The origins and relatedness of multiple reproductives in colonies of the termiteNasutitermes corniger

Abstract

Colonies of the termite Nasutitermes corniger often contain multiple reproductive queens and kings. We used double-strand conformation polymorphism (DSCP) analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to determine the probable origins of co-occurring reproductives. Colonies di¡ered in queen and king number, in the number of nests containing reproductives, and in the genetic relationships among reproductives. Most of the 44 colonies contained a single pair of maternally unrelated reproductives. In the two single-nest colonies with a pair of queens, the two queens di¡ered in mtDNA haplotype, suggesting nest-founding by unrelated queens. In the seven single-nest colonies with larger numbers of reproductives (11^49), all reproductives shared the same haplotype, a pattern consistent with replacement of a single pair by several o¡spring. As predicted by theory, the number of coexisting queens was greater for replacement reproductives than for co-foundresses. Several complex colonies contained multiple queens of two or more haplotypes distributed among several interconnected nests. This indicates that several matrilines can persist within a colony through one or more generations of budding and replacement, a hypothesis con¢rmed by orphaning experiments. The various modes of termite colony formation rival the diversity seen in ant species and demonstrate the remarkable convergence of behaviours between the two groups.

Colony Genetic Structure of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) from Natural Populations in Nebraska

“…Genetic studies of other termites have shown that the degree of relatedness of the founders in monogamous colonies (simple families) varies among species and populations within the same species. Simple family colonies of Nasutitermes corniger Motschulsky (Atkinson and Adams 1997), Schedorhinotermes lamanianus Sjostedt (Husseneder et al 1999), R. )avipes, R. virginicus and R. hesperus are generally headed by a pair of unrelated colony founders, whereas the reproductive pairs of R. hageni and R. malletei colonies are often related (Copren 2007, Vargo and Carlson 2006, Vargo et al 2006b, Parman and Vargo 2008. In a French population of R. grassei, simple family colonies had closely-related reproductives (DeHeer et al 2005) whereas unrelated reproductives were found in colonies of a Portuguese population (Nobre et al 2008).…”

Population structure and colony composition of two Zootermopsis nevadensis subspecies

“…Similarly, understanding eusociality in Isoptera may depend on empirical evidence from genetic studies and a better understanding of the diversity and evolutionary changes in termite breeding structure. To this end, there is a growing number of population genetic studies involving termites (Reilly, 1987;Atkinson and Adams, 1997;Thompson and Hebert, 1998;Husseneder et al, 1999Husseneder et al, , 2002Jenkins et al, 1999;Bulmer et al, 2001;Goodisman and Crozier, 2002;Vargo, 2003;Vargo et al, 2003Vargo et al, , 2006aDeHeer and Vargo, 2004;DeHeer et al, 2005;Dronnet et al, 2005;Hacker et al, 2005;Husseneder et al, 2005;Vargo and Carlson, 2006). The results of such studies have greatly increased our understanding of termite colony structure.…”

Lifetime monogamy and the evolution of eusociality

“…The only difference with the ants, bees and wasps is that males have similarly long lifespans to queens and that mating continues throughout life. Exceptions to this rule may occur in evolutionarily derived termite lineages where multiple breeders are sometimes found (Thorne 1983(Thorne , 1985Roisin 1987;Darlington 1988;Atkinson & Adams 1997;Thompson & Hebert 1998;Brandl et al 2001;Hacker et al 2005;Atkinson et al 2008), but no cases of effective re-mating promiscuity followed by successful colony continuation appear to have been documented with genetic markers. Issues of matechoice and sexual selection during swarming (e.g.…”

“…This appears consistent with the data as multiple breeders, although reported from tens of termite species, are almost always a rare and facultative phenomenon at the population level (Thorne 1985;Roisin 1987). Given these interesting differences between the ants and the termites, it would be of paramount importance to critically evaluate the sparse records on multiple breeders in colonies of the higher termites (Thorne 1983(Thorne , 1985Roisin 1987;Darlington 1988;Atkinson & Adams 1997;Thompson & Hebert 1998;Brandl et al 2001;Hacker et al 2005;Atkinson et al 2008) to ascertain that: 1. They are derived from unrelated co-founders for each of the sexes, rather than being secondary reproductives produced by a single founding pair; 2.…”