How many gamergates is an ant queen worth?
Ant reproductives exhibit different morphological adaptations linked to dispersal and fertility. By reviewing the literature on taxa where workers can reproduce sexually (i.e. become gamergates) we show that (1) species with a single gamergate generally have lost the winged queen caste, whereas only half of the species with several gamergates have, and (2) single-gamergate species have smaller colonies than multiple-gamergate species. Comparison with "classical" ants without gamergates, where having one vs having several winged queens are two distinct syndromes, suggests that having one vs having several gamergates are not. Gamergate number does not affect the success of colony fission, but retention of the queen caste permits the option of independent foundation.
Monnin
Thibaud
T
Fonctionnement et évolution des systèmes écologiques CNRS UMR 7625, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 7 quai Saint Bernard, 75005 Paris, France. Thibaud.Monnin@snv.jussieu.fr
Peeters
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity