Is there conflict over direct reproduction in lower termite colonies?
Is there conflict over direct reproduction in lower termite colonies?
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DOI：
10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.10.017
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发表时间：
2011-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Korb, Judith
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hoffmann, Katharina;Korb, Judith
繁殖冲突在动物社会中很常见，在全能个体群体中尤为明显。然而，大多数研究都是针对非全能的社会膜翅目动物（蚂蚁，一些蜜蜂，黄蜂）进行的。相比之下，对白蚁冲突的系统研究在很大程度上缺乏。本文研究了低等白蚁隐蚁（Cryptotermes secundus）在蚁王对更替过程中可能发生的繁殖冲突。由于所有群体成员（士兵除外）都有能力成为年轻的替代生殖体，因此预计会发生强烈的冲突。我们的行为观察首先表明，在替换过程中没有明显的冲突，但杀死一些新生儿表明冲突并没有完全被抑制。研究发现了各种可能调节冲突的机制。个体在遗传过程中有不同的行为特征，反映了他们成为成功生殖的潜力。在没有繁殖的情况下，碰撞被证实是一种优势行为：那些继承了繁殖位置的个体比它们的同伴更容易碰撞。然而，要成为一个成功的繁殖者，还需要更多的品质：稳定地继承繁殖位置的替代繁殖体，比那些被杀死的繁殖体更多地通过肛交营养（肛门喂养）喂养同伴。我们的研究结果与长期存在的生理概念一致，即亲营养性作用于调节发育和短暂的敏感发育时期，限制了在任何给定时间内能够成为替代育种者的个体数量。这两种机制都有可能减少全能白蚁社会内部的冲突：前者作为一个诚实的信号，后者通过一个“公平的抽签”过程。(C) 2010动物行为研究协会。Elsevier Ltd.出版。版权所有。
Conflicts over reproduction are common in animal societies and are especially pronounced in groups of totipotent individuals. Nevertheless, most research is done on nontotipotent social hymenopterans (ants, some bees, wasps). In contrast, systematic studies on conflict in termites are largely lacking. We studied possible conflict over reproduction in the lower termite Cryptotermes secundus during replacement of the royal pair. Strong conflicts were predicted as all colony members (except soldiers) have the capability to become neotenic replacement reproductives. Our behavioural observations first implied that there was no overt conflict during replacement, but the killing of some neotenics suggested that conflict was not completely suppressed. Various mechanisms were found that may regulate conflict. Individuals had different behavioural profiles during the inheritance process, reflecting their potential to become a successful reproductive. Butting was confirmed as dominance behaviour when reproductives were absent: those individuals inheriting the breeding position butted more than their nestmates. Yet to become a successful breeder more qualities were required: replacement reproductives that stably inherited the breeding position fed nestmates more via proctodeal trophallaxis (anal feeding) than those that were killed. Our results are in line with longstanding physiological concepts of proctodeal trophallaxis acting to regulate development and a short sensitive developmental period that restricts the number of individuals capable at any given time of becoming replacement breeders. Both mechanisms have the potential to reduce conflicts within totipotent termite societies: the former by acting as an honest signal, the latter by a 'fair lottery' process. (C) 2010 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.