Role of sex ratio in the evolution of eusociality in haplodiploid social insects

1981 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoh Iwasa
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Evolution Of Eusociality

scholarly journals Phenotypic correlation between queen and worker brood care supports the role of maternal care in the evolution of eusociality

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (21) ◽  
pp. 10409-10415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin T. Walsh ◽  
Lisa Signorotti ◽  
Timothy A. Linksvayer ◽  
Patrizia d'Ettorre
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Care ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Brood Care ◽  
Evolution Of Eusociality ◽  
Worker Brood

Using Meta-analysis to Test Ecological and Evolutionary Theory

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Jennions ◽  
Christopher J. Lortie ◽  
Julia Koricheva
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Fighting Behavior ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Sex Ratio Theory

This chapter describes nine case studies that illustrate how meta-analysis has contributed to theoretical developments in basic research in ecology and evolution. The main research topics cover are maintenance of biodiversity (Case 1); sexual selection (mate choice/fighting behavior) (cases 2, 8, 9); sex ratio theory (Case 3); allometric scaling (Case 4); the invasiveness of exotic plants (Case 5); seed size and plant abundance (Case 6); and the role of competition and predation in structuring communities (Case 7). It is hoped that these case studies will resonate with the reader and provide “templates” for ways to conduct comparable tests on analogous controversies in their own fields of research.

Reconstructing the Role of Insects in the Diets of Early Hominins

2018 ◽  
pp. 90-108
Author(s):  
Julie J. Lesnik
Keyword(s):  
Human Evolution ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Fossil Evidence

Ultimately the goal of the book is to reconstruct the role of insects over the course of human evolution. The aforementioned behavioral accounts will be combined with fossil evidence to reconstruct past diets and determine the role fulfilled by edible insects. This first paleoanthropology chapter focuses on australopithecines, our early ancestors on the hominin lineage. For these reconstructions, the data presented in the chapter on primates are especially enlightening. Chimpanzees as well as other apes tend to specialize in social insects such as termites and ants, making it likely that our earliest ancestors benefited from this behavior as well.

6. Winning strategies

2017 ◽  
pp. 76-96
Author(s):  
Tristram D. Wyatt
Keyword(s):  
Kin Selection ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Economic Decisions ◽  
Winning Strategies ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Evolution Of Eusociality ◽  
1960S And 1970S ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Many

The field of behavioural ecology, developed in the 1960s and 1970s, offered new ideas and provided powerful ways of exploring how behaviour evolves. Behavioural ecology examines how the evolution of behaviour is related to an individual’s chance of survival or reproductive success. ‘Winning strategies’ considers the many successes of behavioural ecology in explaining different animal behaviours: the economic decisions made by certain species when feeding or during reproduction; the role of the sexes in parental care; mating systems; sperm competition and cryptic female choice; sexual conflict; altruistic behaviour; kin selection theory; cooperative breeding; and the evolution of eusociality.

Translocation reverses birth sex ratio bias depending on its timing during gestation: evidence for the action of two sex-allocation mechanisms

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 831 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. L. Linklater
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Sex Allocation ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo ◽  
Sex Ratio Bias ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Developmental Asynchrony ◽  
Adjustment Mechanisms ◽  
Excess Glucose

Many sex allocation mechanisms are proposed but rarely have researchers considered and tested more than one at a time. Four facultative birth sex ratio (BSR) adjustment mechanisms are considered: (1) hormone-induced conception bias; (2) sex-differential embryo death from excess glucose metabolism; (3) sex-differential embryo death from embryo–uterine developmental asynchrony; and (4) pregnancy hormone suppression and resource deprivation. All mechanisms could be switched on by the corticoadrenal stress response. A total of 104 female rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae), translocated from 1961 to 2004 at different stages of gestation or conceived soon after arrival in captivity, were used to test for a reversal in BSR bias as evidence for the action of multiple sex-allocation mechanisms. Translocation induced a statistically significant BSR reversal between early gestation (86% male births from 0 to 0.19 gestation) and mid-gestation (38% male from 0.2 to 0.79 gestation). Captivity also induced a strongly male-biased (67% male) BSR for conceptions after arrival in captivity. The results indicate the action of at least two sex-allocation mechanisms operating in sequence, confirm the important role of sex-differential embryo death around implantation and of stress in sex allocation, and lend support to suggestions that sex-differential glucose metabolism by the preimplantation embryo likely plays a role in facultative BSR adjustment.

scholarly journals Sex-biased dispersal, haplodiploidy and the evolution of helping in social insects

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1729) ◽  
pp. 787-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rufus A. Johnstone ◽  
Michael A. Cant ◽  
Jeremy Field
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Kin Discrimination ◽  
Sterile Female ◽  
Sex Ratio Bias ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Reproductive Altruism ◽  
Existing Data

In his famous haplodiploidy hypothesis, W. D. Hamilton proposed that high sister–sister relatedness facilitates the evolution of kin-selected reproductive altruism among Hymenopteran females. Subsequent analyses, however, suggested that haplodiploidy cannot promote altruism unless altruists capitalize on relatedness asymmetries by helping to raise offspring whose sex ratio is more female-biased than the population at large. Here, we show that haplodiploidy is in fact more favourable than is diploidy to the evolution of reproductive altruism on the part of females, provided only that dispersal is male-biased (no sex-ratio bias or active kin discrimination is required). The effect is strong, and applies to the evolution both of sterile female helpers and of helping among breeding females. Moreover, a review of existing data suggests that female philopatry and non-local mating are widespread among nest-building Hymenoptera. We thus conclude that Hamilton was correct in his claim that ‘family relationships in the Hymenoptera are potentially very favourable to the evolution of reproductive altruism’.

scholarly journals Causes and consequences of adult sex ratio imbalance in a historical U.S. population

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1729) ◽  
pp. 20160314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Schacht ◽  
Ken R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Age At First Birth ◽  
The Social ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Sex Ratio Imbalance ◽  
Animal Societies

The responsiveness of individuals to partner availability has been well-documented across the literature. However, there is disagreement regarding the direction of the consequences of sex ratio imbalance. Specifically, does an excess of males or females promote male–male mating competition? In an attempt to clarify the role of the adult sex ratio (ASR) on behaviour, here we evaluate both competing and complimentary expectations derived from theory across the social and biological sciences. We use data drawn from a historical, nineteenth century population in North America and target several life-history traits thought to be affected by partner availability: age at first birth, relationship status, completed fertility and longevity. Furthermore, we assess the role of various contributors to a population's ASR. We find that both the contributors to and consequences of sex ratio imbalance vary over time. Our results largely support predictions of greater male pairbond commitment and lesser male mating effort, as well as elevated bargaining power of women in response to female scarcity. After reviewing our findings, and others from across the literature, we highlight the need to adjust predictions in response to ASR imbalance by the: (i) culturally mediated mating arena, (ii) variable role of demographic inputs across time and place, (iii) constraints to behavioural outcomes across populations, and (iv) ability and accuracy of individuals to assess partner availability. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Adult sex ratios and reproductive strategies: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies’.

Conclusion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Carter ◽  
Maryanne L. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Operational Sex Ratio ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Female Competition ◽  
Mate Poaching ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mate Copying

This handbook has presented a wide range of theoretical perspectives on the motivations, attitudes, and behaviors involved in female competition. Using a metatheoretical framework, the contributors have examined how, when, and why women compete. This conclusion articulates the book’s main themes, beginning with evidence regarding women as active, competitive individuals and the value of mating information, addressing topics such as women’s competitive choices regarding mate copying, mate poaching, and mate retention. It then considers the role of intrasexual aggression in adolescence in relation to dating and reproduction, the importance of Operational Sex Ratio (OSR) to female competition, the concept of cooperative mothering or allomothering, and infanticide. It also discusses women as competitors in both traditional and novel social arenas as well as the role of women’s physiology in their competitive behaviors. Finally, it suggests directions for future research on topics that warrant further scrutiny.

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