Brandt, M. and Heinze, Juergen and Schmitt, T. and Foitzik, Susanne (2005) A chemical level in the coevolutionary arms race between an ant social parasite and its hosts. JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, 18 (3). pp. 576-586. ISSN 1010-061X, 1420-9101
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Here we investigate the coevolutionary interactions between the slavemaking ant Protomognathus americanus and its Temnothorax hosts on a chemical level. We show that, although this social parasite is principally well-adapted to its hosts' cuticular hydrocarbon profile, there are pronounced differences in the fine-tuning of this adaptation. Between populations, chemical adaptation varies with host community composition, as the parasite faces a trade-off when confronted with more than one host species. In addition to adaptation of its own chemical signature, the slavemaker causes a reciprocal adjustment in its slaves' cuticular profile, the degree of which depends on the slave species. On the host side, successful parasite defence requires efficient enemy recognition, and in behavioural aggression trials, host colonies could indeed discriminate between invading slaves, which commonly accompany slavemakers on raids, and free-living conspecifics. Furthermore, hosts shifted their acceptance threshold over the seasons, presumably to reduce the costs of defence.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | CUTICULAR HYDROCARBON PROFILES; SLAVE-MAKING ANTS; NESTMATE RECOGNITION; HARPAGOXENUS-SUBLAEVIS; POLYERGUS-BREVICEPS; CUCULUS-CANORUS; HYMENOPTERA; COLONY; FORMICIDAE; CUCKOO; acceptance thresholds; chemical mimicry; coevolutionary arms race; cuticular hydrocarbons; Leptothorax; slavemaking ants; social parasites |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 590 Zoological sciences |
| Divisions: | Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinze) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 14 May 2021 09:28 |
| Last Modified: | 14 May 2021 09:28 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/36182 |
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