Cumulative effects of body size and social experience on aggressive behaviour in a subsocial bee

Abstract

Dominance hierarchies represent some of nature’s most rudimentary social structures, and aggression is key to their establishment in many animal species. Previous studies have focused on the relative influences of prior experience and physiological traits of individuals in determining social rank through aggression. Here we examine the behavioural potential for dominance hierarchy formation in the subsocial small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata. Both physiological traits and social experience were found to play partial roles in predicting future interactive behaviour in this species. Our results suggest that individual size is associated with dominance in initial encounters, while prior experience plays a larger role in predicting dominance in subsequent encounters. Social systems in the early stages of social evolution may well have followed these same predictive factors and these factors are key targets for future studies of social evolution and the behavioural origins of dominance hierarchies.

Juvenile hormone interacts with multiple factors to modulate aggression and dominance in groups of orphan bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) workers

“…These findings are consistent with earlier studies showing that body size affects dominance in untreated B. terrestris (P. Van Doorn, 1989) and B. atratus worker bees (Matos and Garofalo, 1995). Body size is also correlated with dominance rank in other social bees (e.g., 2 6 carpenter bees, Withee and Rehan, (2016), Lawson et al, (2017); halictine bee, Smith and Weller, (1989)) as well as other social insects such as paper wasps (Cervo et al, 2008;Chandrashekara and Gadagkar, 1991;Zanette and Field, 2009) and queenless ants (Heinze and Oberstadt, 1999;Nowbahari et al, 1999;Trible and Kronauer, 2017). The common correlation between body size and dominance rank can be explained by the importance of body size in determining the outcome of the agonistic interactions that are used for the establishment of dominance hierarchies.…”

Effects of nutritional deprivation on development and behavior in the subsocial beeCeratina calcarata(Hymenoptera: Xylocopinae)

“…In forced association studies, largely solitary species will form social dominance hierarchies, indicating these species possess behavioral precursors to higher levels of social organization (Sakagami and Maeta, 1977;Michener, 1985;Arneson and Wcislo, 2003). Dominance hierarchies are often determined by body size, where the smaller individual assumes a subordinate role (Smith et al, 2009;Trible and Kronauer, 2017); thus, poor larval nutrition would reduce competitive ability (Huntingford and Turner, 1987;Withee and Rehan, 2016). For example, hierarchies in subsocial and primitively eusocial Hymenoptera, such as C. calcarata, Lasioglossum zephyrum and Mischocyttarus mastigophorus, are determined by dominance interactions, where larger females often become the reproductive individual and smaller females serve as workers (Kumar, 1975;Buckle, 1982;Molina and O'Donnell, 2008;Withee and Rehan, 2016).…”

“…Dominance hierarchies are often determined by body size, where the smaller individual assumes a subordinate role (Smith et al, 2009;Trible and Kronauer, 2017); thus, poor larval nutrition would reduce competitive ability (Huntingford and Turner, 1987;Withee and Rehan, 2016). For example, hierarchies in subsocial and primitively eusocial Hymenoptera, such as C. calcarata, Lasioglossum zephyrum and Mischocyttarus mastigophorus, are determined by dominance interactions, where larger females often become the reproductive individual and smaller females serve as workers (Kumar, 1975;Buckle, 1982;Molina and O'Donnell, 2008;Withee and Rehan, 2016). Specifically, in C. calcarata, mothers produce a DED by providing her with less pollen and nutrients than other daughters, resulting in a significantly smaller adult body size (Rehan and Richards, 2010b;Lawson et al, 2016).…”

Biogenic amines shift during the pre-reproductive to reproductive transition in the small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata

“…The reduced ovarian development is likely due to the presence of the queen, who exerts social dominance and prevents her daughters from reproducing while at the natal nest (Smith et al 2009). Dominance hierarchies in subsocial bees are thought to be a necessary precursor to the reproductive and behavioral division of labor facilitating the evolution of social behavior (Withee and Rehan 2016).…”

“…Adult females were assumed to be the mother, and their reproductive status was estimated by dissection of the metasoma followed by a measurement (mm) of the three largest terminal oocytes of one ovary to calculate each female's ovary size (Rehan and Richards 2013). Briefly, the ovaries enlarge during egg laying in the active brood stage, and then are resorbed following the breeding season (Withee and Rehan 2016). Sex was determined by counting the number of metasomal terga; females have six segments, while males have seven (Rehan and Richards 2010a).…”