Effect of time on colony odour stability in the ant Formica exsecta

Martin, Stephen J.; Shemilt, Sue; Drijfhout, Falko P.

doi:10.1007/s00114-012-0898-0

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In F. exsecta , there is a close biochemical relationship between the production of n ‐alkanes and Z9‐alkenes (Morgan ), so we often find statistically similar effects (this study; Martin et al. ), although only Z9‐alkenes appear to affect behavior (Martin et al. , ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

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Weak patriline effects are present in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of isolated Formica exsecta ants but they disappear in the colony environment

Martin

Trontti

Shemilt

et al. 2012

Ecology and Evolution

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Chemical recognition cues are used to discriminate among species, con-specifics, and potentially between patrilines in social insect colonies. There is an ongoing debate about the possible persistence of patriline cues despite evidence for the mixing of colony odors via a “gestalt” mechanism in social insects, because patriline recognition could lead to nepotism. We analyzed the variation in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons) with different mating frequencies or queen numbers in 688 Formica exsecta ants from 76 colonies. We found no increase in the profile variance as genetic diversity increased, indicating that patriline effects were absent or possibly obscured by a gestalt mechanism. We then demonstrated that an isolated individual's profile changed considerably relative to their colony profile, before stabilizing after 5 days. We used these isolated individuals to eliminate the masking effects of the gestalt mechanism, and we detected a weak but statistically significant patriline effect in isolated adult workers and also in newly emerged callow workers. Thus, our evidence suggests that genetic variation in the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of F. exsecta ants (n-alkanes and alkenes) resulted in differences among patrilines, but they were obscured in the colony environment, thereby avoiding costly nepotistic behaviors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…These colony recognition profiles remain stable over years (Martin et al. ). In this species, pariline‐specific Z9‐alkene profiles were detected in only two of ten colonies studied by van Zweden et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weak patriline effects are present in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of isolated Formica exsecta ants but they disappear in the colony environment

Martin

Trontti

Shemilt

et al. 2012

Ecology and Evolution

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“…This species occurs in two distinct social forms: colonies with a single egg-laying queen (monogynous) that are founded through temporary social parasitism of other Serviformica ant species, and colonies with multiple queens (polygynous) that presumably arise from monogynous colonies through adoption of daughter queens. The chemical profile of this species has been extensively studied across Europe (Martin et al 2008a, b, 2009, 2011, 2012a, b, c, 2013; van Zweden et al 2011), demonstrating a simple and consistent CHC profile, composed of homologous series dominated by three n -alkanes (C 23 , C 25 , and C 27 ) and three ( Z )-9-alkenes (C 23:1 , C 25:1 , and C 27:1 ), with a fourth (C 29 and C 29:1, respectively) of each series always present in lower quantities (Fig. 1a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of Variation in Cuticular Hydrocarbons in the Ant Formica exsecta

et al. 2013

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Phenotypic variation arises from interactions between genotype and environment, although how variation is produced and then maintained remains unclear. The discovery of the nest-mate recognition system in Formica exsecta ants has allowed phenotypic variation in chemical profiles to be quantified across a natural population of 83 colonies. We investigated if this variation was correlated or not with intrinsic (genetic relatedness), extrinsic (location, light, temperature), or social (queen number) factors. (Z)-9-Alkenes and n-alkanes showed different patterns of variance: island (location) explained only 0.2 % of the variation in (Z)-9-alkenes, but 21–29 % in n-alkanes, whereas colony of origin explained 96 % and 45–49 % of the variation in (Z)-9-alkenes and n-alkanes, respectively. By contrast, within-colony variance of (Z)-9-alkenes was 4 %, and 23–34 % in n-alkanes, supporting the function of the former as recognition cues. (Z)-9-Alkene and n-alkane profiles were correlated with the genetic distance between colonies. Only n-alkane profiles diverged with increasing spatial distance. Sampling year explained a small (5 %), but significant, amount of the variation in the (Z)-9-alkenes, but there was no consistent directional trend. Polygynous colonies and populous monogynous colonies were dominated by a rich C23:1 profile. We found no associations between worker size, mound exposure, or humidity, although effect sizes for the latter two factors were considerable. The results support the conjecture that genetic factors are the most likely source of between-colony variation in cuticular hydrocarbons.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10886-013-0366-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Uma das razões que podem explicar a ausência de correlação entre essas variáveis é que os perfis de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares podem sofrer influência ambiental significativa, como temperatura, alimentação e outros fatores ambientais (Gibbs, 1998;Martin et al, 2012 Quando apenas n-alcanos são analisados na PCoA, não é possível fazer qualquer distinção de grupos em nenhuma das duas espécies. Os hidrocarbonetos possuem função primária estrutural, mas também são usados para comunicação em insetos sociais (Howard & Blomquist, 2005).…”

Section: A T T T T a A T C T A T C A T A A A T A T A C T T A A Tunclassified

Caracterização populacional de Mourella caerulea (Friese, 1900) e Plebeia nigriceps (Friese, 1901) (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) através de morfometria geométrica da asa, análise de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares e DNA mitocondrial

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ResumoMourella caerulea, popularmente conhecida como mirim-de-chão ou bieira, e Plebeia nigriceps, comumente chamada mirim nigriceps, são meliponíneos ocorrentes no sul do Brasil, polinizadores de plantas nativas e cultivadas. M. caerulea está principalmente relacionada ao bioma Pampa e seu hábito de nidificação é subterrâneo. P. nigriceps nidifica em frestas de rochas e muros, sendo encontrada tanto no Pampa como em Mata Atlântica. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a variabilidade populacional destas duas espécies, através de três metodologias: a morfometria geométrica de asa, perfil de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares e sequenciamento de fragmentos de genes mitocondriais. Foram coletadas operárias de 24 colônias de M. caerulea em cinco localidades de sua distribuição natural e 53 colônias de P. nigriceps em oito localidades no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Para análise do padrão de venação da asa, foram marcados 13 marcos anatômicos na asa anterior direita de cinco a 20 operárias por colônia. A análise genética foi realizada avaliando um fragmento do gene Citocromo Oxidase I em M. caerulea, e Citocromo B em P. nigriceps. A análise morfométrica demonstrou estruturação dos grupos com separação estatisticamente significativa (α<0,0001) entre as localidades de M. caerulea. As distâncias morfométricas estão correlacionadas com a distância geográfica, e coerentes com regiões fisiográficas do bioma Pampa. A análise dos perfis de hidrocarbonetos distinguiu colônias de diferentes localidades, mas suas distâncias não apresentaram correlação com as distâncias geográficas. Foram encontrados seis haplótipos, todos exclusivos, com diversidade nucleotídica (π) de 0,01631e uma diversidade haplotípica (Hd) de 0,74. Para P. nigriceps, as análises morfométricas apresentaram diferenças significativas entre localidades e correlação com as distâncias geográficas e biomas. A análise dos perfis de hidrocarbonetos distinguiu colônias de diferentes localidades, mas suas distâncias não apresentaram correlação com as distâncias geográficas. Foram encontrados 17 haplótipos, todos exclusivos, com diversidade nucleotídica (π) de 0,0147 e diversidade haplotípica (Hd) de 0,94. A presença de diversos haplótipos exclusivos, perfis morfométricos e de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares em populações pertencentes a diferentes biomas indicam a necessidade de uma atenção especial para estas populações no momento da definição de estratégias de conservação das espécies. Uma especial atenção às abelhas da espécie Mourella caerulea, que além de ser uma espécie representante única de um gênero monoespecífico, apresenta grandes distâncias populacionais entre os indivíduos de todas as localidades amostradas.Palavras-chave: abelhas sem ferrão, Mourella caerulea, Plebeia nigriceps, morfometria geométrica, DNA mitocondrial, hidrocarbonetos cuticulares. AbstractMourella caerulea and Plebeia nigriceps are two stingless bees with occurrence in the South region of Brazil. The first is commonly known as mirim-de-chão or bieira and the second is known as mirim nigr...

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Effect of time on colony odour stability in the ant Formica exsecta

Cited by 16 publications

References 17 publications

Weak patriline effects are present in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of isolated Formica exsecta ants but they disappear in the colony environment

Weak patriline effects are present in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of isolated Formica exsecta ants but they disappear in the colony environment

Sources of Variation in Cuticular Hydrocarbons in the Ant Formica exsecta

Caracterização populacional de Mourella caerulea (Friese, 1900) e Plebeia nigriceps (Friese, 1901) (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) através de morfometria geométrica da asa, análise de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares e DNA mitocondrial

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