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. 2003 Aug 5;100(16):9394-7.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1633701100. Epub 2003 Jul 23.

Worker caste polymorphism has a genetic basis in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants

William O H Hughes  1 , Seirian Sumner, Steven Van Borm, Jacobus J Boomsma
Affiliations

Worker caste polymorphism has a genetic basis in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants

William O H Hughes et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

Division of labor is fundamental to the success of all societies. The most striking examples are the physically polymorphic worker castes in social insects with clear morphological adaptations to different roles. These polymorphic worker castes have previously been thought to be a classic example of nongentically controlled polymorphism, being mediated entirely by environmental cues. Here we show that worker caste development in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior has a significant genetic component. Individuals of different patrilines within the same colony differ in their propensities to develop into minor or major workers. The mechanism appears to be plastic, with caste destiny resulting from interplay between nurture and nature. Unlike the few other recently discovered examples of a genetic influence on caste determination, the present result does not relate to any rare or exceptional circumstances, such as interspecific hybridization. The results suggest that a significant role of genetics may have been overlooked in our understanding of other complex polymorphisms of social insects.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Size-frequency distributions for A. echinatior worker populations either located within the nest (fungus garden) or engaged in foraging. Data are smoothed lines based on the means of five colonies. See text for further details of methods.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Size-frequency distributions for total worker populations of five colonies of A. echinatior. Data are presented as smoothed lines. See text for further details of methods.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Proportion of individuals sampled per patriline for five colonies of A. echinatior (Ae33, 48, 111, 112, and 113) that were large workers (shaded) or small workers (clear). Sample sizes are given in parentheses above patriline columns together with significance levels assessed by G tests comparing small worker/large worker proportions for individual patrilines with the overall proportions for the patrilines examined (**, P < 0.01; *, P < 0.05).
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