scholarly journals Multilocus Evolution in Fire Ants: Effects of Selection, Gene Flow and Recombination

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 961-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth G Ross
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Linked Gene ◽  
Social Form ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Selection Gene ◽  
Founder Event ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Single Enzyme

The reproductive success of individual fire ant queens (Solenopsis invicta) previously has been shown to be strongly influenced by their genotype at a single enzyme-encoding gene, designated Pgm-3. This paper presents evidence that a second, tightly linked gene, designated Gp-9, is under similarly strong selection in these ants. Selection appears to act independently on the two genes and is detectable in only one of the two social forms of this species (the “polygyne” social form, in which nests contain multiple fertile queens). Strong directional selection on Pgm-3 in this form involves worker destruction of all queens with genotype Pgm-3AA before they reproduce. Selection on Gp-9 is more complex, involving both lethality of all Gp-9bb females and a strong or even complete survival advantage to reproductive queens with the heterozygous genotype Gp-9Bb. Pgm-3 and Gp-9 are tightly linked (rf = 0.0016) and exhibit strong gametic phase disequilibrium in introduced populations in the U.S. This disequilibrium seems not to have stemmed from the founder event associated with the introduction, because the same associations of alleles found in the U S. apparently occur also in two native populations in Argentina. Rather, selection acting independently on Pgm-3 and Gp-9, in conjunction with gene flow from the alternate, “monogyne” social form (in which nests contain a single fertile queen), may explain the origin of disequilibrium between the two loci in polygyne fire ants.

scholarly journals Hierarchical Analysis of Genetic Structure in Native Fire Ant Populations: Results From Three Classes of Molecular Markers

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 643-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth G Ross ◽  
Michael J B Krieger ◽  
D DeWayne Shoemaker ◽  
Edward L Vargo ◽  
Laurent Keller
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Nuclear Markers ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Native Populations ◽  
Nest Level ◽  
Nuclear Differentiation

We describe genetic structure at various scales in native populations of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta using two classes of nuclear markers, allozymes and microsatellites, and markers of the mitochondrial genome. Strong structure was found at the nest level in both the monogyne (single queen) and polygyne (multiple queen) social forms using allozymes. Weak but significant microgeographic structure was detected above the nest level in polygyne populations but not in monogyne populations using both classes of nuclear markers. Pronounced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) differentiation was evident also at this level in the polygyne form only. These microgeographic patterns are expected because polygyny in ants is associated with restricted local gene flow due mainly to limited vagility of queens. Weak but significant nuclear differentiation was detected between sympatric social forms, and strong mtDNA differentiation also was found at this level. Thus, queens of each form seem unable to establish themselves in nests of the alternate type, and some degree of assortative mating by form may exist as well. Strong differentiation was found between the two study regions usinga all three sets of markers. Phylogeographic analyses of the mtDNA suggest that recent limitations on gene flow rather than longstanding barriers to dispersal are responsible for this large-scale structure.

scholarly journals Distinct colony boundaries and larval discrimination in polygyne red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
MacKenzie Kjeldgaard ◽  
Pierre-André Eyer ◽  
Collin McMichael ◽  
Alison Bockoven ◽  
Joanie King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Sucrose Solution ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Invasive Ant ◽  
Nestmate Discrimination ◽  
Social Forms

Evaluating the factors that promote invasive ant abundance is critical to assess their ecological impact and inform their management. Many invasive ant species show reduced nestmate recognition and an absence of boundaries between unrelated nests, which allow populations to achieve greater densities due to reduced intraspecific competition. We examined nestmate discrimination and colony boundaries in introduced populations of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta; hereafter, fire ant). Fire ants occur in two social forms: monogyne (colonies with a single egg-laying queen) and polygyne (colonies with multiple egg-laying queens). In contrast with monogyne nests, polygyne nests are thought to be interconnected due to the reduced antagonism between non-nestmate polygyne workers, perhaps because polygyne workers habituate the colony to an odor unique to Gp-9-carrying adults. However, colony boundaries and nestmate discrimination are poorly documented, particularly for worker-brood interactions. To delimit boundaries between field colonies, we correlated the exchange of a N-glycine tracer dissolved in a sucrose solution with social form. We also evaluated nestmate discrimination between polygyne workers and larvae in the laboratory. Counter to our expectations, polygyne colonies behaved identically to monogyne colonies, suggesting both social forms maintain strict colony boundaries. Polygyne workers also preferentially fed larval nestmates and may have selectively cannibalized non-nestmates. The levels of relatedness among workers in polygyne colonies was higher than those previously reported in North America (mean ±SE: 0.269 ± 0.037). Our study highlights the importance of combining genetic analyses with direct quantification of resource exchange to better understand the factors influencing ant invasions.

scholarly journals Genomic architecture and evolutionary antagonism drive allelic expression bias in the social supergene of red fire ants

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Martinez-Ruiz ◽  
Rodrigo Pracana ◽  
Eckart Stolle ◽  
Carolina Ivon Paris ◽  
Richard A Nichols ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Ants ◽  
Allelic Expression ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Complex Phenotypes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Expression Bias ◽  
Allelic Differences ◽  
Suppressed Recombination

Supergene regions maintain alleles of multiple genes in tight linkage through suppressed recombination. Despite their importance in determining complex phenotypes, our empirical understanding of early supergene evolution is limited. Here we focus on the young ‘social’ supergene of fire ants, a powerful system for disentangling the effects of evolutionary antagonism and suppressed recombination. We hypothesize that gene degeneration and social antagonism shaped the evolution of the fire ant supergene, resulting in distinct patterns of gene expression. We test these ideas by identifying allelic differences between supergene variants, characterizing allelic expression across populations, castes and body parts, and contrasting allelic expression biases with differences in expression between social forms. We find strong signatures of gene degeneration and gene-specific dosage compensation. On this background, a small portion of the genes has the signature of adaptive responses to evolutionary antagonism between social forms.

Kinetic Communism

2020 ◽  
pp. 198-214
Author(s):  
Thomas Nail
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Process ◽  
Social Condition ◽  
Social Form ◽  
Material Production ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Difference ◽  
As If

This chapter argues that since the fetish of value is something produced kinetically, its alternative, communism, must also be something understood kinetically, that is, having its own form of motion. In particular, the previous chapters have aimed to show that what is fundamentally at stake in the difference between material production and fetishism is the transparency and direction of the form of motion. Only when the social form of motion is left fully uncovered by coats, mirrors, and fogs can it be collectively organized without devalorization, appropriation, and mystical domination. Communism is the material social condition in which production is treated not as if it were coming from what is produced but as a threefold metabolic process itself. The thesis of this chapter then is that previous social forms of motion have always relied on a certain degree of fetishism of this motion.

scholarly journals A clue to invasion success: genetic diversity quickly rebounds after introduction bottlenecks

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kaňuch ◽  
Åsa Berggren ◽  
Anna Cassel-Lundhagen
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Founder Population ◽  
Establishment Success ◽  
Propagule Size ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Species Invasiveness

AbstractOne of the fundamental questions in invasion biology is to understand the genetic mechanisms behind success or failure during the establishment of a species. However, major limitations to understanding are usually a lack of spatiotemporal population data and information on the populations’ colonisation history. In a large-scale, detailed study on the bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii 70 groups of founders were introduced in areas outside the species’ distribution range. We examined how (1) the number of founders (2–32 individuals), (2) the time since establishment (7 or 15 years after introduction) and (3) possible gene flow affected establishment success and temporal genetic changes of the introduced populations. We found higher establishment success in introductions with larger propagule sizes but genetic diversity indices were only partly correlated to propagule size. As expected, introduced populations were more similar to their founder population the larger the propagule size was. However, even if apparent at first, most of the differentiation in the small propagule introductions disappeared over time. Surprisingly, genetic variability was regained to a level comparable to the large and outbreeding founder population only 15 generations after severe demographic bottlenecks. We suggest that the establishment of these populations could be a result of several mechanisms acting in synergy. Here, rapid increase in genetic diversity of few introductions could potentially be attributed to limited gene flow from adjacent populations, behavioural adaptations and/or even increased mutation rate. We present unique insights into genetic processes that point towards traits that are important for understanding species’ invasiveness.

scholarly journals Naturally Occurring Compounds/Materials as Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Insecticides for Use in Fire Ant Management

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Jian Chen ◽  
David H. Oi
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Natural Toxins ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Made In

The invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (hereafter, fire ants), is a significant threat to public health and a danger to livestock, pets and wildlife due to their venomous stings. The fire ant has invaded many countries and regions and has become a globally significant pest. The current major tool to manage fire ants are synthetic insecticides that are used largely as stomach poisons in bait products or contact insecticides in spray, broadcast, drench, and dust products for area and nest treatments. In addition to these insecticide products, repellants and fumigants can also be useful in some unique scenarios. The ever-increasing public concern about the potential adverse effects of synthetic insecticides on health and the environment has been a driving force for searching for safer alternatives to control fire ants. Tremendous effort has been made in developing biologically-based control for managing fire ants; however, natural products continue to be one of the most attractive sources of safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Here, we summarized the synthetic insecticides that are currently used in managing fire ants, available alternative products in the current market, and academic efforts in searching for fire ant natural toxins, repellants and fumigants.

scholarly journals A Y-like social chromosome causes alternative colony organization in fire ants

Nature ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 493 (7434) ◽  
pp. 664-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Wang ◽  
Yannick Wurm ◽  
Mingkwan Nipitwattanaphon ◽  
Oksana Riba-Grognuz ◽  
Yu-Ching Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Ants ◽  
In Fire

scholarly journals Social form, social reproduction and social policy: Basic income, basic services, basic infrastructure

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Lombardozzi ◽  
Frederick Harry Pitts
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Social Democracy ◽  
Basic Income ◽  
Form Analysis ◽  
Social Form ◽  
Social Reproduction Theory ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Basic Services ◽  
Basic Infrastructure

Proponents recommend Universal Basic Income as a solution to a trifold crisis of work, wage and social democracy. Synthesising Marxian form analysis with Marxist-feminist social reproduction theory, this article suggests that these crises relate to historically specific capitalist social forms: labour, money and the state. These separate but interlocking crises of social form are temporary and contingent expressions of an underlying, permanent crisis of social reproduction. Mistaking the pervasive crisis of social reproduction in its totality for a temporary or contingent trifold crisis of work, wage or social democracy, Universal Basic Income proposals seek to solve it by moving through the same social forms through which they take effect, rather than confronting the social relations that constitute their antagonistic undertow and generate the crisis of social reproduction. The article considers two other solutions proposed to handle the deeper-rooted crisis with which Universal Basic Income grapples: Universal Basic Services and Universal Basic Infrastructure. Both propose non-monetary ways past the impasses of the Universal Basic Income, addressing much more directly the constrained basis of individual and collective reproduction that characterises capitalist social relations. But they retain a link with capitalist social forms of money and state that may serve to close rather than open the path to real alternatives. The article concludes that the contradictions these ‘abstract universals’ touch upon are best mediated through more bottom-up and struggle-based ‘concrete universals’ that address the manifold crises of work, wage and social democracy that undergird them. Such alternatives would leave open dynamic tensions around work and welfare in contemporary capitalism without promise of their incomplete resolution in the name of a false universality unattainable in a world characterised by antagonism, domination and crisis.

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