Cooney Feargus, Vitikainen Emma I K, Marshall Harry H, van Rooyen Wilmie, Smith Robert L, Cant Michael A, Goodey Nicole
Centre for Ecology and Conservation , University of Exeter , Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9EZ , UK.
Department of Entomology , University of Arizona , Forbes 410, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036 , USA.
R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Nov 9;3(11):160682. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160682. eCollection 2016 Nov.
In eusocial insects, the ability to discriminate nest-mates from non-nest-mates is widespread and ensures that altruistic actions are directed towards kin and agonistic actions are directed towards non-relatives. Most tests of nest-mate recognition have focused on hymenopterans, and suggest that cooperation typically evolves in tandem with strong antagonism towards non-nest-mates. Here, we present evidence from a phylogenetically and behaviourally basal termite species that workers discriminate members of foreign colonies. However, contrary to our expectations, foreign intruders were the recipients of more rather than less cooperative behaviour and were not subjected to elevated aggression. We suggest that relationships between groups may be much more peaceable in basal termites compared with eusocial hymenoptera, owing to energetic and temporal constraints on colony growth, and the reduced incentive that totipotent workers (who may inherit breeding status) have to contribute to self-sacrificial intergroup conflict.
在群居昆虫中，区分巢友和非巢友的能力很普遍，这确保了利他行为针对亲属，而敌对行为针对非亲属。大多数巢友识别测试都集中在膜翅目昆虫上，这表明合作通常与对非巢友的强烈对抗同步进化。在这里，我们提供了来自一种在系统发育和行为上处于基础地位的白蚁物种的证据，即工蚁能够区分外来群体的成员。然而，与我们的预期相反，外来入侵者得到的合作行为更多而非更少，并且没有遭受更高程度的攻击。我们认为，与群居膜翅目昆虫相比，基础白蚁群体之间的关系可能更为和平，这是由于群体生长受到能量和时间限制，以及全能工蚁（可能继承繁殖地位）参与自我牺牲的群体间冲突的动机降低。
