The Interplay between Incipient Species and Social Polymorphism in the Desert Ant Cataglyphis.

ABSTRACT: In social insects, due to considerable polyphenism as well as high level of hybridization, the delimitation of species can be challenging. The genus Cataglyphis presents a high level of diversification, making it an excellent model with which to study evolutionary paths. Israel appears to be a "hot spot" for recent speciation in this genus. Although previous studies have described multiple species of Cataglyphis in Israel, a recent genetic study has questioned the existence of some of these historically described species. The present study focuses on an apparent species complex, the C. niger species complex which includes C. niger, C. savigyi, and C. drusus that are distinguishable by their mitochondrial DNA (and therefore named mitotypes) but not by their nuclear DNA. Using a multi-method

SUBMITTER: Reiner Brodetzki T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6603034 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature