Dynamics and Genetic Structure of Argentine Ant Supercolonies in Their Native Range

Vogel, Valérie; Pedersen, Jes S.; d’Ettorre, Patrizia; Lehmann, Laurent; Keller, Laurent

doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00628.x

Cited by 54 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 77 publications

(113 reference statements)

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“…This could be due both to the limited dispersal of sexuals during the nuptial flights observed in this species (Quinet et al, 2009) and to frequent nest budding events (Crozier & Pamilo, 1996;Chapuisat et al, 1997). We also show that chemical and genetic distances were not correlated, a result that contrasts with that reported for the Argentine ant and two species of Lasius (Vogel et al, 2009;Cremer et al, 2008). Such a correlation, however, is not confirmed for Lasius neglectus .…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

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Multicoloniality in the highly polygynous ant Crematogaster pygmaea (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Hamidi¹,

Debout²,

Heredia³

et al. 2012

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

“…Even in highly polgynous species, aggression is observed between workers belonging to different super-colonies (e.g. Vogel et al, 2009;Drescher et al, 2010). The relationship between social structure (monogynous vs. polygynous) and colony closure in ants is therefore more complex than previously suggested.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Multicoloniality in the highly polygynous ant Crematogaster pygmaea (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Hamidi¹,

Debout²,

Heredia³

et al. 2012

Eur. J. Entomol.

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“…Previous genetic studies have revealed that the New Zealand population of Argentine ants has among the lowest recorded genetic diversity of any introduced Argentine ant population worldwide, indicative of the entire supercolony having arisen from an incursion of just one nest [7,12]. Low genetic diversity, perhaps in combination with pathogens [13] or a depletion of local resources [10], is a candidate mechanism for these collapses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The widespread collapse of an invasive species: Argentine ants ( Linepithema humile ) in New Zealand

et al. 2011

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Synergies between invasive species and climate change are widely considered to be a major biodiversity threat. However, invasive species are also hypothesized to be susceptible to population collapse, as we demonstrate for a globally important invasive species in New Zealand. We observed Argentine ant populations to have collapsed in 40 per cent of surveyed sites. Populations had a mean survival time of 14.1 years (95% CI = 12.9–15.3 years). Resident ant communities had recovered or partly recovered after their collapse. Our models suggest that climate change will delay colony collapse, as increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall significantly increased their longevity, but only by a few years. Economic and environmental costs of invasive species may be small if populations collapse on their own accord.

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“…Two indices were calculated: (1) aggression index (AI, modified from d’Ettorre & Heinze 2005); and (2) mean maximum aggression index (MMAI, Vogel et al 2009). For AI, the frequency of each observed aggressive behaviour per worker was multiplied with its respective scoring level (4–7) and their sum divided by 180, as there were 180 records (one per second).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Alpine ant’s behavioural polymorphism: monogyny with and without internest aggression inTetramorium alpestre

Krapf

Russo

Arthofer

et al. 2017

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

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Social structure influences animal societies on various levels (e.g., relatedness, behaviour). In ants, both the number of matings per queen and the number of queens per colony can vary strongly. While workers from both monogynous and polygynous colonies often fight fiercely, in supercolonies (an extreme form of polygyny comprising thousands of queens in spatially separated but interconnected nests), non-nestmates interact peacefully. Studies on social and behavioural polymorphism within ant species can help elucidate their influence on genetic diversity and behaviour and the factors triggering variation in social structure and behaviour. Here, we reveal a behavioural and social polymorphism comprising monogyny with and without internest aggression in Tetramorium alpestre sampled in Tyrol, Austria. The social polymorphism is based on genetic and behavioural evidence and contrasts with the supercolonial organisation known from another location in Austria (Carinthia), 150 km away. Microsatellite genotyping using eight polymorphic loci revealed monogyny-monandry and high intranest pairwise relatedness. Interestingly, various experimental one-on-one worker encounters revealed only occasional aggressive behaviour between monogynous colonies, and thus a behavioural polymorphism. Mantel tests revealed a significant negative correlation between spatial distance and relatedness, while worker behaviour was not correlated with relatedness or spatial distance. These results indicate that behaviour might be influenced by other factors – for example, the experience of workers, ecological, chemical, and/or genetic factors not characterised in this study. However, workers distinguished nestmates from non-nestmates also when aggression was lacking. We hypothesise an adaptive value of reduced aggression. We speculate that the non-aggressive and partly aggressive encounters observed represent different options in the social structure of T. alpestre, the non-aggressiveness possibly also promoting supercolony development. The social and behavioural polymorphisms observed offer opportunities to identify the factors triggering these changes and thus further explore the behavioural and social polymorphism of this ant species.

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Dynamics and Genetic Structure of Argentine Ant Supercolonies in Their Native Range

Cited by 54 publications

References 77 publications

Multicoloniality in the highly polygynous ant Crematogaster pygmaea (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Multicoloniality in the highly polygynous ant Crematogaster pygmaea (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

The widespread collapse of an invasive species: Argentine ants ( Linepithema humile ) in New Zealand

An Alpine ant’s behavioural polymorphism: monogyny with and without internest aggression inTetramorium alpestre

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