Most disturbed habitats in the tropics and subtropics harbor numerous species of invasive ants, and occasionally the same species has been introduced repeatedly from multiple geographical sources. We examined how expe...Most disturbed habitats in the tropics and subtropics harbor numerous species of invasive ants, and occasionally the same species has been introduced repeatedly from multiple geographical sources. We examined how experimental crossbreeding between sexuals from different populations affects the fitness of queens of the tramp ant Cardiocondyla itsukii, which is widely distributed in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Eggs laid by queens that mated with nestmate males had a higher hatchi ng rate than eggs laid by queens mated to males from neighboring (Hawaii x Kauai) or distant introduced populations (Hawaii/Kauai x Okinawa). Furthermore, inbreeding queens had a Ion ger lifespan and produced a less female-biased offspring sex ratio than queens from allopatric mating. This suggests that the genetic divergence between different source populations may already be so large that in case of multiple invasions eventual crossbreeding might negatively affect the fitness of tramp ants.展开更多
Dear Editor,The establishment of a new colony is a critical phase in the life of an insect society.Young ant queens may avoid the high risks of solitary founding by starting new colonies together with other young quee...Dear Editor,The establishment of a new colony is a critical phase in the life of an insect society.Young ant queens may avoid the high risks of solitary founding by starting new colonies together with other young queens(pleometrosis).Foundress associations may produce first workers faster and have a higher survival rate than solitary foundresses(Bernasconi&Strassmann,1999).Because cofoundresses are typically not related pleometrosis is rarely associated with a clear division of labor(Jeanson&Fewell,2008).展开更多
文摘Most disturbed habitats in the tropics and subtropics harbor numerous species of invasive ants, and occasionally the same species has been introduced repeatedly from multiple geographical sources. We examined how experimental crossbreeding between sexuals from different populations affects the fitness of queens of the tramp ant Cardiocondyla itsukii, which is widely distributed in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Eggs laid by queens that mated with nestmate males had a higher hatchi ng rate than eggs laid by queens mated to males from neighboring (Hawaii x Kauai) or distant introduced populations (Hawaii/Kauai x Okinawa). Furthermore, inbreeding queens had a Ion ger lifespan and produced a less female-biased offspring sex ratio than queens from allopatric mating. This suggests that the genetic divergence between different source populations may already be so large that in case of multiple invasions eventual crossbreeding might negatively affect the fitness of tramp ants.
文摘Dear Editor,The establishment of a new colony is a critical phase in the life of an insect society.Young ant queens may avoid the high risks of solitary founding by starting new colonies together with other young queens(pleometrosis).Foundress associations may produce first workers faster and have a higher survival rate than solitary foundresses(Bernasconi&Strassmann,1999).Because cofoundresses are typically not related pleometrosis is rarely associated with a clear division of labor(Jeanson&Fewell,2008).
