Parasites, worker polymorphism, and queen number in social insects
Article Abstract:
A study emphasizes the importance of pathogens and parasites in shaping different elements of social structure of insect colonies. Pathogens may explain the association between queen bee number per colony and genetic variability in bee populations and the presence or absence of polymorphic workers in ant populations. The study highlights the importance of pathogens and parasites in shaping the social organization in insects and the effects of polygyny and morphological castes on the defense against parasites.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1995
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Relatedness asymmetry and reproductive sharing in animal societies
Article Abstract:
The model showing that reproduction in social groups is generally shared more equally in sister-sister than in mother-daughter associations can be applied to various types of family structures of social vertebrates. More and detailed empirical data on reproductive skews in different kinds of family groups should be gathered for more thorough tests of the relatedness asymmetry subhypothesis of the optimal skew theory.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1996
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Partitioning of reproduction in mother-daughter versus sibling associations: a test of optimal skew theory
Article Abstract:
An important feature of cooperative animal societies is the intensity of individual control over total reproduction in the group. Reproductive skews in 17 eusocial hymenoptera reveal higher incidence of skews in matrifilial societies. A study of reproductive divisions in 20 vertebrate societies helps validate that reproductive control is more likely in matrifilial than in semi-social societies.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1995
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- Abstracts: Mossbauer spectroscopy of earth and planetary materials. Planetary seismology. The importance of secondary cratering to age constraints on planetary surfaces
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