Sex allocation in the polydomous leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex balzani

摘要: Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse sex allocation in a population of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex balzani occurring pasture southern Brazil. The field sample consisted 151 fungus-garden chambers (18 queenright and 133 queenless), belonging 50 nests with three vertically stacked per nest on average. Taking chamber as unit analysis, seven predictor variables were considered: sampling date, depth, volume, weight fungus garden, presence queen, number large workers, small medium workers. population-level numerical proportion females 0.548 inferred proportional energetic investment 0.672. former not significantly different from 0.5 (P=0.168), but latter (P=0.0003). garden increased workers present (P=0.0002) decreased dry (P=0.012). This implies that resource acquisition through foraging is likely be major proximate determinant allocation. negative correlation between female bias might due developing adult requiring more food than males, this hypothesis could confirmed by direct statistical evidence.