Romiguier Jonathan
Convergent evolution of social hybridogenesis in Messor harvester ants
Project Number: MMD 43728 / 4D: CH-7084
Project Type: |
Research_Project |
Project Duration: |
01/01/2017 - 07/12/2017 project completed |
Funding Source: |
SNSF , |
Leading Institution: |
Université de Lausanne, Département d'écologie et d'évolution |
Project Leader: |
Monsieur Jonathan Romiguier Département d'Ecologie et d'Evolution Université de Lausanne Bâtiment de Biophore 1015 Lausanne Phone: ; +41 (0) 21 692 42 60 FAX: +41 (0) 21 692 42 65 e-Mail: jonathan.romiguier(at)gmail.com http://www.unil.ch/dee |
Research Areas:
Disciplines:
Abstract:
Sexual reproduction generally requires no more than two partners. Here, we show convergent
evolution of social hybridogenesis, a reproductive system requiring three
reproductive partners in harvester ants. In this unorthodox reproductive system, two
distinct genetic lineages live in sympatry and queens have to mate with males of their
own lineage to produce queens along with males of the alternative lineage to produce
workers. Using a large transcriptomic data set of nine species, we show that social
hybridogenesis evolved at least three times independently in the genus Messor. Moreover,
a study of 13 populations of Messor barbarus revealed that this mode of reproduction
is fixed in the whole range of this ecologically dominant species. Finally, we
show that workers can produce males carrying genes of the two genetic lineages, raising
the possibility of rare gene flow between lineages contributing to the long-term
maintenance of pairs of interdependent lineages. These results emphasize the evolutionary
importance of social hybridogenesis, a major transition possibly linked to the
peculiar ecology of harvester ants.
Publications:
Romiguier et al. (2017): Convergent evolution of social hybridogenesis in Messor harvester ants. Molecular Ecology (2017) 26, 1108–1117.
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Last update: 4/5/22
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
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