Abstract
Queen/worker thorax volume ratios were calculated in nine monogynous, seven polygynous and eight parasitic ant species in order to determine whether mode of nest founding is reflected in relative gyne size. A significant difference in this ratio was found between monogynous (independent nest founders) and polygynous and parasitic species (dependent nest founders). Thorax volume ratio in ants appears to be independent of actual gyne or worker size and can be used as a relative measure sure of colony investment in the gynes. Furthermore, thorax volume ratio seems to reflect the mode of nestfounding behaviour when compared between species within genera as well as among species in general. Polygyny is discussed as a nest-founding strategy that is selected for when nest founding by single gynes is difficult and costly. In addition, secondary benefits could be gained by polygynous colonies since investment in gyne size could be decreased.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bourke AFG, Heinze J (1994) The ecology of communal breeding: the case of multiple-queen leptothoracine ants. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 345:359–372
Brian MW (1951) Caste determination in a myrmicine ant. Experientia 7:182–183
Buschinger A (1974) Monogynie und Polygynie in Insektensozietäten. In: Schmidt GH (ed) Sozialpolymorphismus bei Insekten. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart
Collingwood CA (1979) The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Skandinavian Science Press, Klampenborg, Denmark
Douwes P (1990) Morphology of the parasitic myrmicine ant. In: Veeresh GK, Mallik B, Viraktamath CA (eds) Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of IUSSI 1990. Oxford & BH Publishing CO.PVT:LDT, New Delhi, 147–148
Douwes P, Sivusaari L, Niklasson M, Stille B (1987) Relatedness among queens in polygynous nests of the ant Leptothorax acervorum. Genetica 75:23–29
Dumpert K (1994) Das Sozialleben der Ameisen. Parey, Berlin
Elmes GW, Keller L (1993) Distribution and ecology of queen number in ants of the genus Myrmica. In: Keller L (ed) Queen number and socality in insects. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 294–307
Hamilton WD, May RM (1977) Dispersal in stable habitats. Nature 267:578–581
Haskins CP, EF Haskins (1950) Note on the method of colony foundation of the ponerine ant Brachyponera (Euponera) lutea Mayr. Psyche 37:1–9
Heinze J (1993a) Queen-queen interactions in polygynous ants. In: Keller L (ed) Queen sociality in insects. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 262–293
Heinze J (1993b) Life histories of subarctic ants. Arctic 46: 354–358
Herbers JM (1993) Ecological determinants of queen number in ants In: Keller L (ed) Queen sociality in insects. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 262–293
Hölldobler B, Wilson EO (1977) The number of queens: an important trait in ant evolution. Naturwissenschaften 64:8–15
Hölldobler B, Wilson EO (1990) The ants. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Keller L (1991) Queen number, mode of colony founding, and queen reproductive success in ants (Hymenoptera Formicidae). Ethol Ecol Evol 3:307–316
Keller L (1995) Social life: the paradox of multiple-queen colonies. Trends Ecol Evol (1995) 10:355–360
Keller L, Passera L (1989) Size and fat content gynes in relation to the mode of colony founding in ants (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). Oecologia 80:236–240
Keller L, Ross KG (1993) Phenotypic basis of reproductive sucess in a social insect: genetic and social determinants. Science 260:1107–1109
Kutter H (1977) Formicidae-Hymenoptera. Insecta helvetica: fauna vol 6. Schweizerische Entomologische Gesellschaft, Zürich
Nonacs P (1993) The effects of polygyny and colony life history on optimal sex investment. In: Keller L (ed) Queen sociality in insects. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 110–131
Oster GF, Wilson EO (1978) Case and ecology in the social insects (Monographs in population biology 12). Princeton University Press, Princeton
Porter SD, Jorgensen CD (1981) Foragers of the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex owyheei: a disposable caste? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 9:247–256
Rosengren R, Sundström L, Fortelius W (1993) Monogyny and polygyny in Formica ants: the result of alternative dispersal tactic. In: Keller L (ed) Queen sociality in insects. Oxford University Press Oxford, pp 308–333
Schmid-Hempel P (1984) Individually different foraging methods in the desert ant Cataglyphis bicolor (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 14:263–271
Stille M, Stille B (1992) Intra- and inter-nest variation in mitochondrial DNA in the polygynous ant Leptothorax acervorum (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). Insectes Soc 39:335–340
Stille M, Stille B (1993) Intrapopulation nestclusters of maternal DNA linages in the polygynous ant Leptothorax acervorum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insect Mol Biol 1:117–121
Stille M, Stille B, Douwes P (1991) Polygyny, relatedness and nest founding in the polygynous myrmicine ant Leptothorax acervorum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 28:91–96
Sundström L (1995) Dispersal polymorphism and physiological condition of males and females in the ant Formica truncorum. Behav Ecol 6:132–139
Wheeler WM (1910) Ants, their structure, development and behaviour. Colombia University Press, New York
Wheeler WM (1933) Colony founding among ants with account of some primitive Australian species. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stille, M. Queen/worker thorax volume ratios and nest-founding strategies in ants. Oecologia 105, 87–93 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328795
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328795