Eusociality L- 18 & 19

Question 1

What is the kin-selection arguement?

Question 2

Primitively Eusocial

Answer 2

no obvious morphological caste differentiation
even between worker and queen

Question 3

Distinct Eusocial

Answer 3

distinct morphological castes - specialized to task

Question 4

Routes to Eusociality: Subsocial Route

Answer 4

1st) Subsocial: parental care of young

2nd) Subsocial 1: overlap of generations

3rd) Subsocial 2: cooperative brood care

4th) Eusocial: reproductive castes

Question 5

Routes to Eusociality: Parasocial Route

Answer 5

1st) Parasocial: communal living; individuals rear their own offspring

2nd) Quasi-social: Cooperative brood care; all members are reproductive

3rd) Semi-social: reproductive division of labor

4th) Eusocial: overlapping generations

Question 6

Ploidy level and workers

Answer 6

Diploid eusocial species: workers are males and females (e.g., termites)

Haplodiploid eusocial species: workers are females (e.g., wasps, bees, ants, thrips)

Question 7

Evolution of Eusociality: Delayed Benefits, what is it?

Answer 7

hopeful reproductives… dominant workers take over reproduction if queen is killed

Question 8

Evolution of Eusociality: Ecological and Life History Benefits, what is it?

Answer 8

protection (nests, venom) from environment, predators, etc.; indirect fitness can be
greater than direct fitness