-diMeC27) is more abundant on the surface of queen-laid eggs.MethodologyWe first tested the hypothesis that 3,11-diMeC27 functions as a queen egg-marking pheromone using laboratory-maintained colonies. We treated worker-laid eggs with synthetic 3,11-diMeC27 and found that they were significantly more accepted than sham-treated worker-laid eggs. However, we repeated the experiment with freshly collected field colonies and observed no effect of treating worker-laid eggs with 3,11-diMeC27, showing that this compound by itself is not the natural queen egg-marking pheromone. We subsequently investigated the overall differences of entire chemical profiles of eggs, and found that queen-laid eggs in field colonies are more distinct from worker-laid eggs than in lab colonies, have more variation in profiles, and have an excess of longer-chain hydrocarbons.ConclusionsOur results suggest that queen egg-marking signals are significantly affected by transfer to the laboratory, and that this change is possibly connected to reduced queen fertility as predicted by honest signaling theory. This change is reflected in the worker egg policing response under field and laboratory conditions.

show abstract

A multidisciplinary approach to discriminating different taxa in the species complex Pachycondyla villosa (Formicidae)

Cited by 49 publications

References 44 publications

Recognition in Ants: Social Origin Matters

Recognition in Ants: Social Origin Matters

Strong differences in chemical recognition cues between two closely related species of ants from the genus Lasius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Ant Queen Egg-Marking Signals: Matching Deceptive Laboratory Simplicity with Natural Complexity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About