6.6 Social Organisation

Question 1

What is eusociality?

Answer 1

Eusociality is the highest level of social organisation in a hierarchical classification. Colonies show the three characteristics:
• Individuals of the same species cooperate in caring for the young
• There is reproductive division of label.
• An overlap of at least two generations in which the offspring contribute to colony labour.

Question 2

Define a superorganism?

Answer 2

A group of organisms that function as a single entity, with characteristics and behaviours that the individuals within the group do not exhibit.

Question 3

What is the queens role in social organisation?

Answer 3

She is the diploid reproductive reposible for production of eggs. She does not work unlike a wasp queen.

Question 4

What is the role of workers in social organisation?

Answer 4

Workers are diploid and are non-reproductive. They are a phenotypic caste of the females but they have multiple temporal castes.

Question 5

What is worker policing?

Answer 5

The phenomenon where female workers cannibalize the male eggs of unamted female workers.

Question 6

How many drones are the sons of workers in a normal colony?

Answer 6

1 in 1000 (0.1%)

Question 7

What is the benefit of worker policing?

Answer 7

Worker polcing lowers the benefit of worker egg-laying and favours near exlcusive oviposition by the queen and helps colony cohesion.