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2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Natural History and Diversity of the Social Wasp Genus Ropalidia (Vespidae)

Research Project

Project/Area Number 11833001
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research InstitutionIBARAKI UNIVERSITY

Principal Investigator

KOJIMA Jun-ichi  IBARAKI Univ., Faculty of Science, Professor, 理学部, 助教授 (00192576)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) TSUCHIDA Koji  GIFU Univ., Faculty of Agriculture, Associate Professor, 農学部, 助教授 (00252122)
KITADE Osamu  IBARAKI Univ., Faculty of Science, Assistant Professor, 理学部, 助手 (80302321)
Project Period (FY) 1999 – 2001
KeywordsRopalidia / Vespidae / Natural History / Bio diversity / Social Evolution / Phylogenetic Relationship / Taxonomy / DNA Sequence
Research Abstract

The social wasp genus Ropalidia, consisting of about 180 species, represents considerable divergence not only in the number of species but also in the social and-nesting behaviors. The following researches were conducted in order to accumulate data and to proceed analyses required to discuss, with reference to the phylogeny, the evolutionary process and mechanisms to promote the divergence in social and nesting behaviors in this genus.
(1) Taxonomic review of Ropalidia at the species level was made; special attention was paid on the species in New Guinea (50 species) and Madagascar (37 species), both areas being considered as the centers of divergence of the genus.
(2) Morphological caste differentiation in the Australian, swarm-founding species Ropalidia romandi was analyzed, showing that the morphological caste differences in this species is non-size based. Statistical methods to analyze the morphological caste differences in social wasps were discussed.
(3) Genetical structure in colonies of the swarm-founding species R, romandi was examined, showing that the species practices the cyclic oligogyny. The Sulawesian species, R. plebeja, was shown to have nearly solitary life. Micro-satellite primer for an Australian species R.plebeiana was developed - the species is known to make huge aggregation of colonies.
(4) Details of structure of unenveloped nests were comparatively examined, and the adaptive aspects in the nest structure were discussed.
(5) Using morphological and behavioral characters, relationships of species in Ropalidia were analyzed cladistically. A total of 30 species groups were recognized, with the R. loriana-group being the sister group of the monophyletic groups consisting of the remaining 29 species groups. Samples for DNA sequences were accumulated to cover all the 30 species group and the COI and 16SrRNA in 20 species have been sequenced.

  • Research Products

    (12 results)

All Other

All Publications (12 results)

  • [Publications] KOJIMA, Jun-ichi: "A critique of variable reduction methods to analyze morphological caste differences in social wasps"Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 108. 332-338 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] KOJIMA, J., Hartini, S., Kahono, S., Fujiyama, N., Katakura, H.: "Males, mature larvae, and nests of Ropalidia plabega, a nearly solitary paper wasp endemic to Sulawesi, with taxonomic notes on the R.plebega group"Species Diversity. (印刷中). (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] KOJIMA H., TSUCHIDA, K.: "Oviposition and queen manipulation by swarm workers of on Australian swarm-founding paper wasp, Ropalidia romande (Le Guillou)"Entomological Science. 3. 65-72 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] TSUCHIDA, K., ITO, Y., KATADA, S., KOJIMA, J.: "Genetical and morphological colony structure of the Australian swarm-founding polistine wasp, Ropalidia romandi"Insectes Sociaux. 47. 113-116 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] KOJIMA, J.: "Taxonomic notes on types of the Social wasp tribe Ropalidia housed mainly in the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneve"Natural History Bulletin of Ibaraki University. 5. 1-22 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] KOJIMA, J.: "Ropalidia wasps in New Guinea and its adjacent islands (first part)"Natural History Bulletin of Ibaraki University. 5. 31-60 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Kojima, J. & Tsuchida, K.: "Oviposition and queen manipulation by swarm workers of an Australian swarm-founding paper wasp, Ropalidia romandi (Le Guillou)"Entomological Science. 3. 65-72 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Tsuchida, K., Ito, Y., Katada, S. & Kojima, J.: "Genetical and morphological colony structure of the Australian swarm-founding polistine wasp, Ropalidia romandi."Insectes Sociaux. 47. 113-116 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kojima, J.: "Taxonomic notes on types of the social wasp tribe Ropalidiini housed mainly in the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneve."Natural History Bulletin of Ibaraki University. 5. 1-22 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kojima, J.: "Ropalidia wasps in New Guinea and its adjacent islands (first part)."Natural History Bulletin of Ibaraki University. 5. 31-60 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kojima, J.: "A critique of variable reduction methods to analyze morphological caste differences in social wasps."Journal of the New York Entomological, Society. 108. 332-338 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kojima, J., Hartini, S., Kahono, S., Fujiyama, N. & Katakura, H.: "Males, mature Ikarvae, and nests of Ropalidia plebeja, a nearly solitary, paper wasp endemic to Sulawesi, with taxonomic notes on the R. plebeja group"Species Diversity. (in press). (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2003-09-17  

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