Thelytokous parthenogenesis, male clonality and genetic caste determination in the little fire ant: new evidence and insights from the lab

Heredity
Julien FoucaudJérôme Orivel

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that some populations of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, display an unusual reproduction system polymorphism. Although some populations have a classical haplodiploid reproduction system, in other populations queens are produced by thelytokous parthenogenesis, males are produced by a male clonality system and workers are produced sexually. An atypical genetic caste determination system was also suggested. However, these conclusions were indirectly inferred from genetic studies on field population samples. Here we set up experimental laboratory nests that allow the control of the parental relationships between individuals. The queens heading those nests originated from either putatively clonal or sexual populations. We characterized the male, queen and worker offspring they produced at 12 microsatellite loci. Our results unambiguously confirm the unique reproduction system polymorphism mentioned above and that male clonality is strictly associated with thelytokous parthenogenesis. We also observed direct evidence of the rare production of sexual gynes and arrhenotokous males in clonal populations. Finally, we obtained evidence of a genetic basis for caste determination. The evolutionary sign...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 20, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Christian RabelingUlrich G Mueller
Feb 4, 2011·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Morgan PearcyLaurent Keller
Jul 19, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Olivier ReyArnaud Estoup
Nov 15, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Hugo DarrasSerge Aron
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May 9, 2012·Genetics Research International·Susan A Weiner, Amy L Toth
Oct 15, 2011·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Tom Wenseleers, Annette Van Oystaeyen
Sep 5, 2014·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·H DarrasS Aron
Dec 31, 2018·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Pierre-André EyerEdward L Vargo

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