Insulin signaling in the long-lived reproductive caste of ants

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(6610), P. 1092 - 1099

Published: Sept. 1, 2022

In most organisms, reproduction is correlated with shorter life span. However, the reproductive queen in eusocial insects exhibits a much longer span than that of workers.

Language: Английский

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Long-lived Temnothorax ant queens switch from investment in immunity to antioxidant production with age

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: May 13, 2019

Abstract Senescence is manifested by an increase in molecular damage and a deterioration of biological functions with age. In most organisms, body maintenance traded-off reproduction. This negative relationship between longevity fecundity also evident on the level. Exempt from this trait association, social insect queens are both extremely long-lived highly fecund. Here, we study changes gene expression age ant to understand basis their long lifespan. We analyse tissue-specific young founding old fecund Temnothorax rugatulus . More genes altered fat than brain. Despite strong differences ovary development, few were differentially expressed. Young invested immunity ( i e activation Toll signalling pathway) resistance against environmental physiological stress down-regulation TOR pathway). Conversely, established older into anti-aging mechanisms through overproduction antioxidants upregulation catalase , superoxide dismutase ). Finally, identified candidate pathways, potentially involved association fertility insects its proximate basis.

Language: Английский

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Metabolic division of labor in social insects

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 59, P. 101085 - 101085

Published: July 16, 2023

Social insects are known for reproductive and behavioral division of labor, but little attention has been paid to metabolic forms labor. Metabolic labor is the partitioning complementary tasks between individuals, it widespread in social insects. We define two homosynergetic heterosynergetic, we pinpoint trophallaxis, trophic eggs, cannibalism as primary transfers underlying form discuss their evolution. argue that underpins fundamental aspects colony physiology may be a necessary feature superorganismal systems, impacting many life history traits. Investigating understand major evolutionary transition(s) superorganismality

Language: Английский

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Life-history evolution in ants: the case ofCardiocondyla

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 284(1850), P. 20161406 - 20161406

Published: March 15, 2017

Ants are important components of most terrestrial habitats, and a better knowledge the diversity their life histories is essential to understand many aspects ecosystem functioning. The myrmicine genus Cardiocondyla shows wide range colony structures, reproductive behaviours, queen male lifespans, habitat use. Reconstructing evolutionary pathways individual social phenotypic traits suggests that ancestral history was characterized by presence multiple, short-lived queens in small-sized colonies polyphenism with winged dispersers wingless fighters, which engage lethal combat over female sexuals within natal nests. Single queening, polyphenism, loss males tolerance among appear be derived evolved changes nesting habits, size spread from tropical seasonal environments. aim this review bring together information on life-history evolution highlight suitability for functional genomic studies adaptation, plasticity, senescence, invasiveness other key ants.

Language: Английский

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Intrinsic worker mortality depends on behavioral caste and the queens’ presence in a social insect

The Science of Nature, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 104(3-4)

Published: March 28, 2017

Language: Английский

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Viral load, not food availability or temperature, predicts colony longevity in an invasive eusocial wasp with plastic life history

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: May 12, 2021

Abstract Social insect colonies exhibit a variety of life history strategies, from the annual, semelparous temperate bees and wasps to long-lived many ants honeybees. Species introduced novel habitats may plasticity in strategies as result introduction, but factors governing these changes often remain obscure. Vespula pensylvanica , yellowjacket wasp, exhibits such colony longevity. Multi-year (perennial) are relatively common populations Hawaii, while source western United States typically on an annual cycle. Here, we use experiments observational data examine how diet, disease, nest thermal environment, location influence longevity population with both perennial colonies. Counter our predictions, experimental feeding warming did not increase survival winter range. However, Moku Virus load wasp density predicted one year, suggesting potential role for disease modulating phenology. We also found that local V. was positively correlated loads, Arsenophonus sp. bacterial loads were associated proximity feral honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) hives, transmission routes poorly understood symbionts. The influencing this likely multiple interactive. More important than food availability, propose precipitation critical factor explain temporal spatial variation invasive wasps.

Language: Английский

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The role of developmental plasticity in eco‐phenotypic population dynamics

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 18, 2025

Abstract Individual variation in development can strongly impact population density via its on demography. When this is caused by developmental plasticity, the resulting effects are characterised as ‘eco‐phenotypic dynamics’ If plasticity turn sensitive to density, feedbacks’ arise. individual density‐dependent due resource limitation, we expect eco‐phenotypic feedbacks between rate and be widespread. Yet, exactly how rates, termed ‘heterokairy’ interacts with influence dynamics unclear. Here, provide conceptual empirical starting points assess role of heterokairy dynamics. We present a framework identify impacts, impacted by, density. This validated using existing evidence, focusing polyphenisms that comprise alternate phenotypes differ rate: ‘heterokairic polyphenisms’. find heterokairic typically fast developing (‘minor’) slow (‘major’) prevalent among ectotherms. How shapes depends whether minors (or majors) mostly expressed at low high) or vice versa. Minor‐at‐low‐density systems, such those found salamanders, aphids nematodes, reflect classic life history predictions growing, populations favour short times, whilst high‐density slower development. Alternatively, minor‐at‐high‐density systems allow resource‐stressed juveniles, most common high‐densities, still mature but reducing metabolic costs. propose opposing responses prompt different feedbacks. Our work highlights crucial plays phenotype construction, consequences it have for (meta)population evolution. call shift away from focus outcomes adulthood processes construct phenotypes. Ultimately, lead more mechanistic, thus predictive, approach understanding adaptive alternative paces within ecological evolutionary contexts. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Worker lifespan is an adaptive trait during colony establishment in the long-lived ant Lasius niger

Experimental Gerontology, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 85, P. 18 - 23

Published: Sept. 13, 2016

Eusociality has been recognized as a strong driver of lifespan evolution. While queens show extraordinary lifespans 20years and more, worker is short variable. A recent comparative study found that in eusocial species with larger average colony sizes the disparities queen are also greater, which suggests might be an evolved trait. Here, we tested whether same pattern holds during establishment: colonies grow larger, should decrease. We studied mortality lab-reared Lasius niger workers from at two different developmental stages (small intermediate-sized) common garden experiment. Workers were kept artificial cohorts differed only respect to stage they born in. birth affected body size survival probability workers. The had emerged early smaller lower first 400days their life than later stage. Our results suggest produce small increased probability. These gradually augmented by decreased serve redundant workforce easily replaceable individuals. doubt observed differences driven size. Rather, suspect physiological mechanisms basis for lifespan.

Language: Английский

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Tandem‐running and scouting behaviour are characterized by up‐regulation of learning and memory formation genes within the ant brain

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 28(9), P. 2342 - 2359

Published: March 23, 2019

Tandem-running is a recruitment behaviour in ants that has been described as form of teaching, where spatial information possessed by leader conveyed to following nestmates. Within Temnothorax ants, tandem-running used within variety contexts, from foraging and nest relocation to-in the case slavemaking species-slave raiding. Here, we elucidate transcriptomic basis scouting, tandem-leading tandem-following behaviours across two species with divergent lifestyles: americanus its primary, nonparasitic host T. longispinosus. Analysis gene expression data brains revealed only small number unique differentially expressed genes are responsible for scouting tandem-running. Comparison orthologous between longispinosus suggests characterized species-specific patterns usage. However, both species, tandem-leaders showed median those scouts tandem-followers, which was expected, leaders can be recruited either other behavioural states. Most importantly, were found, functions relating learning memory formation social nonsocial insects. This includes up-regulated receptor such glutamate dopamine receptor, well serine/threonine-protein phosphatases kinases. Learning specifically not reinforcing previous studies into how navigate novel environments share information, but also providing insight molecular underpinnings teaching

Language: Английский

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Species-specific genes under selection characterize the co-evolution of slavemaker and host lifestyles

BMC Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 17(1)

Published: Dec. 1, 2017

The transition to a parasitic lifestyle entails comprehensive changes the selective regime. In parasites, genes encoding for traits that facilitate host detection, exploitation and transmission should be under selection. Slavemaking ants are social parasites exploit altruistic behaviour of their hosts by stealing heterospecific brood during raids, which afterwards serve as slaves in slavemaker nests. Here we search evidence selection transcriptomes three species closely related hosts. We expected on underlying recognition raiding or defense behaviour. Analyses forces with allowed investigation into whether not repeated instances evolution share same genetic basis. To investigate basis host-slavemaker co-evolution, created orthologous clusters from transcriptome sequences six Temnothorax ant - slavemakers identify signatures further tested functional enrichment selected respectively investigated pathways according belong to.Our phylogenetic analysis, based more than 5000 ortholog sequences, revealed sister status two well hosts, contradicting previous phylogeny mtDNA. identified 309 signs positive branches leading 161 Among these were potentially involved cuticular hydrocarbon synthesis, thus recognition, circadian clock functionality possibly explaining different activity patterns There was little overlap among species, numerous functions pathways.We genes, each species. These results point species-specific adaptations rather convergent trajectories lifestyles suggesting parasitism, even may achieved diverse ways.

Language: Английский

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