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The role of microgynes in the reproductive strategy of the neotropical ant Ectatomma ruidum

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Abstract

Miniaturized queens, microgynes, are regarded as an alternative reproductive strategy sparsely present through the ant world. The described roles of miniaturized queens include alternative short-distance dispersal morphs, an adaptation to polygyny and inquiline parasites. Some of these inquiline parasite microgynes have been described as a separate species from their host. In the poneromorph group, miniaturized queens are only reported in two Mexican populations of two Ectatomminae: Ectatomma tuberculatum, in which small queens represent an inquiline species (Ectatomma parasiticum) and Ectatomma ruidum. E. ruidum presents apparently facultative polygyny with microgynes. We used mitochondrial DNA markers and newly developed microsatellite loci to investigate the status as well as the role of microgynes in E. ruidum. We confirmed that microgynes and macrogynes are from the same species. This species is almost exclusively monogynous and monoandrous, supernumerary dealate queens of both types being actually daughters of the mother queen. An apparently polygynous nest was more often headed by a macrogyne than a microgyne. We didn't find any inbreeding or isolation by distance in the studied population, indicating that new gynes are inseminated by unrelated males and can establish a new nest far from their natal nest. However, re-adoption of daughter queens seems to be the rule and rate of microgyny appears to be linked to nest density and environmental factors.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided by the Université Paris 13 (BQR) and the FYSSEN Foundation. S. Aron, L. Grumiau and L. Leniaud (Evolution Biologique et Ecologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) provided useful support and full access to DNA Sequencer. J.F. Sylvain and C. Capdevielle-Dulac (Diversité, Ecologie et Evolution des Insectes Tropicaux, LEGS, CNRS UPR 9034, France) as well as M. Solignac and D. Vautrin (LEGS, CNRS UPR 9034, France) allow and guide us all along the process of microsatellite marker characterisation. J.A. López Méndez (ECOSUR Tapachula) and Don E. Hernández Colomo gave us technical support during field collection, and the INIFAP allowed us to work at the field station. Finally, we thank B. Seifert, and three anonymous referees, for their comments on the manuscript and S. Evison that reviewed the English of our text.

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  1. Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, EA 4443, Université Paris-Nord, UFR L.S.H.S, 99, avenue J.-B. Clément, 93430, Villetaneuse, France

    Jean-Christophe Lenoir, Alejandro Nettel, Dominique Fresneau & Chantal Poteaux

  2. Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, CNRS-UMR 5169, Université Paul Sabatier, Bât. IVR3, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse cedex 09, France

    Jean-Paul Lachaud

  3. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Dpto Entomología Tropical, Avenida Centenario Km. 5.5, AP 424, 77900, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico

    Jean-Paul Lachaud

  4. Campus del Mar, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas. Prolongación Juán José Calzada s/n, Tonalá, Chiapas, Mexico

    Alejandro Nettel

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  1. Jean-Christophe Lenoir
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  2. Jean-Paul Lachaud
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Correspondence to Jean-Christophe Lenoir.

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Lenoir, JC., Lachaud, JP., Nettel, A. et al. The role of microgynes in the reproductive strategy of the neotropical ant Ectatomma ruidum . Naturwissenschaften 98, 347–356 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-011-0774-3

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