Aggression, cooperation, and relatedness among colonies of the invasive ant, .i.Monomorium pharaonis./i., originating from different areas of the world

0329551 - BC 2010 RIV SK eng J - Journal Article
Frouz, Jan - John, R. - Rupeš, V. - Cech, G. - Marialigeti, K.
Aggression, cooperation, and relatedness among colonies of the invasive ant, Monomorium pharaonis, originating from different areas of the world.
Biologia. Roč. 64, č. 1 (2009), s. 139-142. ISSN 0006-3088. E-ISSN 1336-9563
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60660521
Keywords : Monomorium pharaonis * kin selection * supercolony
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 0.617, year: 2009

The cooperation and aggression between five laboratory colonies of Monomorium pharaonis were compared using an aggressiveness test and pupa-carrying test in laboratory arenas. The colonies were derived from field collections in different parts of Europe and USA. Generally, inter-colony aggressiveness was low and acceptance of pupae from other colonies was high. Workers from one colony (Lužiny, CZ), however, frequently displayed aggressive behavior when paired with workers from other colonies, and the Lužiny pupae were avoided by workers of other colonies in pupa-carrying tests. Behavioral tests were only partly consistent with the phylogenetic relatedness of ants because the Wisconsin colony (USA) grouped with the Lužiny colony (and not with the other three colonies) in the phylogenetic analysis but grouped with the other three colonies in the behavioral tests.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0175556