Asexual queen succession mediates an accelerated colony life cycle in the termite Silvestritermes minutus

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61388963%3A_____%2F17%3A00476116" target="_blank" >RIV/61388963:_____/17:00476116 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11310/17:10373084

Result on the web

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.14095" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.14095</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.14095" target="_blank" >10.1111/mec.14095</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Asexual queen succession mediates an accelerated colony life cycle in the termite Silvestritermes minutus

Original language description

Mixed modes of reproduction, combining sexual processes with thelytokous parthenogenesis, occur in all major clades of social insects. In several species of termites, queens maximize their genetic input into nondispersing replacement queens through parthenogenesis, while maintaining genetically diverse sterile offspring and dispersing reproductives via sexual reproduction. This so-called asexual queen succession (AQS) has multiple independent origins and its presumed advantages are diverse as well, ranging from multiplication of colony reproductive potential to extension of its life-span beyond that of the foundress. However, how AQS shapes colony life cycles under natural conditions remains poorly known. The neotropical termite Silvestritermes minutus inhabits small but conspicuous nests, offering a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of AQS on life history. We report on its breeding system, life cycle and sex allocation using social structure census in 137 nests and genotyping of 12 colonies at 12 microsatellite loci. We show that colonies are established by an outbred pair of primary reproductives. In less than 2 years, the foundress is replaced by multiple neotenic queens, arising mostly through automixis with central fusion. Sterile castes, male and most (93%) female dispersers are produced sexually. Colony reproduction is usually restricted to a single dispersal of alates with unbiased sex ratio, taking place after 3 years. We conclude that S. minutus benefits from AQS to maximize colony growth rate and alate production within a very short life cycle rather than to extend colony lifespan. This highlights the versatile role of AQS in different cases of its polyphyletic origin.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10603 - Genetics and heredity (medical genetics to be 3)

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA14-12774S" target="_blank" >GA14-12774S: Reproductive Regulation and Fertility Signalling in Higher Termites (Termitidae)</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2017

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Molecular Ecology

ISSN

0962-1083

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

26

Issue of the periodical within the volume

12

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

3295-3308

UT code for WoS article

000402836700017

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85017364946