Beyond promiscuity: mate-choice commitments in social breeding

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 368(1613), P. 20120050 - 20120050

Published: Jan. 22, 2013

Obligate eusociality with distinct caste phenotypes has evolved from strictly monogamous sub-social ancestors in ants, some bees, wasps and termites. This implies that no lineage reached the most advanced form of social breeding, unless helpers at nest gained indirect fitness values via siblings were identical to direct offspring. The complete lack re-mating promiscuity equalizes sex-specific variances reproductive success. Later, evolutionary developments towards multiple queen-mating retained lifetime commitment between sexual partners, but reduced male variance success relative female's, similar vertebrate cooperative breeders. Here, I (i) discuss unique highly peculiar mating system adaptations eusocial insects; (ii) address ambiguities remained after earlier reviews extend monogamy logic evolution soldier castes; (iii) evaluate evidence for benefits driving dynamics (in)vertebrate while emphasizing fundamental differences obligate breeding; (iv) infer is a major driver higher levels organization bodies, colonies mutualisms. argue informative definitions systems separate facilitate transparency when testing inclusive theory.

Language: Английский

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What is a pair bond?

Hormones and Behavior, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 136, P. 105062 - 105062

Published: Sept. 30, 2021

Pair bonding is a psychological construct that we attempt to operationalize via behavioral and physiological measurements. Yet, pair has been both defined differently in various taxonomic groups as well used loosely describe not just affective phenomenon, but also social structure or mating system (either monogamy living). In this review, ask the questions: What historical definition of bond? Has differed across groups? evidence do see these Does observed alter bonding? neurobiology underlying behaviors affect well? And finally, what are upcoming directions which study needs head?

Language: Английский

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Lifespan prolonging mechanisms and insulin upregulation without fat accumulation in long-lived reproductives of a higher termite

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Jan. 13, 2022

Abstract Kings and queens of eusocial termites can live for decades, while sustain a nearly maximal fertility. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying their long lifespan, we carried out transcriptomics, lipidomics metabolomics in Macrotermes natalensis on sterile short-lived workers, long-lived kings five stages spanning twenty years adult queen maturation. Reproductives share gene expression differences from workers agreement with reduction several aging-related processes, involving upregulation DNA damage repair mitochondrial functions. Anti-oxidant is downregulated, peroxidability membranes decreases. Against expectations, observed an upregulated fat bodies reproductives components IIS pathway, including insulin-like peptide, Ilp9 . This pattern does not lead to deleterious storage physogastric queens, simple sugars dominate hemolymph large amounts resources are allocated towards oogenesis. Our findings support notion that all processes causing aging need be addressed simultaneously order prevent it.

Language: Английский

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Domains and Major Transitions of Social Evolution

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 3, 2022

Abstract Evolutionary change is usually incremental and continuous, but some increases in organizational complexity have been radical divisive. biologists, who refer to such events as “major transitions,” not always appreciated that these advances were novel forms of pairwise commitment subjugated previously independent agents. Inclusive fitness theory convincingly explains cooperation conflict societies animals free-living cells, deserve its eminent status it should also capture how major transitions originated: from prokaryote cells eukaryote via differentiated multicellularity, colonies with specialized queen worker castes. As yet, no attempt has made apply inclusive principles the origins events. Domains Major Transitions Social Evolution develops idea evolutionary involved new levels informational closure moved beyond looser partnerships. Early neo-Darwinians understood this principle, later social gradient thinking obscured discontinuity life’s fundamental transitions. The author argues required maximal kinship simple ancestors—not reduction already elaborate societies. Reviewing more than a century literature, he makes testable predictions, proposing open closed organisms require very different explanations. It appears only human ancestors lived complex before our cultural transition occurred. We therefore impose trajectory own history on rest nature. This thought-provoking text suitable for graduate-level students taking courses biology, behavioral ecology, organismal developmental genetics, well professional researchers fields. will appeal broader, interdisciplinary audience, including sciences humanities. Jacobus J. Boomsma Professor Ecology at University Copenhagen.

Language: Английский

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Why and how do termite kings and queens live so long?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 376(1823), P. 20190740 - 20190740

Published: March 8, 2021

Lifespan varies greatly across the tree of life. Of various explanations for this phenomenon, those that involve trade-offs between reproduction and longevity have gained considerable support. There is an important exception: social insect reproductives (queens in termites, also kings) exhibit both high reproductive outputs extraordinarily long lives. As ultimate proximate mechanisms underlying absence fecundity/longevity trade-off could shed light on unexpected dynamics molecular extended longevity, insects attracted much attention field ageing research. Here, we highlight current ecological physiological studies discuss possible evolutionary lifespans termite reproductives. We integrate these findings into a coherent framework revealing evolution Studies termites may explain why how shaped by natural selection. This article part theme issue 'Ageing sociality: why, when does sociality change patterns?'

Language: Английский

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Eusociality and the transition from biparental to alloparental care in termites

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 36(12), P. 3049 - 3059

Published: Sept. 16, 2022

Abstract In eusocial organisms, cooperative brood care within a colony represents situation where the ancestral parental duties have shifted away from reproductive parent(s) towards their offspring. The shift to alloparental was often instrumental in initial emergence of eusociality, as it ultimately contributed establishment division labour. Remarkably, taxa such ants and termites, which still display an independent foundation phase, must go through obligatory period, temporary subsocial family unit. termites specifically, incipient inherently remains woodroach unit until is established. Colony success can then be limited by series factors that may include environmental, behavioural, symbiotic physiological constraints. this study, 450 termite colonies ( Coptotermes gestroi ) were established investigate timing changes founders during transition biparental care. Results showed finite internal nutritional resources alates carry dispersal flight are primary limiting factor for successful establishment. queen king rapidly establish (<150 days) first cohort offspring reach or simply run out die. Alates, therefore, just enough produce few alloparents (< 15 workers) prime system ergonomic growth, with definitive solely functions. Eusocial insect traits optimized three successive functions life cycle colony: alate (sexual reproduction), (parental care) growth (increased egg production maturity). However, results suggest trade‐offs involving these appear primarily favour ones (quantity vs. quality alates), founder(s) minimal no room inefficiency they fully rely on further output. insects may, reflect evolutionary subsociality eusociality. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Diversity, Roles, and Biotechnological Applications of Symbiotic Microorganisms in the Gut of Termite

Current Microbiology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 76(6), P. 755 - 761

Published: May 12, 2018

Language: Английский

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The relative importance of queen and king initial weights in termite colony foundation success

Insectes Sociaux, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 66(2), P. 177 - 184

Published: Jan. 30, 2019

Language: Английский

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Digestive enzymes from workers and soldiers of termite Nasutitermes corniger

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 176, P. 1 - 8

Published: July 12, 2014

The digestive apparatus of termites may have several biotechnological applications, as well being a target for pest control. This report discusses the detection cellulases (endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and β-glucosidase), hemicellulases (β-xylosidase, α-l-arabinofuranosidase, β-d-xylanase), α-amylase, proteases (trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like, keratinase-type) in gut extracts from Nasutitermes corniger workers soldiers. Additionally, effects pH (3.0-11.0) temperature (30-100°C) on enzyme activities were evaluated. All enzymes investigated detected worker soldier termites. Endoglucanase β-xylanase main cellulase hemicellulase, respectively. Zymography revealed polypeptides 22, 30, 43kDa that hydrolyzed casein, assays using protease inhibitors showed serine guts. determined their response to different values soldiers contained distinct apparatus. ability these efficiently digest components lignocellulosic materials stimulates purification enzymes. Further investigation into potential whether are produced by or symbionts is needed.

Language: Английский

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Life history evolution in social insects: a female perspective

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 16, P. 51 - 57

Published: May 17, 2016

Language: Английский

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