The build-up of dominance hierarchies in eusocial insects

Abstract

Reproductive division of labour is a hallmark of eusocial insects. However, its stability can often be hampered by the potential for reproduction by otherwise sterile nest-mates. Dominance hierarchy has a crucial role in some species in regulating which individuals reproduce. Compared with those in vertebrates, the dominance hierarchies in eusocial insects tend to involve many more individuals, and should require additional selective forces unique to them. Here, we provide an overview of a series of studies on dominance hierarchies in eusocial insects. Although reported from diverse eusocial taxa, dominance hierarchies have been extensively studied in paper wasps and ponerine ants. Starting from molecular physiological attributes of individuals, we describe how the emergence of dominance hierarchies can be understood as a kind of self-organizing process through individual memory and local behavioural interactions. The resulting global structures can be captured by using network analyses. Lastly, we argue the adaptive significance of dominance hierarchies from the standpoint of sterile subordinates. Kin selection, underpinned by relatedness between nest-mates, is key to the subordinates' acceptance of their positions in the hierarchies. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

Dominance in a socially dynamic setting: hierarchical structure and conflict dynamics in ravens' foraging groups

“…Both cognitive building blocks, individual recognition and transitive inference, have been successfully demonstrated in experimental studies across taxonomic orders, e.g. paper wasps ([ 12 ]; see also [ 13 ]), primates, birds and fish [ 14 , 15 ]. In such systems, rank-related aggression strategies may thus emerge, such as individuals directing aggression towards opponents of similar competitive ability, likely to maintain their rank, resulting in a close-competitor strategy [ 16 , 17 ].…”

The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies

“…Many contributions highlight the rapid development of advanced quantitative tools for social network analysis as playing an important role in driving new insight into the structure and function of dominance hierarchies (Tibbetts et al . [ 57 ], Shimoji & Dobata [ 71 ], Redhead & Power [ 23 ] and McCowan et al . [ 33 ]).…”

“…These physiological differences are viewed as plastic responses to the different demands of dominant and subordinate status, although both dominants and subordinates can suffer long-term costs as a result of these modifications. Turning to the societies of invertebrates, Shimoji & Dobata [ 71 ] review the development and evolution of dominance hierarchies in eusocial insects, and describe how dominance hierarchies and associated reproductive division of labour emerge through behavioural and physiological suppression of ovarian development in subordinates. Self-organizing processes are implicated in the transition from local behavioural interactions to colony-level dominance hierarchies.…”

Individual experience influences reconstruction of division of labour under colony disturbance in a queenless ant species (Diacamma cf. indicum)

“…In some species including D. cf. indicum, a dominance hierarchy formed through repeated interactions promotes reproductive DOL (44). Generally, dominance interactions occur frequently in queen-absent colonies, with dominant workers able to reproduce directly (e.g.…”