How does diversity in recognition cues arise in evolutionary time? One plausible model is that diversity of molecules evolves prior to their co-option as pheromones. In this case the molecular diversity must be related to non-communicative functions. Alternatively, selection on the efficacy of the recognition system favors phenotypic diversity. In this paper I discuss the relative likelihood of these two models in the evolution of recognition systems.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Apidae Apis mellifera (honey bee)
Keywords: nestmate recognition, pheromone
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