Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms

Abstract Sex allocation is one of the most studied traits in evolutionary biology because its theoretical predictions match the empirical data. Here, using the Ryukyu dry-wood termite Neotermes sugioi, we investigated several factors that could bias the sex allocation in three populations (Okinawa,...

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Autores principales:	Y. Miyaguni, A. Agarie, K. Sugio, K. Tsuji, K. Kobayashi
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/2c7ee9d606874b8db13d470738f56913
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:2c7ee9d606874b8db13d470738f569132021-12-02T16:17:34ZCaste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms10.1038/s41598-021-94505-w2045-2322https://doaj.org/article/2c7ee9d606874b8db13d470738f569132021-07-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94505-whttps://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Sex allocation is one of the most studied traits in evolutionary biology because its theoretical predictions match the empirical data. Here, using the Ryukyu dry-wood termite Neotermes sugioi, we investigated several factors that could bias the sex allocation in three populations (Okinawa, Ishigaki/Iriomote, and Yonaguni). Our survey showed that there were more queen-only colonies than king-only colonies in these populations, suggesting a longer lifespan of the queens than that of the kings. In this condition, sex-asymmetric reproductive value (SRV) theory predicts female bias, because even after the short-lived kings die, the long-lived queens can continue reproduction with their sons. However, sex allocation in this species seemed to be biased toward males. Furthermore, we examined the possibility of intrasexual competition among siblings (ICS). If ICS is the cause of the bias, the allocation is expected to change depending on the total investment in sexual offspring. However, the biomass of both male and female alates increased linearly with the increase in the total biomass of the alates in these populations. Thus, neither the SRV nor the ICS theory could explain the male-biased sex ratio of N. sugioi. On the basis of these results, we discuss the remaining possibilities in this species.Y. MiyaguniA. AgarieK. SugioK. TsujiK. KobayashiNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Y. Miyaguni A. Agarie K. Sugio K. Tsuji K. Kobayashi Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms
description	Abstract Sex allocation is one of the most studied traits in evolutionary biology because its theoretical predictions match the empirical data. Here, using the Ryukyu dry-wood termite Neotermes sugioi, we investigated several factors that could bias the sex allocation in three populations (Okinawa, Ishigaki/Iriomote, and Yonaguni). Our survey showed that there were more queen-only colonies than king-only colonies in these populations, suggesting a longer lifespan of the queens than that of the kings. In this condition, sex-asymmetric reproductive value (SRV) theory predicts female bias, because even after the short-lived kings die, the long-lived queens can continue reproduction with their sons. However, sex allocation in this species seemed to be biased toward males. Furthermore, we examined the possibility of intrasexual competition among siblings (ICS). If ICS is the cause of the bias, the allocation is expected to change depending on the total investment in sexual offspring. However, the biomass of both male and female alates increased linearly with the increase in the total biomass of the alates in these populations. Thus, neither the SRV nor the ICS theory could explain the male-biased sex ratio of N. sugioi. On the basis of these results, we discuss the remaining possibilities in this species.
format	article
author	Y. Miyaguni A. Agarie K. Sugio K. Tsuji K. Kobayashi
author_facet	Y. Miyaguni A. Agarie K. Sugio K. Tsuji K. Kobayashi
author_sort	Y. Miyaguni
title	Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms
title_short	Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms
title_full	Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms
title_fullStr	Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms
title_full_unstemmed	Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms
title_sort	caste development and sex ratio of the ryukyu drywood termite neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/2c7ee9d606874b8db13d470738f56913
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Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms

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