TY  - JOUR
AU  - Foucaud, J.
AU  - Estoup, A.
AU  - Loiseau, A.
AU  - Rey, O.
AU  - Orivel, J.
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Thelytokous parthenogenesis, male clonality and genetic caste determination in the little fire ant: new evidence and insights from the lab
T2  - Heredity
JO  - Heredity
SP  - 205
EP  - 212
VL  - 105
IS  - 2
PB  - NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
KW  - reproduction system
KW  - thelytokous parthenogenesis
KW  - male clonality
KW  - genetic caste determination
KW  - Wasmannia auropunctata
N2  - Previous studies indicate that some populations of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, display an unusual reproduction system polymorphism. Although some populations have a classical haplodiploid reproduction system, in other populations queens are produced by thelytokous parthenogenesis, males are produced by a male clonality system and workers are produced sexually. An atypical genetic caste determination system was also suggested. However, these conclusions were indirectly inferred from genetic studies on field population samples. Here we set up experimental laboratory nests that allow the control of the parental relationships between individuals. The queens heading those nests originated from either putatively clonal or sexual populations. We characterized the male, queen and worker offspring they produced at 12 microsatellite loci. Our results unambiguously confirm the unique reproduction system polymorphism mentioned above and that male clonality is strictly associated with thelytokous parthenogenesis. We also observed direct evidence of the rare production of sexual gynes and arrhenotokous males in clonal populations. Finally, we obtained evidence of a genetic basis for caste determination. The evolutionary significance of the reproduction system polymorphism and genetic caste determination as well as future research opportunities are discussed. Heredity (2010) 105, 205-212; doi: 10.1038/hdy.2009.169; published online 25 November 2009
SN  - 0018-067X
N1  - ISI:000280111800007
ID  - Foucaud_etal2010
ER  -