Evolution of polyethism in ants observational results and theories
Reports to date concerning social evolution in the family Formicidae leed us to distinguish the most primitive subfamilies (Ponerinae and Myrmeciinae) from the higher subfamilies (Myrmicinae, Formicinae and Dolichoderinae). Generally speaking, the most primitive subfamilies are characterized by some particular traits like reduced number of individuals by colony and a very slightly marked caste polymorphism. Conservely, societies in evolutioned subfamilies are generally constituted by a higher number of individuals, with more evident polymorphism. The question we tried to answer is if the taxonomic belonging to a subfamily (exepting particular cases of regressive evolution as social parasitism) is more representative of a higher level in social evolution than those characteristics of a society, concerning its size and the degree of caste polymorphism. This study was carried out by comparing to the genus Neoponera two other genus : a «primitive» one (Ectatomma : subfamily Ponerinae), and an «evolutioned» one (Myrmecina : subfamily Myrmicinae). In fact, Ectatomma constitutes relative important societies and presents a marked polymorphism between the queen and workers, while Myrmecina constitutes societies with a small number of individuals, characterized by slight morphological difference between the queen and workers. The study of ethograms and sociograms by using methods of data analysis led us to conclude that social characteristics (number of individuals, polymorphism) might be better than the taxonomic criterion to appreciate the degree of social evolution of an ant genus.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Hormigas, Polietismo, Ecología animal, Artfrosur, |
| Online Access: | http://cataglyphis.fr/Actes-SF-UIEIS/Social-Insects-in-the-Tropics-Pierre-Jaisson/Social-Insects-in-the-Tropics-Vol1-Fresneau-Garcia-Perez-Jaisson.pdf |
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