The ecology and evolution of sociality in carpenter bees and sweat bees

木蜂和汗蜂的生态学和社会性进化

• 批准号: 222883-2013
• 负责人: Richards, Miriam
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: Brock University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=546671
• 关键词: ecology; evolution; sociality; carpenter; bees

One of the most important puzzles in evolutionary biology concerns the evolution of altruism, a behaviour in which an individual sacrifices its own reproduction in order to help other individuals reproduce. How do the genes underlying altruistic behaviour spread through populations when altruists leave fewer genes to subsequent generations than do the individuals that they help? Usually this conundrum is solved by invoking kin selection, in which altruistic individuals sacrifice personal reproduction, but more than make up for it by raising close relatives which share their genes. However, empirical studies of primitively social bees, those in which females have the potential to behave as altruists or to produce their own offspring, provide evidence that subordinate females frequently pass on fewer genes by behaving altruistically than they would have if they produced their own brood. This suggests that kin selection does not provide a complete explanation for altruistic behaviour. My research proposal will focus on multiple aspects of the social behaviour of carpenter bees (Xylocopa and Ceratina) and sweat bees (Lasioglossum), in which potential helpers have the potential to breed themselves; when they behave as altruists we can then examine the ecological and evolutionary conditions that promote this behaviour. Our research will incorporate field and laboratory techniques, including tracing patterns of maternity within bee colonies using genetic markers. At the broadest level, detailed field studies of behaviour, demography and ecology will uncover the conditions under which individual bees choose to behave altruistically or selfishly, as well as the consequences of these decisions for colony social organisation.

进化生物学中最重要的难题之一是利他主义的进化，这种行为是一个人牺牲自己的生殖以帮助其他人繁殖的行为。 当利他主义者将基因留给随后的几代人时，利他行为的基因如何通过人群传播，而不是他们所帮助的个体？通常，这个难题是通过援引亲戚选择来解决的，在这种选择中，利他的个体牺牲了个人繁殖，但不仅仅是通过培养共享基因的近亲来弥补这一点。 然而，对原始社会蜜蜂的经验研究，那些女性有可能表现为利他主义者或产生自己的后代的经验研究，提供了从下属女性通过养育自己的养育而经常通过利他行为而少的基因的证据。这表明，亲属的选择不能为利他行为提供完整的解释。 我的研究建议将集中于木匠蜜蜂（xylocopa和ceratina）和汗蜜蜂（Lasioglossum）的社会行为的多个方面，其中潜在的帮助者有潜力繁殖自己。当他们作为利他主义者表现时，我们可以检查促进这种行为的生态和进化条件。 我们的研究将结合现场和实验室技术，包括使用遗传标记在蜜蜂菌落中的产妇模式。 在最广泛的层面上，对行为，人口统计学和生态学的详细领域研究将揭示单个蜜蜂选择行为无私或自私的条件，以及这些决定对殖民地社会组织的后果。