Project

Causes and consequences of variation in queen number and polydomy in a highly polymorphic and isolated Formica rufa population

Code
01D25310
Duration
01 October 2010 → 30 September 2012
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Animal biology
Keywords
relatedness colony structure Formica rufa
 
Project description

Recent genetic analyses in an isolated wood ant (Formica rufa)population in the Sint-Sixtus forest revealed strong variation in relatedness among workers, and in colony structure and number of queens ruling a colony. This project aims to determine udnerlying causes and consequences of this variation. Hyptheses will be tested through a combination of behavioural observations, morphometric measurements, experimental manipulations and genetic analyses.