Mating for Variety: Activity and Fitness in Pogonomyrmex Harvester Ants

多样化交配：Pogonomyrmex 收割蚁的活动和健康

• 批准号: 0344896
• 负责人: Blaine Cole
• 金额: $ 33万
• 依托单位: University of Houston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-04-01 至 2008-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0344896&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mating; Variety; Activity; Fitness; Pogonomyrmex

Mating for Variety: Activity and fitness in Pogonomyrmex Harvester AntsPI: Blaine Cole and Diane Wiernasz This research will test the hypothesis that genetic variation increases efficiency and leads to higher performance within social groups. The study will use the seed harvesting ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis as a model system. Genetic variability among social groups (colonies) in this species is generated by the mating behavior of queens, which may mate with as few as two or as many as eleven males, producing colonies that differ considerably in the genetic variation among colony members (workers). This variation is correlated with the amount of time that colonies have to search for food. Colonies with high levels of genetic variation are able to spend more time searching for food. The research will determine 1) whether the amount of time available for collecting food corresponds to the amount of food or the quality of food that the colony acquires; 2) how differences in genetic variation among colonies lead to differences in the duration of activity; and 3) whether differences in genetic variability result in differences in survival and reproduction among colonies. This study will begin to answer fundamental questions about the role of genetic variation in determining efficiency in a social organism.

品种交配：活动和健身在Pogonomyrmex收获蚁PI：布莱恩科尔和黛安Wiernasz这项研究将测试的假设，遗传变异增加效率，并导致更高的性能在社会群体。 这项研究将使用种子收获蚂蚁，Pogonomyrmex occurentalis作为一个模型系统。 在这个物种中，社会群体（群体）之间的遗传变异是由蜂王的交配行为产生的，蜂王可以与少至两个或多至11个雄性交配，产生的群体在群体成员（工人）之间的遗传变异差异很大。 这种变化与蜂群寻找食物的时间有关。 具有高水平遗传变异的群体能够花更多的时间寻找食物。 这项研究将确定：1）收集食物的时间是否与殖民地获得的食物量或食物质量相对应; 2）蜂群之间遗传变异的差异如何导致活动持续时间的差异; 3）遗传变异的差异是否导致蜂群之间生存和繁殖的差异。 这项研究将开始回答有关遗传变异在决定社会有机体效率中的作用的基本问题。