Task allocation depends on matriline in the ponerine ant Gnamptogenys striatula Mayr

Matriline and the predominant social tasks performed by workers are correlated in the functionally polygynous ponerine ant Gnamptogenys striatula. This result favors the idea that polygyny might have been secondarily selected and maintained in ants because it provided more genetic variability and, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of insect behavior 2000-07, Vol.13 (4), p.553-562
Main Authors: BLATRIX, R, DURAND, J.-L, JAISSON, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal ethology
Biological and medical sciences
Entomology
Formicidae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetic diversity
Gnamptogenys striatula
Insects
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
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Summary:Matriline and the predominant social tasks performed by workers are correlated in the functionally polygynous ponerine ant Gnamptogenys striatula. This result favors the idea that polygyny might have been secondarily selected and maintained in ants because it provided more genetic variability and, thus, more potential variation in the regulation of the division of labor within mutualistic societies. As in previous studies on ants, nepotism could not be demonstrated. Because of the relatively small number of individuals per colony, these ponerine ants constitute a valuable model for exploring how polyethism is determined in insect societies.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0892-7553
1572-8889
DOI:10.1023/A:1007815703049