Parasites, worker polymorphism, and queen number in social insects

Article Abstract:

A study emphasizes the importance of pathogens and parasites in shaping different elements of social structure of insect colonies. Pathogens may explain the association between queen bee number per colony and genetic variability in bee populations and the presence or absence of polymorphic workers in ant populations. The study highlights the importance of pathogens and parasites in shaping the social organization in insects and the effects of polygyny and morphological castes on the defense against parasites.

Genetic polymorphisms, Parasites, Insect societies

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Relatedness asymmetry and reproductive sharing in animal societies

Article Abstract:

The model showing that reproduction in social groups is generally shared more equally in sister-sister than in mother-daughter associations can be applied to various types of family structures of social vertebrates. More and detailed empirical data on reproductive skews in different kinds of family groups should be gathered for more thorough tests of the relatedness asymmetry subhypothesis of the optimal skew theory.

Familial behavior in animals, Animal familial behavior, Animal societies

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Partitioning of reproduction in mother-daughter versus sibling associations: a test of optimal skew theory

Article Abstract:

An important feature of cooperative animal societies is the intensity of individual control over total reproduction in the group. Reproductive skews in 17 eusocial hymenoptera reveal higher incidence of skews in matrifilial societies. A study of reproductive divisions in 20 vertebrate societies helps validate that reproductive control is more likely in matrifilial than in semi-social societies.

Animals

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