Monday, 15 November 2004 - 10:42 AM
0112

Sex ratio expression in populations of Aphaenogaster rudis (Formicidae): Observed variation and its implications

David Lubertazzi, lubertazzi@antdata.org, University of Connecticut, EEB, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT

Ants have played an important role in the field of sex ratio research for many decades, serving as a focal taxon for studying sex ratio questions. My research is designed to critically examine some of what is known, and what is not well understood, about sex ratio expression in ants through careful study of the common Connecticut woodland ant, Aphaenogaster rudis. I will present population sex ratio data collected from two field populations of this species for two consecutive years. The data show significant variation between years. This result highlights the fact that proximate factors can strongly influence sex ratio expression and reinforces our need to better understand the role that non-genetic factors play in sex ratio expression.


Species 1: Hymenoptera Formicidae Aphaenogaster rudis
Keywords: sex-ratio evolution

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