Natural variation in colony inbreeding does not influence susceptibility to a fungal pathogen in a termite

Abstract

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Short and long-term costs of inbreeding in the lifelong-partnership in a termite

“…Our findings however suggest that, under a more diverse pathogen pressure naturally occurring in the field, the reduced survival of inbred offspring in incipient colonies progressively decreases the proportion of inbred pairings over time. Our results on incipient colonies also contrast with those uncovered in mature field colonies of the same species, showing a weak influence of genetic diversity toward entomopathogens 30 , 31 . First, this difference may stem from a greater reduction in heterozygosity in the present study compared to those in mature colonies, where heterozygosity was only moderately reduced by neotenic reproduction 24 , 30 .…”

“…Our results on incipient colonies also contrast with those uncovered in mature field colonies of the same species, showing a weak influence of genetic diversity toward entomopathogens 30 , 31 . First, this difference may stem from a greater reduction in heterozygosity in the present study compared to those in mature colonies, where heterozygosity was only moderately reduced by neotenic reproduction 24 , 30 . Similarly, offspring in the present study were probably younger and thus more susceptible to pathogen exposure 23 ; they were also reared under lab conditions and did not face the same pathogen exposure as workers collected from the field, therefore removing the possibility that immune priming may potentially mask differences between inbred and outbred groups 63 , 64 .…”

“…In Reticulitermes flavipes , a high proportion of reproductives pair up with nestmates during the nuptial flight (25%); yet this proportion is reduced among established colonies, suggesting that inbreeding negatively affects colony development 29 . However, the susceptibility of mature colonies of R. flavipes toward pathogens has not been found to be associated with their level of inbreeding 30 ; rather, specific genetic backgrounds seem to determine their survival to a greater extent than overall genetic diversity. Similarly, increased diversity from colony fusion in this species was not found to improve survival toward pathogens.…”

Extensive human‐mediated jump dispersal within and across the native and introduced ranges of the invasive termite Reticulitermes flavipes

“…Although substantial variability in breeding structure is present among the native USA populations of R . flavipes , colonies from most native populations are spatially less expansive, fuse only occasionally and are headed by a monogamous pair of primary reproductives or a few neotenics (Aguero et al, 2020; Aguero et al, 2021; Vargo, 2019; Vargo & Husseneder, 2009; Vargo et al, 2013). Interestingly, colonies in a population from Louisiana share some of the same traits as those in France (Perdereau, Bagnères, et al, 2010; Perdereau et al, 2015; Perdereau, Dedeine, Christidès, Dupont, et al, 2010).…”

“…In the French invasive range, colonies are large, readily fuse together and contain several hundred neotenics (worker or nymph-derived reproductives that replace the primary or alate-derived reproductives who found new colonies) (Dronnet et al, 2005;Vargo & Husseneder, 2009). Although substantial variability in breeding structure is present among the native USA populations of R. flavipes, colonies from most native populations are spatially less expansive, fuse only occasionally and are headed by a monogamous pair of primary reproductives or a few neotenics (Aguero et al, 2020;Aguero et al, 2021;Vargo, 2019;Vargo & Husseneder, 2009;Vargo et al, 2013). Interestingly, colonies in a population from Louisiana share some of the same traits as those in France Perdereau et al, 2015;Perdereau, Dedeine, Christidès, Dupont, et al, 2010).…”