Projects per year
Abstract
The reversal of the fecundity/longevity tradeoff in social insects is striking, but we lack understanding of when and how this reversal evolved. Vespid wasps are excellent models for studying social evolution because species show different levels of sociality from solitary to primitively to advanced eusocial. We provide the first synthesis of existing, but scanty, data available on longevity in vespids. We explore whether the fecundity/longevity tradeoff reversal is exaggerated in species with more derived sociality. Although the reversal is evident in primitively social wasps, the available data suggest it may be stronger in large-colonied species, which show a trend toward shorter worker longevity. More data are needed on additional species and underlying mechanisms, but vespids hold promise for understanding the evolution of the fecundity/longevity tradeoff reversal.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 28-35 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Current Opinion in Insect Science |
Volume | 16 |
Early online date | 13 May 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2016 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Patterns of longevity across a sociality gradient in vespid wasps'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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The molecular basis of phenotypic transitions in eusocial evolution.
Barker, G. L. A. (Principal Investigator)
1/05/15 → 31/05/19
Project: Research
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The ecosystem response to urban transformation: the impact of rapid urbanisation on the social demographics of ecologically-significant insect species
Sumner, S. R. (Principal Investigator)
1/01/15 → 1/01/17
Project: Research