Fine-scale genetic structure and dispersal distance in the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus

Suni, Sevan S.; Gordon, Deborah M.

doi:10.1038/hdy.2009.124

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…This would require that (1) there was little dispersal between sites, and (2) that the conditions that promote evolution of high mating frequency remained similar over several generations. The first condition is met for this species; dispersal is restricted over an area smaller than the geographic area sampled (Suni and Gordon, 2009). Our estimates of F st , G 0 st , and D st between the sites were 0.11, 0.31 and 0.16, indicating that gene flow is restricted between the sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lineage ratios have previously been demonstrated to vary considerably among local natural populations over relatively small geographic areas (Schwander et al, 2006;Anderson et al, 2006), with limited dispersal among populations (Suni and Gordon, 2009). Given the potential for independent evolution among populations, the variation in lineage ratios may alter the benefits of multiple mating among local populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High mating frequency and variation with lineage ratio in dependent-lineage harvester ants

Suni

Eldakar

2011

Insect. Soc.

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Explaining the evolution of multiple mating is a challenge because of the associated costs. For social insects, mating frequency may have fitness consequences due to effects on social interactions or genetic diversity within colonies. Here, we investigated the evolution of mating frequency in a social insect species with a unique genetic system that requires multiple mating. In certain populations of Pogonomyrmex harvester ants, there are two interbreeding yet genetically distinct mitochondrial lineages. Queens must mate with males of the opposite lineage to produce workers and with males of the same lineage to produce reproductive females. We expected queens of the dependent-lineage system to exhibit high mating frequencies relative to other social insects. Furthermore, we expected queens from populations of highly asymmetric lineage ratios to exhibit even higher mating frequencies, to adequately sample the population and successfully mate with males of the less common lineage. To test these predictions, we estimated the mating frequency of 16 P. barbatus queens, and compared these mating frequencies between two populations, one with relatively equal lineage ratio (60:40) and a second with a highly asymmetrical lineage ratio (96:4). Overall, observed mating frequency exceeded 10, which is high in comparison to other social insects, and our estimates of effective mating frequency were among the highest of Pogonomyrmex species. Mating frequency at the site with the asymmetrical lineage ratio was also significantly higher than the site with the more even ratio. Our results suggest that obligate multiple mating as well as lineage ratio contribute to the evolution of high mating frequency in dependent-lineage populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High mating frequency and variation with lineage ratio in dependent-lineage harvester ants

Suni

Eldakar

2011

Insect. Soc.

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“…To our knowledge, only one study so far has estimated dispersal distance in natural population of ants: queens of Pogonomyrmex barbatus also show very short dispersal distances despite dispersing on the wing (Suni and Gordon 2010). Indeed, reduced natal dispersal by the queens may be linked with evolution of eusociality, and hence a common feature in social Hymenoptera (Johnstone et al 2012), even in species with extensive mating flights, and aggravate the genetic loss caused by habitat fragmentation and low population sizes.…”

Section: Homozygosity Fitness Correlates and Mating Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternatively, genetic markers can be used to infer effective dispersal distances within and between populations (Suni and Gordon 2010, Mercader et al 2009, Driscoll et al 2010, Chapuisat et al 1997, Sundström et al 2003. However, these indirect measures of dispersal have not been validated by direct observations of individual dispersal distances in the same populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natal Dispersal, Mating Patterns, and Inbreeding in the AntFormica exsecta

Vitikainen

Haag-Liautard²,

Sundström

2015

The American Naturalist

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Sex-biased dispersal and multiple mating may prevent or alleviate inbreeding and its outcome, inbreeding depression, but studies demonstrating this in the wild are scarce.Perennial ant colonies offer a unique system to investigate the relationships between natal dispersal behaviour and inbreeding. Due to the sedentary life of ant colonies and life-time sperm storage by queens, measures of dispersal distance and mating strategy are easier to obtain than in most taxa. We used a suite of molecular markers to infer the natal colonies of queens and males in a wild population of the ant Formica exsecta. Dispersal was male-biased, with median male dispersal distances (ca. 140m) twice those of queens (ca. 60m). The results also showed the population to be inbred, and that inbreeding avoidance behaviours -sex-biased dispersal, queen dispersal distance and multiple mating -were all ineffective in reducing homozygosity among colony workers. Queen homozygosity did not affect dispersal behaviour, but more homozygous queens had lower colony founding success and were more incestuously mated themselves, with potentially accumulating effects on colony fitness. We also provide independent evidence that dispersal is sex-biased, and show that our estimate corresponds well to dispersal estimates derived from population genetic estimates.3

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“…Although examples on sex-biased dispersal in animals other than birds and mammals are also growing (e.g. Goodisman and Ross 1998;Gyllenstrand and Seppa 2003;Clemencet et al 2005;Bailey et al 2007;Suni and Gordon 2010), information for certain taxa is still rare and additional research would allow to test genuine predictions about dispersal bias in scarcely explored taxonomic groups (Goudet et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and within population male-biased gene-flow in the grasshopper Mioscirtus wagneri

2011

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Dispersal is a life history trait that plays a key role in population dynamics, determining gene flow and influencing the size, structure and persistence of populations. For these reasons, the study of the genetic consequences of dispersal can be considered a central topic in both conservation and population genetics. In this study we examine the patterns of fine-scale genetic structure within two populations of the grasshopper Mioscirtus wagneri (Orhoptera: Acrididae). For this purpose, we have used seven species-specific microsatellite markers to type 266 individuals from two populations (Peña Hueca and El Salobral) located in Central Spain. We have found subtle genetic differentiation between some sampling patches and significant kinship structures up to 25 m distance which were particularly patent for females. In Peña Hueca locality, patterns of isolation-by-distance at both the patch scale and the individual level have also revealed an association between genetic differentiation/ similarity and geographical distance in females but not in males. Overall, these data suggest a fine-scale spatial genetic substructure in the studied populations which seems to be mainly driven by female philopatry. Such pattern of within population genetic structure together with the inferred restricted dispersal distances is likely to contribute to reduce effective population sizes and inter-population gene flow. This can erode genetic variability and limit the colonization ability of this orthoptera, factors which can ultimately compromise the long-term persistence of their small size and isolated populations.

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Fine-scale genetic structure and dispersal distance in the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus

Cited by 25 publications

References 55 publications

High mating frequency and variation with lineage ratio in dependent-lineage harvester ants

High mating frequency and variation with lineage ratio in dependent-lineage harvester ants

Natal Dispersal, Mating Patterns, and Inbreeding in the AntFormica exsecta

Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and within population male-biased gene-flow in the grasshopper Mioscirtus wagneri

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