Genetic diversity promotes homeostasis in insect colonies.
Although most insect colonies are headed by a singly mated queen, some ant, wasp and bee taxa have evolved high levels of multiple mating or 'polyandry'. We argue here that a contributing factor towards the evolution of polyandry is that the resulting genetic diversity within colonies provides them with a system of genetically based task specialization, enabling them to respond resiliently to environmental perturbation. An alternate view is that genetic contributions to task specialization are a side effect of multiple mating, which evolved through other causes, and that genetically based task specialization now makes little or no contribution to colony fitness.
Oldroyd
Benjamin P
BP
Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences A12, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. boldroyd@bio.usyd.edu.au
Fewell
Jennifer H
JH
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012919:Social Behavior