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Inheritance of dominance in honeybees (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.)

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Summary

Hierarchies in worker dominance are well developed in reproductive workers of the Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.). Elements that influence worker dominance (trophallactic behaviour, fecundity, “queen substance” content) are mainly genetically determined. The estimated values for the heritabilities in the broader sense range from 0.27 to 0.89. This genetically based hierarchy leads to new insight into the theory of natural selection in honeybees. Besides selection at the colony level, or selection at the level of reproductives, natural selection also operates at the level of the individual worker bee within a colony.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Bienkunde (Polytechnische Gesellschaft), J.W. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M., Karl-von-Frisch-Weg 2, D-6370, Oberursel/Taunus, Federal Republic of Germany

    Robin F. A. Moritz & Elke Hillesheim

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  1. Robin F. A. Moritz
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  2. Elke Hillesheim
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Moritz, R.F.A., Hillesheim, E. Inheritance of dominance in honeybees (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 17, 87–89 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299434

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299434

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