Demography and behaviour of polygyne nests of the supercolonial ant Cataglyphis niger: Does kinship matter?

摘要: The basic ant colony structure is presumed to have evolved trough kin selection. However, ants show a remarkable diversity in social organizations from monogynous and monoandrous queen the more derived states of polygyny with polyandrous queens. It not clear whether selection can still explain these societies. existence an evolutionary enigma since theory predicts that queens should thrive for reproductive monopoly on one hand, workers are predicted favor their own matriline rearing gynes, other hand. Using Quick Response (QR) - barcoding system allows tracking individual interactions, along polymorphic DNA microsatellite markers indicating patriline each worker nest, we demonstrate complex interactions polygyne nests Cataglyphis niger. C. niger only but constitute supercolony study site. Our findings both residing nest necessarily related other, first this species, support population. Also line such structure, they contribute equally production Unlike invasive supercolonial native Israel, raising questions about driving forces stabilize society, apart