Colony pace: a life-history trait affecting social insect epidemiology

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Séverine Denise Buechel, Paul Schmid-Hempel

Abstract

Among colonies of social insects, the worker turnover rate (colony 'pace') typically shows considerable variation. This has epidemiological consequences for parasites, because in 'fast-paced' colonies, with short-lived workers, the time of parasite residence in a given host will be reduced, and further transmission may thus get less likely. Here, we test this idea and ask whether pace is a life-history strategy against infectious parasites. We infected bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) with the infectious gut parasite Crithidia bombi, and experimentally manipulated birth and death rates to mimic slow and fast pace. We found that fewer workers and, importantly, fewer last-generation workers that are responsible for rearing sexuals were infected in colonies with faster pace. This translates into increased fitness in fast-paced colonies, as daughter queens exposed to fewer infected workers in the nest are less likely to become infected themselves, and have a higher chance of founding their own colonies in the next year. High worker turnover rate can thus act as a strategy of defence against a spreading infection in social insect colonies.

Associated Datasets

Nov 9, 2016·Severine Denise Buechel, Paul Schmidt-Hempel

References

Mar 16, 1995·Nature·E Szathmáry, J M Smith
Dec 16, 1998·Animal Behaviour·P Schmid-hempel, H p Stauffer
Aug 30, 2000·Microbes and Infection·P AgnewY Michalakis
Mar 5, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Juan José SolerGabriele Sorci
Apr 13, 2006·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Christopher P Yourth, Paul Schmid-Hempel
Oct 31, 2006·Insect Molecular Biology·J D EvansD Hultmark
Aug 24, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Sylvia CremerPaul Schmid-Hempel
Mar 5, 2008·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Kurt A McKeanAndrew G Clark
May 7, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Line V UgelvigSylvia Cremer
May 26, 2010·The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology·Regula Schmid-Hempel, Martina Tognazzo
Nov 26, 2010·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·Y UlrichP Schmid-Hempel
Nov 16, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Hauke Koch, Paul Schmid-Hempel
Oct 3, 2012·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Mario X Ruiz-GonzálezMark J F Brown
Jul 23, 2013·Parasite Immunology·M BootsA White
Apr 25, 2015·Genome Biology·Seth M BarribeauPaul Schmid-Hempel
Apr 1, 1999·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Paul Schmid-HempelRegula Schmid-Hempel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 26, 2017·Annual Review of Entomology·Sylvia CremerMatthias A Fürst
Sep 23, 2020·Environmental Entomology·Mario S Pinilla-GallegoRebecca E Irwin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.