Termite colonies are usully headed by primary reproductives,which estab-listh nests during the swar ming scason.However,secondary reproductives may develop in some specics and become supplementary or replacement breed...Termite colonies are usully headed by primary reproductives,which estab-listh nests during the swar ming scason.However,secondary reproductives may develop in some specics and become supplementary or replacement breeders,extending colony lifes-pan.Here we investigate the developmental origin,fecundity and genetic characterizaion of ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasuitermes aquilinus(Holmgren),using morphometrical and histological techniques,five micosiallitle loci and the COI mitochondrial DNA.Twelve measurements performed on 208 apterous individuals of Nuauidius revealed 10 groups,including ergatoid females,which developed from major workers through two successive molts.and were characterized by the presence of imaginal features such as eyes andl wing buds.The difentiation of these features was correlated to physogastric development in these ergatoids,Histology revealed ooeytes in all matu-ration sages in worker-derived reproductives of N aquidinus,presence of nonflagellate spermatozoa inside the spermatheea,and royal fa body.Thus,ergatoid reproduwetives were reproductively functional.According to the genotypes of 221 individuals from 11 nests,and mitochondrial haplotypes of 43 ergatoids,73%of the colomies were simple families,whereas 27%were extendbed families.Despite the oecurenee of related reproductives,low inbreeding rates were detected within and among colonies.Such values could be explained given that sib mating itself cannot result in a higher inbreeding rate but depend on several factors discussed in detail.This is the first study to investigate the genetic structure of termite colonies influenced by the development of ergatoids and further investigations are encouraged 10 understand the inflwence of these reproductives on colony lifespan.展开更多
基金grants from Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESP(Proc.2012/23898-0.2014/25857-4 and 2017/04525-1)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvi-mento Tecnologico-CNPq(Proc.305539/2014-0)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior-CAPES(Financial code 001).
文摘Termite colonies are usully headed by primary reproductives,which estab-listh nests during the swar ming scason.However,secondary reproductives may develop in some specics and become supplementary or replacement breeders,extending colony lifes-pan.Here we investigate the developmental origin,fecundity and genetic characterizaion of ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasuitermes aquilinus(Holmgren),using morphometrical and histological techniques,five micosiallitle loci and the COI mitochondrial DNA.Twelve measurements performed on 208 apterous individuals of Nuauidius revealed 10 groups,including ergatoid females,which developed from major workers through two successive molts.and were characterized by the presence of imaginal features such as eyes andl wing buds.The difentiation of these features was correlated to physogastric development in these ergatoids,Histology revealed ooeytes in all matu-ration sages in worker-derived reproductives of N aquidinus,presence of nonflagellate spermatozoa inside the spermatheea,and royal fa body.Thus,ergatoid reproduwetives were reproductively functional.According to the genotypes of 221 individuals from 11 nests,and mitochondrial haplotypes of 43 ergatoids,73%of the colomies were simple families,whereas 27%were extendbed families.Despite the oecurenee of related reproductives,low inbreeding rates were detected within and among colonies.Such values could be explained given that sib mating itself cannot result in a higher inbreeding rate but depend on several factors discussed in detail.This is the first study to investigate the genetic structure of termite colonies influenced by the development of ergatoids and further investigations are encouraged 10 understand the inflwence of these reproductives on colony lifespan.
