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Using social parasitism to test reproductive skew models in a primitively eusocial wasp

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posted on 2023-06-08, 17:57 authored by Jonathan P Green, Michael A Cant, Jeremy Field
Remarkable variation exists in the distribution of reproduction (skew) among members of cooperatively breeding groups, both within and between species. Reproductive skew theory has provided an important framework for understanding this variation. In the primitively eusocial Hymenoptera, two models have been routinely tested: concessions models, which assume complete control of reproduction by a dominant individual, and tug-of-war models, which assume on-going competition among group members over reproduction. Current data provide little support for either model, but uncertainty about the ability of individuals to detect genetic relatedness and difficulties in identifying traits conferring competitive ability mean that the relative importance of concessions versus tug-of-war remains unresolved. Here, we suggest that the use of social parasitism to generate meaningful variation in key social variables represents a valuable opportunity to explore the mechanisms underpinning reproductive skew within the social Hymenoptera. We present a direct test of concessions and tug-of-war models in the paper wasp Polistes dominulus by exploiting pronounced changes in relatedness and power structures that occur following replacement of the dominant by a congeneric social parasite. Comparisons of skew in parasitized and unparasitized colonies are consistent with a tug-of-war over reproduction within P. dominulus groups, but provide no evidence for reproductive concessions.

Funding

Unrelated helpers in social wasps; G0112; NERC-NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL; NE/E017894/1

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

ISSN

0962-8452

Publisher

Royal Society Publishing

Issue

1789

Volume

281

Department affiliated with

  • Biology and Environmental Science Publications

Notes

GTA studentship funding to JPG

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-07-28

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2014-07-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-07-28

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