Dataset Information

Facultative asexual reproduction and genetic diversity of populations in the humivorous termite Cavitermes tuberosus.

ABSTRACT: Termite colonies are typically founded by a pair of sexually reproducing dispersers, which can sometimes be replaced by some of their offspring. Some Reticulitermes and Embiratermes species routinely practice asexual queen succession (AQS): the queen is replaced by neotenic daughters produced by parthenogenesis, which mate with the primary king. Here, to cast light on the evolution of AQS, we investigated another candidate species, Cavitermes tuberosus (Termitinae). Of 95 nests, 39 contained a primary queen and 28 contained neotenic females (2-667 individuals), usually with the primary king. Microsatellite analyses confirmed that colonies were initiated by single pairs after large dispersal flights. More than 80% of the neotenic females were of exclusively maternal origin and completely homozygous, suggesting automictic parthenogenesis with gamete duplication. Conversely, workers, soldiers, and most alates and primary reproductives were produced sexually. AQS often occurs late, after colonies have reached maturity, whereas early AQS in other species may boost the young colony's growth rate. We suggest additional benefits of AQS in C. tuberosus, related with a smaller size, lesser stability and higher mobility of colonies. Our data add to the phylogenetical dispersion and diversity of modalities of AQS in termites, supporting a multiple evolutionary origin of this process.

SUBMITTER: Fournier D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4920309 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Facultative asexual reproduction and genetic diversity of populations in the humivorous termite Cavitermes tuberosus.

Fournier Denis D Hellemans Simon S Hanus Robert R Roisin Yves Y

Proceedings. Biological sciences 20160601 1832

Termite colonies are typically founded by a pair of sexually reproducing dispersers, which can sometimes be replaced by some of their offspring. Some Reticulitermes and Embiratermes species routinely practice asexual queen succession (AQS): the queen is replaced by neotenic daughters produced by parthenogenesis, which mate with the primary king. Here, to cast light on the evolution of AQS, we investigated another candidate species, Cavitermes tuberosus (Termitinae). Of 95 nests, 39 contained a p ...[more]

PMID: 27252019

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Project description:Background and aimsIn dioecious plants, sexual reproduction requires close proximity to potential mates, but clonal growth can increase this distance and, therefore, reduce the probability of mating. Reduction in sexual propagules can lead to decreased dispersal and gene flow between populations. Gene flow and clonal growth may be further influenced by the size of the habitat patch. The effects of habitat size and reproductive mode (sexual or asexual reproduction) on spatial genetic structure and segregation of the sexes were tested by quantifying the distributions of genotypes and the sexes using the dioecious liverwort Marchantia inflexa.MethodsPlants were sampled from five pairs of small-large habitat patches to identify within- and among-population spatial genetic structure using 12 microsatellite markers. Spatial distributions were calculated as the likelihood that pairs of individuals were the same sex or genotype, and it was determined how that likelihood was affected by habitat patch size (small/large).Key resultsAsexual reproduction dominates within populations, and asexual dispersal also occurred across populations. Spatial segregation of the sexes was observed within populations; males were more likely to be near individuals of the same sex than were females. Although the likelihood of both sexes being near members of the same sex was similarly greater on small habitat patches, on large habitat patches male genotypes were almost 15 % more likely to be near clonemates than were female genotypes.ConclusionsThe results show a sex difference in clonal clumping that was dependent upon habitat size, suggesting differential colonization and/or survival between males and females. The sexes and genotypes being structured differently within and among populations have implications for the persistence of populations and the interactions between them. This study demonstrates that studying only the sexes and not their genotypes (or vice versa) can limit our understanding of the extent to which reproductive modes (sexual or asexual) influence genetic structure both within and between populations.

Dataset Information

Facultative asexual reproduction and genetic diversity of populations in the humivorous termite Cavitermes tuberosus.

Publications

Facultative asexual reproduction and genetic diversity of populations in the humivorous termite Cavitermes tuberosus.

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