We examine the relationship between disease susceptibility and genetic diversity in the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. We exposed two groups of colonies to the fungal pathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae. One group of colonies has survived at least ten years in the field. The other group of colonies is less than one year old and is the result of colonies reared in the lab. Genetic diversity is assayed using microsatellites and we measure the number of patrilines in this highly polyandrous species. We explore the relationship between genetic diversity in older, established colonies and younger colonies that have not been exposed to fungal pathogens.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Formicidae Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Western Harvester Ant)
Keywords: polyandry, entomopathogenic fungi
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