Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant

Abstract In social species, the presence of several reproductive individuals can generate conflict. In social insects, as queen number increases, individual oviposition rate may decrease because of direct and indirect behavioural and/or chemical interactions. Understanding the factors that mediate d...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Sílvia Abril, Crisanto Gómez
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2020
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/a429b197cc4141c6917fc82369ede4e6
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:a429b197cc4141c6917fc82369ede4e6
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:a429b197cc4141c6917fc82369ede4e62021-12-02T15:10:25ZReproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant10.1038/s41598-020-77574-12045-2322https://doaj.org/article/a429b197cc4141c6917fc82369ede4e62020-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77574-1https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract In social species, the presence of several reproductive individuals can generate conflict. In social insects, as queen number increases, individual oviposition rate may decrease because of direct and indirect behavioural and/or chemical interactions. Understanding the factors that mediate differences in queen fecundity should provide insight into the regulation and maintenance of highly polygynous insect societies, such as those of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). In this study, we investigated (1) whether differences in the oviposition rates of Argentine ant queens exposed to polygynous conditions could result from interactions among them; (2) whether such differences in fecundity stemmed from differences in worker attention; and (3) whether polygynous conditions affected the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of queens (CHCs). We found that differences in queen fecundity and CHC profiles observed under polygynous conditions disappeared when queens were exposed to monogynous conditions, suggesting some form of reproductive inhibition may exist when queens cohabit. These differences did not seem to arise from variation in worker attention because more fecund queens were not more attractive to workers. Levels of some CHCs were higher in more fecund queens. These CHCs are associated with greater queen productivity and survival. Our findings indicate that such compounds could be multifunctional queen pheromones.Sílvia AbrilCrisanto GómezNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 10, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2020)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Sílvia Abril Crisanto Gómez Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant
description	Abstract In social species, the presence of several reproductive individuals can generate conflict. In social insects, as queen number increases, individual oviposition rate may decrease because of direct and indirect behavioural and/or chemical interactions. Understanding the factors that mediate differences in queen fecundity should provide insight into the regulation and maintenance of highly polygynous insect societies, such as those of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). In this study, we investigated (1) whether differences in the oviposition rates of Argentine ant queens exposed to polygynous conditions could result from interactions among them; (2) whether such differences in fecundity stemmed from differences in worker attention; and (3) whether polygynous conditions affected the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of queens (CHCs). We found that differences in queen fecundity and CHC profiles observed under polygynous conditions disappeared when queens were exposed to monogynous conditions, suggesting some form of reproductive inhibition may exist when queens cohabit. These differences did not seem to arise from variation in worker attention because more fecund queens were not more attractive to workers. Levels of some CHCs were higher in more fecund queens. These CHCs are associated with greater queen productivity and survival. Our findings indicate that such compounds could be multifunctional queen pheromones.
format	article
author	Sílvia Abril Crisanto Gómez
author_facet	Sílvia Abril Crisanto Gómez
author_sort	Sílvia Abril
title	Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant
title_short	Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant
title_full	Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant
title_fullStr	Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant
title_full_unstemmed	Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant
title_sort	reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive argentine ant
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2020
url	https://doaj.org/article/a429b197cc4141c6917fc82369ede4e6
work_keys_str_mv	AT silviaabril reproductiveinhibitionamongnestmatequeensintheinvasiveargentineant AT crisantogomez reproductiveinhibitionamongnestmatequeensintheinvasiveargentineant
_version_	1718387709208166400

Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant

Ejemplares similares