Summary
Nine colonies of the lower termiteIncisitermes schwarzi, inhabiting tall, narrow dead mangrove tree trunks, were sectioned in the field; the sections were taken back to the laboratory and the termites in each section were classified by sex and caste. In a separate series of observations, portions of colonies were introduced into a narrow tunnel, and later the position, sex, and caste of each individual were recorded. The data from both kinds of study indicate that the sexes are distributed randomly within the termite colony, both within castes and between castes. The only exception was a slight tendency for soldiers of one sex to be associated with non-soldiers of the opposite sex. The observations do not support the idea that the close genetic relatedness of same-sex siblings (due to multiple sex chromosomes) and preferential sex-biased altruistic behavior underly the evolution of eusociality in termites.
Resume
Neuf colonies du termite inférieurIncisitermes schwarzi, résidant dans les longs et étroits troncs morts de manglier, ont été sectionnées sur le terrain; les découpes ont été reportées au laboratoire et dans chaque section les termites ont été classés selon leur sexe et leur caste. Dans une série distincte d'observations, des portions des colonies ont été introduites dans un étroit tunnel et ultérieurement la position, le sexe et la caste de chaque individu furent enregistrés. Les données résultant de ces deux études indiquent que les sexes sont répartis au hasard parmi la colonie de termites; aussi bien à l'intérieur des castes qu'entre différentes castes. La seule exception était la légère tendance des soldats d'un sexe donné à s'associer avec les individus du sexe opposé d'une autre caste. Les observations ne soutiennent pas la thèse selon laquelle la parenté génétique des individus du même sexe et de même parents (dû à la multiplicité des chromosomes sexuels) et la préférence sexuelle du comportement altruiste, in fluencent l'évolution de l'eusocialité des termites.
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Luykx, P., Michel, J. & Luykx, J. The spatial distribution of the sexes in colonies of the termiteIncisitermes schwarzi Banks (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Ins. Soc 33, 406–421 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223948
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223948