2002 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Evolution of eusociality by using paper wasps as model organisms
| Project/Area Number |
12304048
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
生態
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| Research Institution | KYUSHU UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
KASUYA Eiji Fac. Sciences, Ass. Prof., 大学院・理学研究院, 助教授 (00161050)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
YAMANE Seki Kagoshima Univ. Fac. Science, Prof., 理学部, 教授 (30145453)
MIYANO Sinya Nat. Hist. Mus. Inst, Department Head, 研究科長 (20250152)
SUZUKI Tadashi Tokyo Metropolitan Univ., Fac. Science, Ass. Prof., 大学院・理学研究科, 助教授 (40128575)
YAMANE Soichi Ibaraki Univ. Fac. Education, Prof., 教育学部, 教授 (40091871)
MAKINO shunichi Forest Forest. Prod. Res. Inst., Laboratory Chief, 研究室長(研究職)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2000 – 2002
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| Keywords | paper wasps / eusociality / kin selection / altruism / queen / relatedness / social insect / wasp |
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| Research Abstract |
Evolution of eusociality in paper wasps was studied by using three approaches, (1) estimation of relatedness among individuals, (2) measuring the benefit and cost accompanying with eusociality, and (3) analysis of phylogenetic relationships. Methods for experimental analyses both in field and laboratory were developed. Highly variable genetic markers are necessary for the estimation of relatedness among individual wasps. We used micro satellite DNA as the genetic marker for this purpose. This demonstrated the monoandry of queens and the absence of worker opposition in queen right colonies in some species, and the unique features of species with worker oviposition like Polistes chinensis. The benefit and cost with eusociality were measured by using the demographic data. This method of the estimation has been considered as best at present. We made the quantitative evaluation of the hypotheses for the evolution of eusociality including 3/4 kin selection hypothesis, from the estimated relatedness, cost and benefit. We also made the quantitative assessment of direct and indirect (via reproduction of other individuals) effects on inclusive fitness. The validity of the assumptions in the estimation, which were implicit or explicit, were examined by the results of the experimental studies. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by using the sequence data of DNA. They also enabled the analyses of the trait evolution in paper wasps.
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