Genetic variation and task specialization in the desert leaf-cutter ant, Acromyrmex versicolor
Genetic variation and task specialization in the desert leaf-cutter ant, Acromyrmex versicolor
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DOI：
10.1016/j.anbehav.2003.06.023
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发表时间：
2004-07-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Fewell, JH
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Julian, GE;Fewell, JH
社会性昆虫群体中的遗传多样性是由多次交配或多个蜂王产生的，这被假设为促进工人任务专业化，从而促进劳动分工。然而，很少有研究真正研究基因型可能影响个体工人行为的机制。在这项研究中，我们解剖可能的遗传效应对工人的工作表现在沙漠切叶蚁。我们假设基因型可以通过（1）与年龄相关的任务转换率（年龄多基因计划），（2）个人任务偏好和/或（3）任务绩效率来影响工人行为。为了区分这些可能的机制，我们产生了来自不同遗传来源的工人的复合菌落，并在其一生中跟踪单独标记工人的行为。我们发现matrilines（不同女王的后代）在整体任务的表现显着差异。特别是，我们发现了一个负协方差的可能性觅食与抚育真菌内的巢。不同母系的工蜂从巢内到觅食的过渡年龄也不同，但任务执行率没有变化。我们的研究结果表明，在这个系统中的劳动分工是受遗传影响的个人的任务偏好和年龄相关的任务选择，但不是变异，在活动水平。
The genetic diversity in social insect colonies that is generated by multiple mating or multiple queens has been hypothesized to promote worker task specialization and therefore facilitate division of labour. However, few studies have actually examined the mechanisms by which genotype may influence individual worker behaviour. In this study, we dissect possible genetic effects on worker task performance in the desert leaf-cutter ant. We hypothesize that genotype could affect worker behaviour via (1) the rate of age-related task switching (age polyethism schedule), (2) individual task preference, and/or (3) task performance rates. To discriminate among these possible mechanisms, we generated composite colonies of workers from different genetic sources and followed the behaviour of individually marked workers over their lifetimes. We found significant differences among matrilines (offspring of different queens) in overall task performance. In particular, we found a negative covariance in likelihood of foraging versus tending fungus inside the nest. Worker's of different matrilines also varied in the age of transition from inside the nest to foraging, but did not vary in task performance rates. Our results suggest that division of labour in this system is affected by genetic influences on individual task preference and age-related task choice, but not on variation, in activity level.