title: Polyandry and fitness in the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis.
abstract: Using four highly polymorphic microsatellite markers (12-28 alleles), we gentoyped workers from 63 colonies of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. Colonies have a single, multiply mated queen, and an average number of 6.3 patrilines per colony. Colony growth was measured over an 8-year period in the study population. Intracolonial relatedness and colony growth are correlated negatively, indicating a substantial fitness benefit to multiple mating.
authors.affiliation: Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5001, USA. dwiernasz@uh.edu
authors.forename: Diane C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wiernasz
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Perroni
authors.forename: Blaine J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003120:Colorado; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers