Between fighting and tolerance： reproductive biology of wingless males in the ant Cardiocondyla venustula  

作　　者：Susanne Jacobs Jurgen Heinze 

机构地区：[1]LS ZoologielEvolutionsbiologie, Universitat Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

出　　处：《Insect Science》2017年第5期818-828,共11页昆虫科学（英文版）

摘　　要：Male reproductive tactics vary widely across the species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla, from obligatory lethal combat among co-occurring males to complete mutual tolerance. The African species C. venustula Wheeler, 1908 has an intermediate phylogenetic position between taxa with fighting males and taxa with tolerant males and also shows an intermediate male behavior. Males from 2 native populations in South Africa and a population introduced to Puerto Rico attacked and killed freshly eclosing rivals but rarely engaged in deadly fights with adult competitors, Instead, several males per colony established small ＂territories＂ in their natal nests and defended them against other males. Males with a stable territory had more contact with female sexuals than nonterritorial males and more frequently engaged in mating attempts. In controlled choice experiments, female sexuals did not show any preference for particular males. We suggest that male territoriality in C. venustula is an adaptation to the seasonal production of large numbers of female sexuals by multiple mothers.Male reproductive tactics vary widely across the species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla, from obligatory lethal combat among co-occurring males to complete mutual tolerance. The African species C. venustula Wheeler, 1908 has an intermediate phylogenetic position between taxa with fighting males and taxa with tolerant males and also shows an intermediate male behavior. Males from 2 native populations in South Africa and a population introduced to Puerto Rico attacked and killed freshly eclosing rivals but rarely engaged in deadly fights with adult competitors, Instead, several males per colony established small ＂territories＂ in their natal nests and defended them against other males. Males with a stable territory had more contact with female sexuals than nonterritorial males and more frequently engaged in mating attempts. In controlled choice experiments, female sexuals did not show any preference for particular males. We suggest that male territoriality in C. venustula is an adaptation to the seasonal production of large numbers of female sexuals by multiple mothers.

关 键 词：Cardiocondyla ergatoid males FORMICIDAE male competition sexual selection TERRITORIALITY 

分 类 号：Q492[生物学—生理学] Q969.554.2