Within-colony genetic diversity differentially affects foraging, nest maintenance, and aggression in two species of harvester ants.

ABSTRACT: There is accumulating evidence that genetic diversity improves the behavioral performance and consequently the fitness in groups of social animals. We examined the behavioral performance of colonies of two co-occurring, congeneric harvester ant species (Messor arenarius and a non-described Messor sp.) in fitness-related behaviors, pertaining to foraging performance, nest maintenance, and aggression. We linked these behaviors to the colonial genetic diversity, by genotyping workers, using six and five microsatellite markers for M. arenarius and M. sp., respectively. Correlations of genetic diversity with colony performance and aggression level contrasted between the two species. In M. arenarius, genetic diversity was correlated with foraging performance and nest maintenance but not with the

SUBMITTER: Saar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6138738 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature