Data from: Family based guilds in the ant Pachycondyla inversa

dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Helanterä, Heikki
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Regensburg - Aehle, Oliver
dc.contributor.affiliationAix-Marseille University - Roux, Maurice
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Regensburg - Heinze, Jürgen
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Regensburg - d'Ettorre, Patrizia
dc.contributor.authorHelanterä, Heikki
dc.contributor.authorAehle, Oliver
dc.contributor.authorRoux, Maurice
dc.contributor.authorHeinze, Jürgen
dc.contributor.authord'Ettorre, Patrizia
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-24T15:19:08Z
dc.date.issued2013-04-04
dc.date.issued2013-04-04
dc.descriptionHigh relatedness promotes the evolution of sociality because potentially costly cooperative behaviours are directed towards kin. However, societies, such as those of social insects, also benefit from genetic diversity, e.g. through enhanced disease resistance and division of labour. Effects of genetic diversity have been investigated in a few complex eusocial species. Here, we show that genetically based division of labour may also be important in 'simple societies', with fewer individuals and limited morphological caste differentiation. The ponerine ant Pachycondyla inversa has small colonies, headed by several unrelated queens. We show that nest-mate workers from different matrilines engage in different tasks, have distinct chemical profiles and associate preferentially with kin in the nest, while queens and brood stay together. This suggests that genetically based division of labour may precede the evolution of complex eusociality and facilitate the existence of low relatedness societies functioning as associations of distinct families that mutually benefit from group living.
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.84dp4
dc.identifier.urihttps://hydatakatalogi-test-24.it.helsinki.fi/handle/123456789/10406
dc.rightsOpen
dc.rights.licensecc-zero
dc.subjectants
dc.subjectPachycondyla inversa
dc.subjectPonerinae
dc.subjectDivision of labour
dc.subjectSocial evolution
dc.titleData from: Family based guilds in the ant Pachycondyla inversa
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