Factors triggering queen executions in the Argentine ant
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dc.date.accessioned
2019-07-23T09:53:44Z
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2019-07-23T09:53:44Z
dc.date.issued
2019-07-18
dc.identifier.issn
2045-2322
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dc.description.abstract
Competition among queens in polygynous societies may result in queen executions or conflicts over personal reproduction. Understanding the factors that mediate the executions of ant queens should provide insight into how queen numbers are regulated in polygynous insect societies. The Argentine ant is a widespread invasive species that displays secondary polygyny, and workers execute 90% of their nestmate queens each spring. In this study, we investigated: (1) whether ambient temperature, queen number, and protein deprivation have an effect on queen executions and (2) whether workers select the queens slated for execution based on their cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles. We found that the percentage of queens executed was positively correlated with temperature and queen number but that protein deprivation did not play a role. As for queen fate, the levels of some CHCs were higher in surviving queens. One of these CHCs is associated with queen productivity (i.e egg-laying rate and ovarian index) suggesting that workers execute the least productive queens. Our findings suggest that chemical cues related to fertility signaling may mediate queen executions in Argentine ants
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Tis work was fnancially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund (CGL2010-16451)
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application/pdf
dc.language.iso
eng
dc.publisher
Nature Publishing Group
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info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN//CGL2010-16451/ES/LOS FORMICIDOS COMO INDICADORES DEL IMPACTO DE LA FRAGMENTACION, EXPLOTACION E INVASION DE LA HORMIGA ARGENTINA EN BOSQUES DE PINUS PINEA PINUS PINASTER./
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Reproducció digital del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46972-5
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Scientific Reports, 2019, vol. 9, art.núm 10427
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Articles publicats (D-CCAA)
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Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional
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dc.source
Abril, Sílvia Gómez López, Crisanto 2019 Factors triggering queen executions in the Argentine ant Scientific Reports 9 Art.núm 10427
dc.title
Factors triggering queen executions in the Argentine ant
dc.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.rights.accessRights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.type.version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.identifier.doi
dc.identifier.idgrec
030060
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dc.type.peerreviewed
peer-reviewed
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