Defense in Social Insects: Diversity, Division of Labor, and Evolution

Annual Review of Entomology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 67(1), P. 407 - 436

Published: Jan. 7, 2022

All social insects defend their colony from predators, parasites, and pathogens. In Oster Wilson's classic work, they posed one of the key paradoxes about defense in insects: Given universal necessity defense, why then is there so much diversity mechanisms? Ecological factors undoubtedly are important: Predation usurpation have imposed strong selection on eusocial insects, active by colonies a ubiquitous feature all insects. The description diverse insect groups with castes sterile workers whose main duty has broadened purview evolution particular respect to caste behavior. Defense central axes along which we can begin organize understand sociality With establishment models such as honey bee, new discoveries emerging regarding endocrine, neural, gene regulatory mechanisms underlying morphological behavioral traits may be shared across groups, providing opportunities for identifying both conserved novel at work. Emerging themes highlight context dependency interaction between that regulate

Language: Английский

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Morphological evolution and the behavioral organization of agricultural division of labor in the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 77(6)

Published: June 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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A Guided Tour of Phylogenetic Comparative Methods for Studying Trait Evolution

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 55(1), P. 181 - 204

Published: Aug. 7, 2024

Phylogenetic comparative methods are important tools in biology, providing insights into the way traits evolve. There many technical resources describing how these work. Our aim here is to complement with an overview of types biological questions that can be addressed by different and outline potential pitfalls considerations when embarking on studies. First, we introduce what why they important. Second, used understand when, where, frequently Third, examine coevolution within between species studied, along patterns causality. Finally, discuss approach analyses ways which data, such as published relationships, omic, remote sensing integrated.

Language: Английский

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Diversification of social complexity following a major evolutionary transition in bees

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Ecomorphology of ants

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 469 - 524

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Phylogenomics and Fossil Data Inform the Systematics and Geographic Range Evolution of a Diverse Neotropical Ant Lineage

Insect Systematics and Diversity, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Abstract Recent advances in phylogenomics allow for the use of large amounts genetic information phylogenetic inference. Ideally, increased resolution and accuracy such inferences facilitate improved understanding macroevolutionary processes. Here, we integrate ultraconserved elements (UCEs) with fossil biogeographic range data to explore diversification geographic evolution diverse turtle ant genus Cephalotes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). We focus on potential role uplift Panamanian land bridge putative ephemeral GAARlandia linking South America Antilles shaping this group. Our analyses provide new backbone phylogeny. further found that most shifts between Central regions were temporally consistent development bridge, while did not find support bridge. Additionally, infer any rates associated our focal bridges, or other historical events (we inferred a single rate regime across genus). findings highlight impact as well influence taxonomic sampling inferences.

Language: Английский

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The evolution of morphological castes under decoupled control

Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 37(8), P. 947 - 959

Published: July 4, 2024

Abstract Eusociality, where units that previously reproduced independently function as one entity, is of major interest in evolutionary biology. Obligate eusociality characterized by morphologically differentiated castes and reduced conflict. We explore conditions under which morphological may arise the Hymenoptera factors constraining their evolution. Control over offspring morphology behaviour seems likely to be decoupled. Provisioners (queens workers) can influence directly through nutrition they provide, while adult control own behaviour. may, however, worker indirectly if modify response morphology. If manipulation underlies helping, we should not see helping evolve before specialized morphology, yet empirical observations suggest behavioural precede castes. use invasion analyses show how evolution a caste depends on prior presence caste: specialist will mismatched with unless some already choose work. A mother’s certainty about her offspring’s also critical—less results greater mismatch. baseline productivity affect likelihood trait being favoured natural selection. then decoupled scenario, less lost become more specialized. for evolutionarily irreversible, workers must unable functionally replace reproductives reproduce without help from workers.

Language: Английский

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Juvenile hormone as a key regulator for asymmetric caste differentiation in ants

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(46)

Published: Nov. 4, 2024

Caste differentiation involves many functional traits that diverge during larval growth and metamorphosis to produce adults irreversibly adapted reproductive division of labor. Investigating developmental is important for general biological understanding has increasingly been explored social phenotypes in parallel from similar genotypes. Here, we use Monomorium pharaonis ants investigate the extent which canalized worker development can be shifted toward gyne (virgin-queen) by juvenile hormone (JH) treatment. We show excess JH activate gyne-biased workers so wing-buds, ocelli, antennal genital imaginal discs, flight muscles, gyne-like fat bodies brains emerge after pupation. However, ovary remained unresponsive treatment, indicating JH-sensitive germline sequestration happens well before somatic differentiation. Our findings reveal qualitative restrictions treatment redirect these constraints are independent body size. corroborate a key inducing caste but this process asymmetric higher colony-level versus superorganisms as defined century ago Wheeler. quantified gene expression changes response throughout identified set genes responsible emergence traits. study suggests gonadotropic role maturation individual level solitary insects colony an evolutionary-derived highly polygynous superorganism like pharaoh ant.

Language: Английский

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Evolutionary Game Theory: Darwinian Dynamics and the G Function Approach

Games, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(4), P. 72 - 72

Published: Sept. 27, 2021

Classical evolutionary game theory allows one to analyze the population dynamics of interacting individuals playing different strategies (broadly defined) in a population. To expand scope this framework allow us examine evolution these individuals’ over time, we present idea fitness-generating (G) function. Under model, can simultaneously consider (ecological) and strategy (evolutionary) dynamics. In paper, briefly outline differences between classical theory. We then introduce G function framework, deriving model from fundamental biological principles. concept G-function species, explain process modeling with functions, define conditions for stable (ESS). conclude by presenting expository examples construction simulations context predator–prey drug resistance cancer.

Language: Английский

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Spatiotemporal dynamics of the ant community in a dry forest differ by vertical strata but not by successional stage

Biotropica, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 53(2), P. 372 - 383

Published: Feb. 8, 2021

Abstract Ants are diverse and ecologically important organisms in tropical forests, where their spatiotemporal distribution can be highly complex. This complexity arises mainly from marked differences microclimatic conditions resource availability through space time that is even more evident seasonal environments, such as dry forests. However, it unclear how seasonality interacts with other factors might shape temporal variation of ant composition (β‐diversity), like vertical strata habitat disturbance. Our goal was to examine the potential influence stratification successional stage on a forest's species composition. We assessed whether turnover or nestedness main component determining β‐diversity communities across canopy litter strata. sampled ants ten plots, half early late secondary succession at four times, twice wet season. A high defined years seasons our focal Importantly, much stable than litter. Moreover, we found community's dynamics consistently stages, not differing between succession. results provide valuable insights into underlying causes community assembly habitats, threatened Portuguese available online material.

Language: Английский

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