A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Similarity of body size in queens of the wood ant Formica aquilonia from optimal and sub-optimal habitats indicates a strong heritable component
Authors: Marja-Katariina Haatanen, Jouni Sorvari
Publisher: UNIV ARIZONA
Publishing place: TUCSON; LIBRARY C327, TUCSON, AZ 85721 USA
Publication year: 2013
Journal: Journal of Insect Science
Journal name in source: Journal of Insect Science
Journal acronym: J.Insect Sci.
Volume: 13
First page : 115
Last page: 115
Number of pages: 1
ISSN: 1536-2442
Abstract
Body size in animals is affected by both genes and the environment (e. g., the amount of food resources). In ants, body size is related to several traits in an individual's physiology and life history. For example, a large queen may increase offspring production, thus increasing her overall fitness. In this study, whether sub-optimal environmental conditions affect the body size of queens of the red wood ant, Formica aquilonia Yarrow (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The sizes (head width in mm) of virgin queens, i.e., gynes, originating from forest interiors (resource rich) and from commercial forest clear-cuts (resource poor) were measured. No differences in the body size of the queens from the two habitats were found. In addition, the within-nest variation in queen size was similar between habitat types. The results indicate that the body size variation of F. aquilonia queens is not sensitive to environmental variation, unlike F. aquilonia workers. The lack of environmental variation in queen size in F. aquilonia may be due to a strong selection in the past to monomorphic size in this obligately polygynous (multi-queened) species.
Body size in animals is affected by both genes and the environment (e. g., the amount of food resources). In ants, body size is related to several traits in an individual's physiology and life history. For example, a large queen may increase offspring production, thus increasing her overall fitness. In this study, whether sub-optimal environmental conditions affect the body size of queens of the red wood ant, Formica aquilonia Yarrow (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The sizes (head width in mm) of virgin queens, i.e., gynes, originating from forest interiors (resource rich) and from commercial forest clear-cuts (resource poor) were measured. No differences in the body size of the queens from the two habitats were found. In addition, the within-nest variation in queen size was similar between habitat types. The results indicate that the body size variation of F. aquilonia queens is not sensitive to environmental variation, unlike F. aquilonia workers. The lack of environmental variation in queen size in F. aquilonia may be due to a strong selection in the past to monomorphic size in this obligately polygynous (multi-queened) species.
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