A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Acceptance of alien queens by the ruby ant Myrmica rubra (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Gene flow by queen flow
Authors: Jouni Sorvari
Publisher: CZECH ACAD SCI, INST ENTOMOLOGY
Publication year: 2017
Journal: European Journal of Entomology
Journal name in source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY
Journal acronym: EUR J ENTOMOL
Volume: 114
First page : 230
Last page: 234
Number of pages: 5
ISSN: 1802-8829
eISSN: 1802-8829
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2017.028
Web address : http://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201701-0028_acceptance_of_alien_queens_by_the_ruby_ant_myrmica_rubra_hymenoptera_formicidae_gene_flow_by_queen_flow.php
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/31062512
Social insect colonies, especially of ants, often include several egg-laying queens that are not always closely related to each other. At least in some cases, the ants seem to accept non-related queens into their colonies. Here I test whether the colony queen status (with or without a queen), genetic and geographic differences between source and recipient nests and the average relatedness of the workers in the recipient colony affect the acceptance of alien queens. I used field collected ruby ant Myrmica rubra colonies as a model system. Only the queen status significantly affected the acceptance process. Colonies without queens accepted alien queens more frequently than colonies with a queen. The nests without queens and nest fragments may act as vectors for gene flow by the movement of queens between nests, i.e., queen flow.
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