10.5061/DRYAD.3P0B5
Padilla, Mario
Pennsylvania State University
Amsalem, Etya
Pennsylvania State University
Altman, Naomi
Pennsylvania State University
Hefetz, Abraham
Tel Aviv University
Grozinger, Christina M.
Pennsylvania State University
Data from: Chemical communication is not sufficient to explain
reproductive inhibition in the bumblebee Bombus impatiens
Dryad
dataset
2016
Altruism
eusocial
division of labor
pheromone
Holocene
2016-09-13T13:10:32Z
2016-09-13T13:10:32Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160576
30002 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Reproductive division of labour is a hallmark of eusociality, but
disentangling the underlying proximate mechanisms can be challenging. In
bumblebees, workers isolated from the queen can activate their ovaries and
lay haploid, male eggs. We investigated if volatile, contact, visual or
behavioural cues produced by the queen or brood mediate reproductive
dominance in Bombus impatiens. Exposure to queen-produced volatiles,
brood-produced volatiles and direct contact with pupae did not reduce
worker ovary activation; only direct contact with the queen could reduce
ovary activation. We evaluated behaviour, physiology and gene expression
patterns in workers that were reared in chambers with all stages of brood
and a free queen, caged queen (where workers could contact the queen, but
the queen was unable to initiate interactions) or no queen. Workers housed
with a caged queen or no queen fully activated their ovaries, whereas
ovary activation in workers housed with a free queen was completely
inhibited. The caged queen marginally reduced worker aggression and
expression of an aggression-associated gene relative to queenless workers.
Thus, queen-initiated behavioural interactions appear necessary to
establish reproductive dominance. Queen-produced chemical cues may
function secondarily in a context-specific manner to augment behavioural
cues, as reliable or honest signal.
Effect of Bombus impatiens queen-produced cues on worker behavior,
physiology, and gene expressionThis file contains all the data associated
with the manuscript. We include data on Bombus impatiens worker oocyte
activation, egg-laying, aggressive behavior, and expression of the
candidate genes vitellogenin and kr-h1. The data set allows comparison of
these parameters in queenless workers, queenright workers, and workers
exposed to volatile and contact cues generated by the queen.Supplementary
Table 2.xlsx
Global