Significance of caste specialization in ants: lesson from geographic variation of social organization

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24405010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: ITO Fuminori 香川大学, 農学部, 教授 (50260683)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MIURA Toru 北海道大学, 地球環境科学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (00332594) ; EGUCHI Katuyuki 首都大学東京, 大学院理工学研究科, 准教授 (30523419)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: アリ / 社会構造 / 地理変異

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Colony composition of 15 species of genus Gnamptogenys was studied in Southeast Asia. 13 of 15 species were reproduced by dealated queens without worker sexual reproduction. In G. menadensis, both dealated queens and mated workers laid eggs. Former colonies showed monogyny while the later colonies were polygyny. In G. bicolor, large ergatoid queens, dealated queens or mated workers reproduced. The colonies were always monogyny. Large ergatoid queens had been found only in East Java, where no alate queens were collected. Mated workers also reproduced in East Java. In the other populations, mated workers and dealated queens laid eggs. Body size of alate/dealate queens varied among populations.

Free Research Field

昆虫生態学