Transcript Behavioral Biology - Oakland University

Behavioral Biology
Evolution of Social Systems
Societies
• Groups of organisms of the same species
which cooperate to exist.
Benefits of Sociality
• Kin Selection
• Decreased Predation Risk
• Increased Feeding Sources
• Increased Hunting Success
Insect Societies
• Hymenoptera
– Honeybees
– Leaf-cutter ants
• Isoptera
– Termites
Honeybee Society
• Caste system – Division of Duties
– Queen
• Diploid female
• Duty: Reproduction
• Produces ‘Queen substance’
• Lays 1500 eggs/day till death or runs out of sperm
Honeybee Society
Which one is the Queen?
Honeybee Societies
Queen Cell
Honeybee Society
• Caste system – Division of Duties
– Drone
• Haploid Male
• Duty: Find the queen and mate
• Dies after reproduces (2 seconds!)
Honeybee Societies
Workers
Drone
Honeybee Societies
Drone Cells
Honeybee Society
• Caste system – Division of Duties
– Worker
• Diploid female with ovaries suppressed
• Duty: Everything except laying eggs
Honeybee Society
Honeybee Society
Workers ‘Festooning’
Honeybee Society
Worker ‘Scenting’ to Signal Disturbance
Bibliography
•
Raven, Peter H. Et al. 2008. Biology, 8th ed. McGraw Hill Higher
Education. New York, NY.
•
All photos are by D. Hautau, Alpena Community College.
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