| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
da Silva, Rafael Carvalho
[1]
;
Prato, Amanda
[1]
;
Oi, Cintia Akemi
[2]
;
Turatti, Izabel Cristina Casanova
[3]
;
Do Nascimento, Fabio Santos
[1]
Total Authors: 5
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, Ave Bandeirantes, 3900 Vila Monte Alegre, BR-14040900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Leuven, KU Leuven, Lab Socioecol & Social Evolut, Leuven - Belgium
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, Dept Ciencias BioMol, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Journal of Chemical Ecology; v. 46, n. 9, p. 835-844, SEP 2020. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 2 |
| Abstract | |
The dominance hierarchy in primitively eusocial insect societies has been shown to be mainly regulated through aggressive interactions. Females that are generally more dominant stand out and occupy the queen position, meaning that they monopolize reproduction while others perform other tasks. Chemical communication is important for maintaining social cohesion. Cuticular hydrocarbons are recognized as the main molecules responsible for mediating social interactions, especially nestmate recognition and queen signalling. Many highly eusocial groups have been studied in recent years, but primitively eusocial groups, which are key to understanding the evolution of social behavior, remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the connection between cuticular hydrocarbons in females expressed in different social contexts in the primitively eusocial waspMischocyttarus cerberus. Colonies in two different ontogenetic phases, pre- and post-worker emergence, were used. We observed and categorized behavioral interactions between individual females and collected all individuals in a nest to obtain information on size, ovary activation and chemical composition. Furthermore, we conducted experiments in which the alpha (dominant) females were removed from nests to produce a new dominance hierarchy. We found that females in different hierarchical positions had small chemical difference corresponding with ovary activity. Our results support the hypothesis that cuticular hydrocarbons are associated with social context in this primitively eusocial species, with some compounds being associated with hierarchical position and ovarian activity. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 18/22461-3 - Searching for the missing link: the eggs act as an alternative vehicle of communication in social systems? |
| Grantee: | Rafael Carvalho da Silva |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| FAPESP's process: | 18/10996-0 - An Evo-Devo perspective on reproductive division of labour in wasps |
| Grantee: | Fábio Santos do Nascimento |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 16/11887-4 - Variation of cuticular hydrocarbons and secretion contents of exocrine glands in workers of Polybia occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini) |
| Grantee: | Amanda Prato da Silva |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |