Effects of Social Organisation on Spatial Genetic Structures in Formica Ants

摘要: The social organization of insect colonies can be broadly defined as monogynous, single reproductive female or polygynous, several females. Monogynous is genetically simple while polygynous more complex and the two forms differ commonly in mating dispersal behaviour well colony foundation. aim thesis was to study how affects spatial genetic structures. Formica wood ants are suitable organisms both intra- interspecific variation occur.A set microsatellite loci were characterized from a small insert library ant exsecta. cross amplified among other species. In population F. exsecta containing monogynous colonies, differentiation stronger form at nuclear mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. data further suggests that restricted form.Female gene flow between appears absent truncorum contained non overlapping mtDNA haplotypes. Strong profound allele frequency differences suggest male interform weak. evolve largely independently when found sympatry though do not represent separate evolutionary lineages within species.Spatial intraspecific similar species polyctena rufa quantitative level polygyny existed. populations lugubris, but strong homogenized frequencies.