Optimal fissioning strategies of social insects with respect to colony dynamics and nest founding probability

Author:

Hovestadt T.ORCID,Kohl P.ORCID,Mitesser O.ORCID

Abstract

AbstractSocial insects demonstrate two fundamentally different modes of reproduction, independent colony foundation (ICF) by single fertilized queens or dependent colony foundation (DCF) by fissioning of existing colonies into two or several new colonies (swarms). In some species, both reproductive modes occur in parallel. The benefits and disadvantages of DCF vs. ICF have been widely discussed and been subject to empirical studies, but a formal theoretical treatment of the topic is still incomplete. Taking honey bees as example, we provide a resource allocation model of colony dynamics to analyze the ecological conditions under which DCF may be favored over ICF. Using mathematical and numerical methods, we show that it critically depends on the survivorship function linking swarm size to the probability of swarm establishment whether ICF or DCF results in a higher output of surviving new colonies. Because building larger swarms requires larger inter-swarm time intervals, DCF can only be a better strategy if this disadvantage is over-compensated for by a strong size-dependent swarm survivorship and survival of single queens is very low. Colony growth rate has no effect on this decision and the impact of maximum possible colony size is negligible. Further, there is a discontinuity in the optimal swarm size, so that either a swarm size of 1 (ICF) is the best strategy, or emitting swarms of considerable size (DCF). Consequently, a direct evolutionary transition from ICF to DCF appears unlikely and may have been triggered by selective pressures promoting movement of complete nests or distributing single colonies over several nests (polydomy).

Funder

DFG

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3